Justinian II had first succeeded to the throne in 685. In 695, Justinian was deposed by a
coup d'état under
strategos Leontius. Justinian's
nose was slit and he was exiled to
Cherson in
Crimea. Justinian stayed in Cherson for about seven years with no apparent incident. However rumors that the deposed emperor was plotting his restoration came to the attention of the city authorities c. 702. They decided to arrest and send him to
Constantinople, surrendering his fate to
Tiberius III. Justinian instead escaped Cherson and sought refuge in the court of
Busir. Busir welcomed the exile and formed a familial relation to Justinian by marrying him to his sister, whose original name is unknown, in 703. Theodora was her baptismal name and marks her conversion to
Chalcedonian Christianity. The name was probably chosen to evoke memories of
Theodora, wife of
Justinian I. Busir provided the couple with funds and a house in
Phanagoria. Tiberius eventually took notice of the new marital alliance and bribed Busir in exchange for the head of Justinian. According to the chronicle of
Theophanes the Confessor, c. 704 Busir dispatched two agents to murder his brother-in-law,
Balgitzin and
Papatzys. Theodora became aware of their mission and warned her husband in advance, enabling him to
strangle both men and sail in a fishing boat back to Cherson. Theodora was left behind in the custody of her brother. Their only known son Tiberius is considered to have been born at some point during the separation of his parents, indicating Theodora was pregnant prior to the escape. == Empress ==