Question

The historian Procopius attributes this speech to Theodora. She supposedly said it to Justinian when he wanted to flee from the Nika Riots.

“Now if you wish to save yourself, O Emperor, this is not hard. For we have much money; there is the sea, here are the boats. But think whether after you have been saved you may not come to feel that you would have preferred to die. As for me, I like a certain old proverb that says: royalty is a good shroud (burial garment).”
—History of the Wars, Procopius

Which of the following reflects Theodora’s attitude about dealing with the Nika Riots?

It

Answer 1

i think It is politically savvy to flee the rioters. It is honorable for an emperor to flee the rioters.

Answer 2

Not sure what the choices are, but according to this passage, she wanted to die in the capital as an empress than flee as a coward.

Theodora talked him out of fleeing the city and the emperor agreed to stay. After that, Justinian managed to rally generals loyal to him (such as Belisarius), organize a military response, and slaughtered the tens of thousands of rebellious rioters that had gathered in the city's arena (both Blues and Greens, the two groups that made up the rioters). A eunuch of his, Narses, had even posted soldiers at the exits to kill anyone that wanted to flee.

After this demonstration of power, no one doubted Justinian's position as emperor again. At the same time, this also taught Justinian a valuable lesson in politics.