Thekla (daughter of Theophilos)

Thekla (c. 831 – after 870) was a Byzantine princess, the daughter of Emperor Theophilos and Empress Theodora. She was proclaimed Augusta in 842, after her father's death and her brother Michael III's accession to the throne, but her mother Theodora served as regent.

Thekla, alongside her sisters, was raised with a strong emphasis on education and piety under the watchful eye of her mother. She was known for her beauty and intelligence.

Several prominent courtiers were considered as potential husbands for Thekla, but Theodora apparently declined to arrange a marriage, perhaps fearing the emergence of a rival claimant to the throne through her daughter's husband.

Later in her life, after Michael III assumed full power and Theodora was sidelined, Thekla became implicated in scandals within the Byzantine court. Sources suggest she had multiple affairs, and allegedly bore an illegitimate child with Basil I, who later usurped the throne from Michael III. However, these allegations are debated by historians.

Regardless of the truth of the scandalous rumors, Thekla wielded considerable influence during the reigns of Michael III and, initially, Basil I. She remained a figure of importance at court, though her power diminished over time. The precise date and circumstances of her death are unknown, but she likely lived past 870.