Talk:Theodora of Trebizond

Rationale for importance?
It's not obvious why Theodora would be rated at "Mid" importance for three WP groups. (IIRC, WP:BIO does not rate importance of people.) I see why WP: WMNHIST would rank her at Mid: Theodora was a woman who ruled over a kingdom/Empire. However, Trebizond was a second-tier power, & her reign was brief -- about a year -- & the only recorded act for her was that she issued some coins. And my own inclination for rulers of Trebizond is to rate them all as "Low" importance unless there is a good reason otherwise. (For example, Alexios I-III & Manuel I definitely can be defended as at least "Mid" importance.) Unless someone can provide a rationale for the Greece & Middle Ages groups, I'll re-rate those as "Low". -- llywrch (talk) 16:52, 13 April 2014 (UTC)

An article relevant for further research
Unfortunately, it's not in JSTOR but thru Wiley, so access may be either thru a hard copy or a library with a subscription. -- llywrch (talk) 23:19, 28 December 2014 (UTC)
 * Tobler, H., and Brubaker, L. "The gender of money: Byzantine empresses on coins (324–802)", Gender and History 12 (2000), 572–94.

To do
All of this may be enough to lift this article from stub status. -- llywrch (talk) 17:59, 4 March 2016 (UTC)
 * 1) Explain the vague date of birth. IIRC, "1253" is based on Kuršanskis' chronology of Manuel's paramours -- but there is no check when Rusudan was his mistress or wife.
 * 2) Explain the rationale for identifying the Georgian king (whom Panaretos calls only "David of Georgia")
 * 3) A general essay discussing the issues of a woman as Empress. Trebziond thought of itself as a Byzantine polity, so it's accurate to look back at the reigns of Irene, Zoe, & Theodora for precedents & insights. For example, all three had husbands, who acted as figureheads while the women made the decisions, so Theodora being a (presumably) single woman was a liability that might have led to her brief reign. Tobler-Brubaker may offer further insights. Also compare to what is known of Irene Palaiologina & Anna of Trebizond.