Maria Argyre
Encyclopedia
Maria Argyra or Maria Argyropoulaina was a Byzantine
princess, the granddaughter of the Byzantine emperor Romanos II
and niece of the emperors Basil II
and Constantine VIII
.
In the Venetian Chronicle by John the Deacon, it is mentioned that Maria was the daughter of a noble patrician, called Argyropoulos, who was a descendant of the imperial family. This information is confirmed by the chronicle of Andrea Dandolo
, who says that she was the niece of the emperor Basil II
. As a member of the Argyros
family Maria was also relative to the future Byzantine emperor Romanos III Argyros.
In 1004 Maria was married to Giovanni Orseolo
, the son of the Doge of Venice
Pietro II Orseolo
, in the Iconomium palace in Constantinople
with full imperial pageantry - the couple was crowned with golden diadems by Basil II
. Maria brought to her husband great dowry, including a palace in the imperial capital, where they lived after the wedding. Basil also honored Maria's husband with the title of patrician.
Before they left Constantinople
, Maria Argyra begged the emperor for pieces of the holy relics of Saint Barbara
, which were brought to Venice by her.
Maria Argyre and Giovanni Orseolo
had a son, who was named after emperor Basil II.
In 1007 Maria along her husband and son died when plague swept through the city-state.
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...
princess, the granddaughter of the Byzantine emperor Romanos II
Romanos II
Romanos II was a Byzantine emperor. He succeeded his father Constantine VII in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died suddenly in 963.-Life:...
and niece of the emperors Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
and Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII was reigning Byzantine emperor from December 15, 1025 until his death. He was the son of the Emperor Romanos II and Theophano, and the younger brother of the eminent Basil II, who died childless and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire in his hands.-Family:As...
.
In the Venetian Chronicle by John the Deacon, it is mentioned that Maria was the daughter of a noble patrician, called Argyropoulos, who was a descendant of the imperial family. This information is confirmed by the chronicle of Andrea Dandolo
Andrea Dandolo
Andrea Dandolo was elected the 54th doge of Venice in 1343, replacing Bartolomeo Gradenigo who died in late 1342....
, who says that she was the niece of the emperor Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
. As a member of the Argyros
Argyros
Argyros , latinized as Argyrus, can refer to:* Argyros , prominent Byzantine noble clan* Argyrus , Byzantine general of Lombard origin* Billy Argyros, Greek-Australian professional poker player...
family Maria was also relative to the future Byzantine emperor Romanos III Argyros.
In 1004 Maria was married to Giovanni Orseolo
Giovanni Orseolo
Giovanni Orseolo was the first Venetian to hold power in Dalmatia, holding the title of Dux Dalmatiae.Giovanni's father Pietro II Orseolo was the Doge of Venice....
, the son of the Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
Pietro II Orseolo
Pietro II Orseolo
Pietro II Orseolo was the Doge of Venice from 991 to 1009.He began the period of eastern expansion of Venice that lasted for the better part of 500 years...
, in the Iconomium palace 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 full imperial pageantry - the couple was crowned with golden diadems by Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
. Maria brought to her husband great dowry, including a palace in the imperial capital, where they lived after the wedding. Basil also honored Maria's husband with the title of patrician.
Before they left 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:...
, Maria Argyra begged the emperor for pieces of the holy relics of Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara, , Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr....
, which were brought to Venice by her.
Maria Argyre and Giovanni Orseolo
Giovanni Orseolo
Giovanni Orseolo was the first Venetian to hold power in Dalmatia, holding the title of Dux Dalmatiae.Giovanni's father Pietro II Orseolo was the Doge of Venice....
had a son, who was named after emperor Basil II.
In 1007 Maria along her husband and son died when plague swept through the city-state.