# Empress Zoe: The Great Byzantine Ruler — WHE Definition Discussion

**URL:** <https://community.worldhistory.org/t/empress-zoe-the-great-byzantine-ruler-whe-definition-discussion/2980>\
**Category:** WHE Articles\
**Created:** [April 19, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/empress-zoe-the-great-byzantine-ruler-whe-definition-discussion/2980 "2018-04-19T09:01:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![markzcartwright](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/markzcartwright/32/35_2.png) [@markzcartwright](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/markzcartwright)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/empress-zoe-the-great-byzantine-ruler-whe-definition-discussion/2980/1 "2018-04-19T09:01:07Z")

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Zoe Porphyrogenita was empress of the Byzantine Empire from 1028 CE until her death in 1050 CE. In an eventful career, she reigned alongside three husbands, had a hand in the succession of her adopted son, and, in 1042 CE, she was co-ruler with her sister Theodora. Zoe is the subject of a colourful and somewhat unflattering biography in the _Chronographia_ of the 11th-century CE Byzantine historian Michael Psellos.

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_This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Empress\_Zoe/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Empress_Zoe/)._

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**Author:** ![markzcartwright](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/markzcartwright/32/35_2.png) [@markzcartwright](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/markzcartwright)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/empress-zoe-the-great-byzantine-ruler-whe-definition-discussion/2980/2 "2026-07-28T21:45:46Z")

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