Isaac Komnenos, Duke of Antioch
Encyclopedia
Isaac Komnenos or Comnenus was a notable Byzantine
general in the 1070s and one of the major supporters of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118), who was his younger brother. Alexios created the title of sebastokrator
for Isaac.
John Komnenos and Anna Dalassene. As such he belonged to the highest aristocracy of mid-11th century Byzantium, being the nephew of Emperor Isaac I Komnenos
(r. 1057–1059). In 1071 or 1072, the Emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) married him to Irene, a Georgian
princess and cousin to Michael's empress, Maria of Alania.
In the 1070s, following the disastrous Battle of Manzikert
, Isaac was employed as military commander in Anatolia
against the Seljuk Turks. In 1073, as Domestic of the Schools of the East (i.e. commander-in-chief of the eastern field army), he was captured by the Turks, and was released only after ransom was paid. In the next year, he was again sent East as doux
of Antioch
, he quelled local unrest, but was again captured by the Turks and had to be ransomed by the citizens of the city.
In the reign of Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–1081) he enjoyed the emperor's favour, and plotted at court, using his influence with Empress Maria to advance the position of the Komnenos
clan; especially that of his younger brother Alexios, who was directly related to the ruling Doukid dynasty through his marriage to Irene Doukaina
. When Alexios finally made his move and rebelled against Nikephoros III, it was Isaac who placed the emperor's purple boots on him; and thereafter he proved one of his most loyal, steadfast and enthusiastic supporters. Alexios in turn rewarded him by awarding him with the new title of sebastokrator
which marked him as a near-equal; in the words of Anna Komnene
, an "emperor without the purple".
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...
general in the 1070s and one of the major supporters of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
(r. 1081–1118), who was his younger brother. Alexios created the title of sebastokrator
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
for Isaac.
Life
Isaac was the second-eldest son and third child of the Domestic of the SchoolsDomestic of the Schools
The Domestic of the Schools was a senior Byzantine military office, extant from the 8th century until at least the early 14th century. Originally simply the commander of the Scholai, the senior of the elite tagmata regiments, the Domestic quickly rose in prominence: by the mid-9th century, its...
John Komnenos and Anna Dalassene. As such he belonged to the highest aristocracy of mid-11th century Byzantium, being the nephew of Emperor Isaac I Komnenos
Isaac I Komnenos
Isaac I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1057 to 1059, and the first reigning member of the Komnenos dynasty...
(r. 1057–1059). In 1071 or 1072, the Emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) married him to Irene, a Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
princess and cousin to Michael's empress, Maria of Alania.
In the 1070s, following the disastrous Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
, Isaac was employed as military commander in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
against the Seljuk Turks. In 1073, as Domestic of the Schools of the East (i.e. commander-in-chief of the eastern field army), he was captured by the Turks, and was released only after ransom was paid. In the next year, he was again sent East as doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
, he quelled local unrest, but was again captured by the Turks and had to be ransomed by the citizens of the city.
In the reign of Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–1081) he enjoyed the emperor's favour, and plotted at court, using his influence with Empress Maria to advance the position of the Komnenos
Komnenos
Komnenós or Comnenus was the name of a ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire , who halted the political decline of the Empire from c.1081 to c.1185.-Origins:...
clan; especially that of his younger brother Alexios, who was directly related to the ruling Doukid dynasty through his marriage to Irene Doukaina
Irene Doukaina
Irene Doukaina or Ducaena was the wife of the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos, and the mother of the emperor John II Komnenos and of the historian Anna Komnene.-Succession of Alexios and Irene:...
. When Alexios finally made his move and rebelled against Nikephoros III, it was Isaac who placed the emperor's purple boots on him; and thereafter he proved one of his most loyal, steadfast and enthusiastic supporters. Alexios in turn rewarded him by awarding him with the new title of sebastokrator
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
which marked him as a near-equal; in the words of Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
, an "emperor without the purple".
Family
By his wife Irene, he had several children:- John KomnenosJohn Komnenos (governor of Dyrrhachium)John Komnenos was a Byzantine aristocrat, the nephew of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and long-time governor of the strategically important city and theme of Dyrrhachium.-Early life:...
, protosebastos and governor (douxDuxDux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) of Dyrrhachium from 1092 to 1105/6 - Alexios Komnenos, pansebastos and doux of Dyrrhachium after 1105/6
- Constantine Komnenos, pansebastos and doux of BeroeaBeroeaBeroea is:*Veria , a city in northern Greece*a former name of Aleppo, Syria*mentioned in Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War; I,61,2...
, later megas droungarios - Adrianos Komnenos, became a monk, later Archbishop of BulgariaBulgarian Archbishopric of OhridThe Archbishopric of Ochrid was an autonomous Orthodox Church under the tutelage of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople between 1019 and 1767...
as John IV - Sophia Komnene, married Nikephoros Dokeianos
- Eudokia Komnene, married Nikephoros Botaneiates
- Two unnamed daughters, one of them was engaged to Gregory GabrasGregory GabrasGregory Gabras was the son of the Byzantine governor of Trebizond, Theodore Gabras who was involved in a minor unsuccessful rebellion against the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos around the year 1091.- Life at Constantinople :...