Alexios Axouch
Encyclopedia
Alexios Axouch or Axouchos, sometimes found as Axuch , was a 12th-century Byzantine
nobleman and military leader of Turkish ancestry.
He was the son of John Axouch, the leading general of the Byzantine army
under Emperor John II Komnenos
(r. 1118–1143). Alexios himself married Maria Komnene, the daughter of John II's eldest son and co-emperor Alexios. With the rank of protostrator
, the second-in-command of the Byzantine army, Alexios participated in several military campaigns during the middle reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos
(r. 1143–1180). He took part in Manuel's failed campaign in Southern Italy in 1158, was governor of Cilicia
in 1165 and possibly also participated in the war with Hungary
in 1166.
In ca. 1167 however he fell out of favour with Manuel after being charged with conspiring against him and having previously been criticized for a peculiar act of lèse majesté
: he had decorated one of his palaces in Constantinople
with magnificent pictures of the campaigns and victories of Kilij Arslan II
(r. 1156–1192), the Seljuk Sultan of Iconium, and not, as was customary, with the exploits of Manuel himself. Among other things, Alexios was accused of "dabbling in sorcery" and conspiring with a Latin "wizard" to drug the Empress Maria of Antioch
to prevent her from giving birth to an heir. The historian John Kinnamos
maintained that the charges of conspiracy were genuine, but Niketas Choniates believed that Axouch had been set up by the insecure Manuel. Whatever the truth, Alexios was found guilty and confined to a monastery for the rest of his days.
Alexios Axouch had two sons, one of whom, John Komnenos "the Fat"
, led an abortive revolt against Emperor Alexios III Angelos
(r. 1195–1203) in July 1201, and was killed during it.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
nobleman and military leader of Turkish ancestry.
He was the son of John Axouch, the leading general of the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
under Emperor John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
(r. 1118–1143). Alexios himself married Maria Komnene, the daughter of John II's eldest son and co-emperor Alexios. With the rank of protostrator
Protostrator
Prōtostratōr was a Byzantine court office, originating as the imperial stable master, which in the last centuries of the Empire evolved into one of the senior military offices...
, the second-in-command of the Byzantine army, Alexios participated in several military campaigns during the middle reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(r. 1143–1180). He took part in Manuel's failed campaign in Southern Italy in 1158, was governor of Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
in 1165 and possibly also participated in the war with Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
in 1166.
In ca. 1167 however he fell out of favour with Manuel after being charged with conspiring against him and having previously been criticized for a peculiar act of lèse majesté
Lèse majesté
Lese-majesty is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.This behavior was first classified as a criminal offence against the dignity of the Roman republic in Ancient Rome...
: he had decorated one of his palaces in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
with magnificent pictures of the campaigns and victories of Kilij Arslan II
Kilij Arslan II
Kilij Arslan II was a Seljuk Sultan of Rûm from 1156 until his death in 1192.As Arnold of Lübeck reports in his Chronica Slavorum, he was present at the meeting of Henry the Lion with Kilij-Arslan during the former's pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1172...
(r. 1156–1192), the Seljuk Sultan of Iconium, and not, as was customary, with the exploits of Manuel himself. Among other things, Alexios was accused of "dabbling in sorcery" and conspiring with a Latin "wizard" to drug the Empress Maria of Antioch
Maria of Antioch
Maria of Antioch was a Byzantine empress as the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. She was the daughter of Constance of Antioch and her first husband Raymond of Poitiers...
to prevent her from giving birth to an heir. The historian John Kinnamos
John Kinnamos
Joannes Kinnamos or John Cinnamus was a Greek historian. He was imperial secretary to Emperor Manuel I , whom he accompanied on his campaigns in Europe and Asia Minor...
maintained that the charges of conspiracy were genuine, but Niketas Choniates believed that Axouch had been set up by the insecure Manuel. Whatever the truth, Alexios was found guilty and confined to a monastery for the rest of his days.
Alexios Axouch had two sons, one of whom, John Komnenos "the Fat"
John Komnenos the Fat
John Komnenos , nicknamed "the Fat" , was a Byzantine noble who on 31 July 1201 attempted to usurp the imperial throne from Alexios III Angelos in a short-lived coup in Constantinople...
, led an abortive revolt against Emperor Alexios III Angelos
Alexios III Angelos
Alexios III Angelos was Byzantine Emperor from 1195 to 1203.- Early life:Alexios III Angelos was the second son of Andronikos Angelos and Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa. Andronicus was himself a son of Theodora Komnene, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. Thus...
(r. 1195–1203) in July 1201, and was killed during it.