They even afforded them every opportunity to avoid being surprised.
Theodora claimed complete control of the State at her sole discretion.
She appointed magistrates and ecclesiastical dignitaries.

Her only care and anxiety was--and as to this she made the most careful investigation--to prevent any office being given to a good and honourable man, who might be prevented by his conscience from assisting her in her nefarious designs.
She ordered all marriages as it were by a kind of divine authority; men never made a voluntary agreement before marriage.

A wife was found for each without any previous notice, not because she pleased him (as is generally the case even amongst the barbarians) but because Theodora so desired it.

Brides also had to put up with the same treatment, and were obliged to marry husbands whom they did not desire.

She often turned the bride out of bed herself, and, without any reason, dismissed the bridegroom before the marriage had been consummated, merely saying, in great anger, that she disapproved of her.