Isaac Kontostephanos
Encyclopedia
Isaac Kontostephanos was a Byzantine
admiral during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118), marked by his incompetence in the wars against the Normans
.
Kontostephanos first appears in 1080, during the imperial campaign against the rebel Nikephoros Melissenos
. During this expedition, he fell off his horse and was nearly captured by Melissenos' Turkish allies, but was saved by George Palaiologos. He is next attested, holding the rank of protonobelissimos, at the 1094 synod of Blachernae
.
By 1105, Kontostephanos had become a senior admiral (doux
) in the Byzantine fleet. With the anticipated Norman
invasion of Bohemond drawing near, Kontostephanos was named megas doux
(commander-in-chief of the imperial fleet), succeeding Landulf, and sent to Dyrrhachium to intercept it. On his own initiative however, Kontostephanos resolved to attack the city of Otranto
in Italy, which was defended by Emma of Hauteville
. Although his forces could have taken the city by storm, Kontostephanos allowed himself to be involved in negotiations with Emma, which she dragged on until Norman reinforcements arrived. Defeated in battle by the newly arrived Norman troops, Kontostephanos and his fleet were forced to withdraw to the Albanian coast. Making Aulon
his base, he began patrolling the Strait of Otranto
. At the news that Bohemond's army was preparing to cross the sea however, most of the army panicked and fled to Himara, while Kontostephanos was unable to reimpose order.
After Bohemond's successful landing, the Emperor charged Kontostephanos with intercepting the Norman supply convoys, but here too he failed. After receiving letters from Landulf detailing Kontostephanos' incompetence, Alexios finally dismissed him in summer 1108 and replaced him with Marianos Maurokatakalon.
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...
admiral during the reign of 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), marked by his incompetence in the wars against the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
.
Kontostephanos first appears in 1080, during the imperial campaign against the rebel Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos , latinized as Nicephorus Melissenus, was a Byzantine general and aristocrat. Of distinguished lineage, he served as a governor and general in the Balkans and Asia Minor in the 1060s. In the turbulent period after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, several generals tried to...
. During this expedition, he fell off his horse and was nearly captured by Melissenos' Turkish allies, but was saved by George Palaiologos. He is next attested, holding the rank of protonobelissimos, at the 1094 synod of Blachernae
Blachernae
Blachernae was a suburb in the northwestern section of Constantinople, the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. It was the site of a spring and a number of prominent churches were built there, most notably the great Church of St. Mary of Blachernae , built by Empress Pulcheria in circa 450,...
.
By 1105, Kontostephanos had become a senior admiral (doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) in the Byzantine fleet. With the anticipated Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
invasion of Bohemond drawing near, Kontostephanos was named megas doux
Megas Doux
The megas doux was one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of the later Byzantine Empire, denoting the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy. It is sometimes also given by the half-Latinizations megaduke or megadux...
(commander-in-chief of the imperial fleet), succeeding Landulf, and sent to Dyrrhachium to intercept it. On his own initiative however, Kontostephanos resolved to attack the city of Otranto
Otranto
Otranto is a town and comune in the province of Lecce , in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses.It is located on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto, to which the city gives its name, connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and Italy with Albania...
in Italy, which was defended by Emma of Hauteville
Emma of Hauteville
Emma of Hauteville was a daughter of Robert Guiscard and Alberada of Buonalbergo. According to Ralph of Caen, she married Odo the Good Marquis and had two sons: Tancred and William, both of whom participated in the First Crusade. Tancred became Prince of Galilee and William died in the Holy Land...
. Although his forces could have taken the city by storm, Kontostephanos allowed himself to be involved in negotiations with Emma, which she dragged on until Norman reinforcements arrived. Defeated in battle by the newly arrived Norman troops, Kontostephanos and his fleet were forced to withdraw to the Albanian coast. Making Aulon
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
his base, he began patrolling the Strait of Otranto
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.- History :...
. At the news that Bohemond's army was preparing to cross the sea however, most of the army panicked and fled to Himara, while Kontostephanos was unable to reimpose order.
After Bohemond's successful landing, the Emperor charged Kontostephanos with intercepting the Norman supply convoys, but here too he failed. After receiving letters from Landulf detailing Kontostephanos' incompetence, Alexios finally dismissed him in summer 1108 and replaced him with Marianos Maurokatakalon.