John Doukas
Encyclopedia
John Doukas or Ducas (c. 1126 – c. 1200) was the eldest son of Constantine Angelos by Theodora Komnene, the seventh child of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
and Irene Doukaina
, from whose family name John Doukas took his own.
as a military commander. The day after the battle he led an attack against the Seljuk Turks but they did not stand and fight and he failed to enforce the renewal of a general engagement. In 1185 he supported his nephew Isaac II Angelos
in overthrowing Andronikos I Komnenos
and seizing the imperial throne. Isaac II rewarded him with the high court dignity of sebastokratōr
. For a while John Doukas was now the second most prominent man in the Empire, and in 1186 he led one of the exeditions against Peter and Asen
, who had rebelled, trying to re-establish the independence of Bulgaria
. In spite of his advanced age, John acquitted himself with some success. The suspicious emperor deprived him of his command, and in 1195 the elderly John supported the usurpation of his other nephew, Isaac's brother Alexios III Angelos
.
His second marriage was to a distant relative, Zoe Doukaina, a granddaughter of Isaac Komnenos, the son of Emperor John II Komnenos
. They had three sons:
He had three daughters, none of whose names is known for certain.
He also had an illegitimate son by an unnamed mistress:
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,...
and 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:...
, from whose family name John Doukas took his own.
Career
Doukas is first attested in an imperial document in 1166. In 1176 he participated at the Battle of MyriokephalonBattle of Myriokephalon
The Battle of Myriokephalon, also known as the ', or in Turkish, was a battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Turks in Phrygia on September 17, 1176. The battle was a strategic reverse for the Byzantine forces, who were ambushed when moving through a mountain pass...
as a military commander. The day after the battle he led an attack against the Seljuk Turks but they did not stand and fight and he failed to enforce the renewal of a general engagement. In 1185 he supported his nephew Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
in overthrowing Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1183 to 1185). He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and grandson of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.-Early years:...
and seizing the imperial throne. Isaac II rewarded him with the high court dignity of sebastokratōr
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 a while John Doukas was now the second most prominent man in the Empire, and in 1186 he led one of the exeditions against Peter and Asen
Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria
Ivan Asen I ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1189–1196. The year of his birth is unknown.-Life:...
, who had rebelled, trying to re-establish the independence of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. In spite of his advanced age, John acquitted himself with some success. The suspicious emperor deprived him of his command, and in 1195 the elderly John supported the usurpation of his other nephew, Isaac's brother 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...
.
Family
His first marriage (his wife's name is unknown) produced two sons:- Isaac Angelos, who married the daughter of Alexios BranasAlexios BranasAlexios Branas or Vranas was a Byzantine nobleman and military leader of the late 12th century.Alexios Branas was doubly linked to the imperial Komnenos family. He was the son of Michael Branas and of Maria Komnene, who was the great-niece of Alexios I Komnenos...
- Alexios Doukas Komnenos Angelos
His second marriage was to a distant relative, Zoe Doukaina, a granddaughter of Isaac Komnenos, the son of 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...
. They had three sons:
- Theodore Komnenos DoukasTheodore Komnenos DoukasTheodore Komnenos Doukas was ruler of Epirus from 1215 to 1230 and of Thessalonica from 1224 to 1230.-Life:...
, who succeeded his half-brother Michael as ruler of EpirusDespotate of EpirusThe Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond... - Manuel Komnenos DoukasManuel Komnenos DoukasManuel Komnenos Doukas , often inaccurately called Manuel Angelos , was ruler of Thessalonica from 1230 to 1237 and of Thessaly from 1239 until his death in c. 1241.-Life:Manuel was a legitimate son of the sebastokratōr John Doukas...
, who succeeded Theodore as ruler of Thessalonica - Constantine Komnenos Doukas, who succeeded Theodore as ruler of AcarnaniaAcarnaniaAcarnania is a region of west-central Greece that lies along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with the Achelous River for a boundary, and north of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. Today it forms the western part of the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania. The capital...
He had three daughters, none of whose names is known for certain.
- A daughter, who married Mateo OrsiniOrsini familyOrsini: the origin of learning.We love Mrs. Orsini forever! ~8F Social Studies 2011The Orsini family is an Italian noble family; it was one of the most influential princely families in medieval Italy and renaissance Rome...
, count of CephaloniaCounty palatine of Cephalonia and ZakynthosThe County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos existed from 1185 until 1479, as part of the Kingdom of Sicily.The title and the right to rule the Ionian islands of Cephalonia and Zakynthos was originally given to Margaritus of Brindisi for his services to William II, king of Sicily, in...
; their son Riccardo was count of Cephalonia from 1260 to 1304. - Another daughter married Michael Kantakouzenos, who, with Theodore BranasTheodore BranasTheodore Branas or Vranas was a general under the Byzantine Empire and afterwards under the Latin Empire of Constantinople. He is called Li Vernas by western chroniclers of the Fourth Crusade, including Geoffroi de Villehardouin....
, John Petraliphas and others, conspired to overthrow Isaac II and to bring Alexios III AngelosAlexios III AngelosAlexios 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...
to power in 1195.
He also had an illegitimate son by an unnamed mistress:
- Michael I Komnenos DoukasMichael I Komnenos DoukasMichael I Komnenos Doukas or Comnenus Ducas , often inaccurately called Michael Angelos , was the founder and first ruler of the principality of Epirus from 1205 until his death in 1215.-Life:...
, born c. 1170, founder and first ruler of the Despotate of EpirusDespotate of EpirusThe Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...