Search Results: Empress

The RMS Empress of Ireland was a transatlantic passenger ship that sank early in the morning of 29 May 1914 on the St. Lawrence River killing 1,012 of the 1,477 people on board. It is considered Canada’s worst maritime disaster and one of...

Theodora reigned as empress of the Byzantine Empire alongside her husband, Emperor Justinian I, from 527 CE until her death in 548 CE. Rising from a humble background and overcoming the prejudices of her somewhat disreputable early career...

Empress Irene was the wife of Leo IV and, on her husband's death, she reigned as regent for her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790 CE. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history...

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...

A 6th century CE mosaic depicting Empress Theodora and her court in the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna.

A view of the RMS Empress of Ireland at sea which sank after a collision in May 1914. (Library and Archives Canada, PA-116389)

A portrait of the Empress Sabina, wife of Roman emperor Hadrian. (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen)

A portrait of the Empress Sabina, wife of Roman emperor Hadrian. The portrait was carved around 117-118 CE and comes from Ostia. (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen)

A 1780s oil-on-canvas portrait by Alexander Roslin of Empress Catherine II of Russia (1729-96). Catherine was formally crowned empress regent on 22 September 1762 and this portrait endorses her royal status, perhaps a welcome endorsement...

Empress Wu Zetian (r. 683-704 CE) of the Tang Dynasty. Image taken from An 18th-century album of portraits of 86 emperors of China, with Chinese historical notes. Originally published/produced in China, 18th century. (British Library, Shelfmark...