Theodora Komnene

http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00049913&tree=LEO

Isaac II Angelos From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andronikos Dukas Angelos, a military leader in Asia Minor (c. 1122 – aft. 1185), married bef. 1155 Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa (c. 1125 – aft. 1195), was a son of Theodora Komnene (b. January 5, 1096/1097), the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Eirene Doukaina, by her marriage c. 1120 to Konstantinos Angelos, Admiral of Sicily (c. 1085 – aft. July 1166)

I. Isaac Comnene nació hacia el año 925. Tuvo por hijo a

II. Manuel Comnene Erotikos, que nació hacia el año 960. Murió en 1020. Tuvo por hijo a

III. Juan I Comnene, que nació hacia el año 1015. Murió el 22-X-1067. Fue emperador de Bizancio. Casó, en 1042, con Ana Delassene (c.1020 a c.1102), hija de Alexis Charon y una hija de Adrián Delassene (hijo de Teofilacto Delassene). Tuvieron po hijo a

IV. Alexis I Comnene, que nació el año 1056 en Constantinopla. Murió también en Constantinopla el 12-XII-1118. Casó, hacia 1077, con Irene Dukas (1066 a 18-VI-1123), hija de Andrónico Dukas y María, princesa de Bulgaria. Andrónico Dukas era hijo de Juan Dukas e Irene Pegonita, y nieto de Andrónico Dukas y Nicolás Pregonites. Para el linaje de los Reyes de Bulgaria, ver nota 6. Alexis I e Irene tuvieron por hijos a Juan II Comnene (1087, que sigue) y THEODORA COMNENE (1100, que casó con Constantino Angelos, hijo de Manolis Angelos; y tuvieron por hijo a Andrónikas Dukas Angelos, padre de Isaac II Angelos, emperador de Bizancio, y abuelo de Ángela Irene de Bizancio, emperatriz: ver Dinastía Angelos).

V. Juan II Comnene nació el 24-III-1087/1088. Murió el 5-VII-1143 en Taurus, Turquía. Casó en 1104 con Prisca (Irene) de Hungría (1075 a 10-XII-1134, en Bitinia, Turquía), hija de San Ladislao de Hungría y Adelaida von Rheinfelden. Tuvieron por hijo a

VI. Andrónico Comnene, que nació en Balalista, Grecia, en 1108, y murió en 1142. Casó, en 1124, con Irene Aineidasa (nacida después de 1100 y fallecida en Protocrator, Grecia, en 1152. Tuvieron por hijos a Eudoxia Comnene (desp. de 1128; casó con Andrónico I Comnene -1110 a 1185-, y tuvieron por hija a Irene Comnene, esposa de Isaac II Angelos, emperador de Bizancio: ver Dinastía Angelos) y Alexis (1130, que sigue).

VII. Alexis Comnene nació en 1130 y murió en 1183. Casó el 2-IV-1162 con María Dukaina. Tuvieron por hija a

VIII. Eudoxia Comnene (c.1162 a 3-II-1202/1203), que casó con Guillermo VIII, señor de Montpellier.

Anna Komnene or Comnena (Greek: Άννα Κομνηνή, Anna Komnēnē; December 1, 1083–1153) was a Byzantine princess and scholar, daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. She wrote the Alexiad, making her one of the first female historians after those such as Ban Zhao (fl. 45–116).

Family and early life

Anna was born in the Porphyra Chamber (the purple chamber) of the imperial palace of Constantinople and was thus Porphyrogenita. She was the eldest of nine children. Her younger siblings were (in order of birth) Maria Komnene, John II Komnenos, Andronikos Komnenos, Isaac Komnenos, Eudokia Komnene, Theodora Komnene, Manuel Komnenos and Zoe Komnene. Although she was carefully trained in the study of history, mathematics, science, and Greek philosophy, Anna’s parents banned her from studying ancient poetry (whose glorifications of lustful gods and unchaste women they deemed inappropriate and even dangerous for a young woman of her class to study). Despite her parents' attempts to restrict her, Anna furtively studied the forbidden poetry with one of the imperial court’s eunuchs. Thus, Anna received an extraordinary education that undoubtedly made her one of the most educated women of her time. [edit]Betrothal and marriage

As was customary of nobility in the medieval times, Anna was betrothed at infancy. She was to marry Constantine Doukas, the son of Emperor Michael VII and Maria of Alania. Because at the time of the engagement Emperor Alexios I had no rightful male heirs to inherit the throne, young Constantine was proclaimed the co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. However, in 1087 a blood heir, John II, was born, and Constantine had to forfeit his imperial claims. He died shortly thereafter. In 1097, 14-year-old Anna Comnena married an accomplished young nobleman, the Caesar Nikephoros Bryennios. Nikephoros Bryennios was the son of an aristocratic family that had contested the throne before the accession of Alexios I. Nikephoros was also a renowned statesman, general, and historian. Anna claimed that the marriage was a political union rather than one of love. For the most part, however, it proved to be a successful union for forty years, and produced four children—Alexios Komnenos, John Ducas, Eirene Doukaina, and Maria Bryennaina Komnene. [edit]Claim to the throne

From childhood, Anna supposed that she would someday lead the Empire, a dream shattered by the birth of her brother. Yet, Anna's substantial hunger for power did not permit her to accept John's ascension to the throne. Anna deemed that she and her husband should assume the title of Emperors instead. Thus, the couple conspired with her mother, Irene Doukaina, to disinherit her younger brother John and give the crown to Anna's husband. At this time her father was weak and struggling against his last illness. However, they did not succeed, and in 1118 John II ascended to the throne. Anna's attempts at usurping the imperial crown persisted, and in 1118 she plotted again to depose her brother and replace him with Nikephoros. However, the plan collapsed when in the last minute Nikephoros refused to collaborate. Enraged and disappointed with her husband's weakness, Anna said that "nature had mistaken their sexes, for he ought to have been the woman." The plot was discovered, and Anna had to forfeit her property and imperial family status and was forced into exile to the convent of Kecharitomene, which her mother had founded. Anna's mother and her sister Eudokia fled with her too. Ironically, Nikephoros remained in the royal palace and became one of Emperor John's closest advisors. [edit]Historian

In the seclusion of the monastery, Anna dedicated her time to studying philosophy and history. She held esteemed intellectual gatherings, including those dedicated to Aristotelian studies. Anna's intellectual genius and breadth of knowledge is evident in her few works. Among other things, she was conversant with philosophy, literature, grammar, theology, astronomy, and medicine. It can be assumed because of minor errors that she may have quoted Homer and the Bible from memory when writing her most celebrated work, Alexiad. Her contemporaries, like the metropolitan Bishop of Ephesus, Georgios Tornikes, regarded Anna as a person who had reached "the highest summit of wisdom, both secular and divine." Being a historian, Nikephoros Bryennios had been working on an essay that he called “Material For History,” which focused on the reign of Alexios I. He died in 1137 before finishing the work. At the age of 55 Anna took it upon herself to finish her husband's work, calling the completed work the Alexiad, the history of her father's life and reign (1081–1118) in Greek. Alexiad is today the main source of Byzantine political history of the end of the 11th century to the beginning of the 12th century. In the Alexiad, Anna provided insight on political relations and wars between Alexios I and the West. She vividly described weaponry, tactics and battles. It has been noted that she was writing about events that were happening when she was a child, and may not possibly have remembered as her own eye-witness account. Her neutrality is compromised by the fact that she was writing to praise her father and denigrate his successors. Despite her unabashed partiality, her account of the First Crusade is of great value to history because it is the only Hellenic eyewitness account available. She had the opportunity to glean events from key figures in the Byzantine elite. Her husband Nikephorus Bryennios had fought in the clash with crusade leader Godfrey of Bouillon outside Constantinople on Maundy Thursday 1097. Her uncle George Palaeologus was present at Pelekanon in June 1097 when Alexius I discussed future strategy with the crusaders. Thus the Alexiad allows the events of the First Crusade to be seen from the Byzantine elite's perspective. It conveys the alarm felt at the scale of the western European forces proceeding through Byzantium, and the dangers they may have posed to the safety of Constantinople. Special suspicion was reserved for crusading leader Bohemond of Taranto, a southern Italian Norman who, under the leadership of his father Robert Guiscard, had invaded Byzantine territory in the Balkans in 1081. Though she considers him a barbarian and makes him the villain of her piece for his enmity with her father and his subsequent possession of formerly Byzantine Antioch, there is more than a hint of infatuation for this 'habitual rogue'. The book also contributes to understanding of the female mentality, mindset, and perception of the world during the Byzantine times. Anna Comnena's literary style is fashioned after Thucydides, Polybius, and Xenophon. Consequently, it exhibits struggle for an Atticism characteristic of the period, whereby the resulting language is highly artificial. For the most part, the chronology of events in the Alexiad is sound, except for those that occurred after Anna’s exile to the monastery. Nevertheless, her history meets the standards of her time (Catholic Encyclopedia). The exact date of Anna Comnena’s death is uncertain. It is inferred from the Alexiad that she was still alive in 1148. Moreover, the Alexiad sheds light on Anna’s emotional turmoil. She wrote that no one could see her, yet many hated her (Lubarsky, pg 3). Thus, she loathed the isolated position in society that the exile has forced upon her. [edit]Depictions in fiction and other media

A fictional account of Anna Comnena’s life is given in the 1999 novel Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett. [edit]Family

By the kaisar Nikephoros Bryennios, Anna Komnene had several children, including: Alexios Komnenos, megas doux, c. 1102–c. 1161/1167 John Doukas, c. 1103–after 1173 Eirene Doukaina, c. 1105–? Maria Bryennaina Komnene, c. 1107–?

Anna Komnene, latinized as Comnena (Greek: Άννα Κομνηνή, Anna Komnēnē; December 1, 1083–1153) was a Byzantine princess and scholar, daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. She wrote the Alexiad, an account of her father's reign, making her one of the first Western female historians.

Anna was born in the Porphyra Chamber (the purple chamber) of the imperial palace of Constantinople and was thus a porphyrogenita. She was the eldest of nine children. Her younger siblings were (in order of birth) Maria Komnene, John II Komnenos, Andronikos Komnenos, Isaac Komnenos, Eudokia Komnene, Theodora Komnene, Manuel Komnenos and Zoe Komnene.

Although, she was carefully trained in the study of history, mathematics, science, and Greek philosophy, Anna’s parents banned her from studying ancient poetry (whose glorification of lustful gods and unchaste women they deemed inappropriate and even dangerous for a young woman of her class to study). Despite her parents' attempts to restrict her, Anna furtively studied the forbidden poetry with one of the imperial court’s eunuchs. Thus, Anna received an extraordinary education that undoubtedly made her one of the most educated women of her time.

Betrothal and marriage

As was customary for nobility in the medieval times, Anna was betrothed at infancy. She was to marry Constantine Doukas, the son of Emperor Michael VII and Maria of Alania. Because at the time of the engagement Emperor Alexios I had no rightful male heirs to inherit the throne, young Constantine was proclaimed the co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. However, in 1087 a blood heir, John II, was born, and Constantine had to forfeit his imperial claims. He died shortly thereafter.

In 1097, 14-year-old Anna Komnene married an accomplished young nobleman, the Caesar Nikephoros Bryennios. Nikephoros Bryennios was the son of an aristocratic family that had contested the throne before the accession of Alexios I. Nikephoros was also a renowned statesman, general, and historian. Anna claimed that the marriage was a political union rather than one of love. For the most part, however, it proved to be a successful union for forty years, and produced four children—Alexios Komnenos, John Ducas, Eirene Doukaina, and Maria Bryennaina Komnene.

Claim to the throne

From childhood, Anna supposed that she would someday lead the Empire, a dream shattered by the birth of her brother. Yet, Anna's substantial hunger for power did not permit her to accept John's ascension to the throne. Anna deemed that she and her husband should assume the title of Emperors instead. Thus, the couple conspired with her mother, Irene Doukaina, to disinherit her younger brother John and give the crown to Anna's husband. At this time her father was weak and struggling against his last illness. However, they did not succeed, and in 1118 John II ascended to the throne.

Anna's attempts at usurping the imperial crown persisted, and in 1118 she plotted again to depose her brother and replace him with Nikephoros. However, the plan collapsed when in the last minute Nikephoros refused to collaborate. Enraged and disappointed with her husband's weakness, Anna said that "nature had mistaken their sexes, for he ought to have been the woman." The plot was discovered, and Anna had to forfeit her property and imperial family status and was forced into exile to the convent of the Kecharitōménē ("Full of Grace"), which her mother had founded. Anna's mother and her sister Eudokia fled with her too. Ironically, Nikephoros remained in the royal palace and became one of Emperor John's closest advisors.

Historian

In the seclusion of the monastery, Anna dedicated her time to studying philosophy and history. She held esteemed intellectual gatherings, including those dedicated to Aristotelian studies. Anna's intellectual genius and breadth of knowledge is evident in her few works. Among other things, she was conversant with philosophy, literature, grammar, theology, astronomy, and medicine. It can be assumed because of minor errors that she may have quoted Homer and the Bible from memory when writing her most celebrated work, the Alexiad. Her contemporaries, like the metropolitan Bishop of Ephesus, Georgios Tornikes, regarded Anna as a person who had reached "the highest summit of wisdom, both secular and divine."

Being a historian, Nikephoros Bryennios had been working on an essay that he called “Material For History,” which focused on the reign of Alexios I. He died in 1137 before finishing the work. At the age of 55, Anna took it upon herself to finish her husband's work, calling the completed work the Alexiad, the history of her father's life and reign (1081–1118) in Greek. Alexiad is today the main source of Byzantine political history of the end of the 11th century to the beginning of the 12th century.

In the Alexiad, Anna provided insight on political relations and wars between Alexios I and the West. She vividly described weaponry, tactics and battles. It has been noted that she was writing about events that occurred when she was a child, so these are not eye-witness accounts. Her neutrality is compromised by the fact that she was writing to praise her father and denigrate his successors. Despite her unabashed partiality, her account of the First Crusade is of great value to history because it is the only Hellenic eyewitness account available. She had the opportunity to glean events from key figures in the Byzantine elite. Her husband Nikephorus Bryennios had fought in the clash with crusade leader Godfrey of Bouillon outside Constantinople on Maundy Thursday 1097. Her uncle George Palaeologus was present at Pelekanon in June 1097 when Alexius I discussed future strategy with the crusaders. Thus the Alexiad allows the events of the First Crusade to be seen from the Byzantine elite's perspective. It conveys the alarm felt at the scale of the western European forces proceeding through Byzantium, and the dangers they may have posed to the safety of Constantinople.

Special suspicion was reserved for crusading leader Bohemond of Taranto, a southern Italian Norman who, under the leadership of his father Robert Guiscard, had invaded Byzantine territory in the Balkans in 1081. Though she considers him a barbarian and makes him the villain of her piece for his enmity with her father and his subsequent possession of formerly Byzantine Antioch, there is more than a hint of infatuation for this 'habitual rogue'.

The book also contributes to understanding of the female mentality, mindset, and perception of the world during the Byzantine times.

Anna Komnene's literary style is fashioned after Thucydides, Polybius, and Xenophon. Consequently, it exhibits struggle for an Atticism characteristic of the period, whereby the resulting language is highly artificial. For the most part, the chronology of events in the Alexiad is sound, except for those that occurred after Anna’s exile to the monastery, when she no longer had access to the imperial archives. Nevertheless, her history meets the standards of her time (Catholic Encyclopedia).

The exact date of Anna Komnene’s death is uncertain. It is inferred from the Alexiad that she was still alive in 1148. Moreover, the Alexiad sheds light on Anna’s emotional turmoil. She wrote that no one could see her, yet many hated her (Lubarsky, pg 3). Thus, she loathed the isolated position in society that exile had forced upon her.

Depictions in fiction and other media

Fictional accounts of Anna Komnene’s life appear in the 1928 novel Anna Comnena by Naomi Mitchison and the 1999 novel for young people Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett. A novel written in 2008 by Ben Blushi (Albanian writer) called "Living on an island" also mentions Anna Komnene. One of the best novels about Anna Komene "I, Anna Komene" is writen by Vera Mutafchieva, a Bulgarian writer and historian.

Family

By the kaisar Nikephoros Bryennios, Anna Komnene had several children, including:

Alexios Komnenos, megas doux, c. 1102–c. 1161/1167 John Doukas, c. 1103–after 1173 Eirene Doukaina, c. 1105–? Maria Bryennaina Komnene, c. 1107–? References

Anna Comnena, The Alexiad, translated by Elizabeth A. Dawes in 1928 Anna Comnena, The Alexiad of Anna Comnena, edited and translated by E.R.A. Sewter. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1969. (This print version uses more idiomatic English and has more extensive notes). Georgina Buckler, Anna Comnena: A Study, Oxford University Press, 1929. ISBN 0 19 821471 5 John France, "Anna Comnena, the Alexiad and the First Crusade", Reading Medieval Studies v.9 (1983) Thalia Gouma-Peterson (ed.), Anna Komnene and her Times, New York: Garland, 2000. ISBN 0 8153 3851 1. Jonathan Harris, Byzantium and the Crusades, London: Hambledon, 2003, pp. 53–73. ISBN 1 85285 298 4. Levin, Carole, et al. Extraordinary Women of the Medieval and Renaissance World. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 1991. Paul Stephenson, "Anna Comnena's Alexiad as a source for the Second Crusade?", Journal of Medieval History v. 29 (2003) "Anna Comnena" in the Catholic Encyclopedia. Female Heroes From The Time of the Crusades: Anna Comnena.1999. Women in World History. 12 Dec. 2006. < [1]>. K. Varzos, Ē genealogia tōn Komnēnōn, Thessalonikē, 1984.

Family Theodora was born in Constantinople on 15 January 1096, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. She had four brothers and four sisters. Among her siblings were Emperor John II Komnenos, and historian Anna Komnene. Her paternal grandparents were Ioannis Komnenos and Anna Dalassena. Her maternal grandparents were Andronikos Doukas and Maria of Bulgaria.

Marriage and children Theodora married Konstantinos Angelos (c.1085- after July 1166) sometime before 1120. He was the son of Manolis Angelos, and a military commander of Emperor Manuel I and would later in 1145 become the commander of the Imperial fleet in Sicily. Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates names Theodoram Alexii avi Manuelis filiam as the wife of Constantium Angelum.Together Konstantinos and Theodora had seven recorded children, although there were possibly eight children born to the couple:

John Doukas (c.1126- 1200), Governor of Epirus, married firstly a lady whose name is unknown by whom he had two sons; married secondly Zoe Doukaina by whom he had three sons. Alexios Komnenos Angelos, married and fathered one son. Andronikos Dukas Angelos (died after 1185), married Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa, by whom he had nine children including emperors Alexios III Angelos and Isaac II Angelos. Isaac Angelos, military Governor of Cilicia Maria Angelina, married Konstantinos Kamytzes, by whom she had one daughter. Eudokia Angelina, married Basileios Tsykandeles Zoe Angelina, married Andronikos Synadenos Theodora Komnene died on an unknown date. Among her numerous descendants was Irene Angelina, wife of Philip of Swabia; thus Theodora is an ancestress of every royal house in Europe.

Theodora Komnene first married Konstantine Kourtikes and second our ancestor Konstantine Angelos.