Martina was the niece of the emperor Heraclius, whom she married after the death of his first wife Eudocia, a union condemned as incestuous and only tolerated by Patriarch Sergius for reasons of political expediency. Of their nine children, several died in infancy and others were born with physical infirmities, misfortunes the public attributed to divine punishment for the marriage, making her one of the most despised figures in Constantinople. After Heraclius died she attempted to seize control of the empire, but popular opposition backed a rival claimant, and she was mutilated—her tongue cut out and her nose slit—before being exiled to Rhodes.
What each episode says
Episode 10 (4 mentions)
Heraclius' niece whom he married in violation of several laws and commandments after Eudosia's death, a union the Patriarch Sergius overlooked for the greater good. Never popular, she bore Heraclius nine children — four died in infancy, one had a deformed neck, another was deaf and dumb — and citizens attributed these misfortunes to God's punishment for the incestuous marriage. She became one of the most hated women in Constantinople.
“violating several laws, not to mention commandments, had recently married his niece Martina.”
“for the winter to enable the Empress Martina to safely deliver a child.”
“Eventually God had removed his favor, and Martina, never popular, became one of the”
Episode 11 (1 mention)
The unpopular widow of Heraclius who tried to take control of the empire after his death. The people backed a rival claimant who had her tongue cut out and her nose slit before exiling her to the island of Rhodes.
“His death threw the Empire into confusion, and when his unpopular widow Martina tried”
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