Theodota

Theodota (also spelled Teodote or Theodote) was a Byzantine noblewoman, most notable for her association with the Lombard king Cunipert (688-700). The Plutei of Theodota are named after her.

For other uses, see Theodote (disambiguation).

A biography of her appears in Book 5 of Paul the Deacon's Historia Langobardorum. This calls her "a girl from a most noble Roman [ie Byzantine, probably Ravennese[1]] family". She was noticed by Cunipert's wife Ermelinda in the baths which had been built by Damian of Pavia - the Lombard kings at the end of the 7th century still followed a Byzantine style of living, including bathing[1]. Ermelinda described Theodota's beauty, especially her elegant and ornate long blonde hair. Cunipert did not indicate any explicit interest in the girl but instead immediately organised a hunt outside Pavia and ordered Ermelinda to take part in it with him. However, when night fell Cunipert secretly returned to the city and slept with Theodota - Paul initially states that Cunipert "cum ea concubit" (went to bed with her), leaving it unclear whether it was consensual or not, but later on in Book 5 (Chapter 37) writes "de stupro Theodotae" (about the rape of Theodota). Damian concludes by writing that Cunipert later placed Theodota in a nunnery in Pavia "that was named after her", meaning Santa Maria alla Pusterla, later renamed Santa Maria Teodote[1].

References
  1. (in Italian) Lida Capo, Commento in Paolo Diacono, Storia dei Longobardi, pp. 556-557.
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