Theodora Petraliphaina of Arta

Theodora Petraliphaina was a Consort of Epirus and an Orthodox Christian Saint. Theodora was the daughter of the  Sebastokrator  John Petraliphas, governor of Thessaly and Macedonia. She was born in Thessalonica sometime between 1210 - 1216, and married Michael II Komnenos Doukas, the ruler of Epirus and Thessaly shortly after his accession in 1231, while still a child. Despite her being pregnant with Michael's son Nikephoros, she was soon banished from the court by her husband, who preferred to live with his mistress. Living in poverty, she endured her hardship without complaint, sheltered by a priest from the village of Prinista. Her exile lasted for five years, after which Michael repented and called her back to him. The couple thereafter lived together. As Consort of Epirus, Theodora is reported to have favoured closer ties with Epirus' traditional rival for the succession of the Byzantine imperial heritage, the Empire of Nicaea. She is also recorded by the contemporary historian George Akropolites as accompanying her son Nikephoros for his betrothal and later his marriage to Maria, the daughter of the Nicaean emperor Theodore II Laskaris (r. 1254–1258). The rapprochement brought about a settlement of the two realms' ecclesiastical disputes and led to the conferment of the title of  despotes  on Michael, but did not last long. Theodora also founded the convent of St. George in the Epirote capital, Arta, where she retired after Michael's death, and where she was buried. It later became known as the Church of St. Theodora, and her tomb became the site of pilgrimage, as many miracles have been attributed to it. She is the Patroness Saint of Arta, and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on March 11. By her marriage with Michael she had six children, including: Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas, who succeeded Michael as ruler of Epirus John Doukas Demetrios Doukas Komnenos Koutroules Helena Angelina Doukaina, who married Manfred of Sicily Anna Komnene Doukaina.