Alexios i komnenos biography of barack

Log In. Browse Biographies. Quiz Are you a biography master? A Aristotle. B Homer. This did not, however, alexios i komnenos biography of barack to a demotion, as Alexios was needed to counter the expected invasion of the Normans of Southern Italy, led by Robert Guiscard. While Byzantine troops were assembling for the expedition, the Doukas faction at court approached Alexios and convinced him to join a conspiracy against Nikephoros III.

Nikephoros III intended to leave the throne to one of his close relatives, [ 12 ] and this resulted in Maria's ambivalence and alliance with the Komnenoi, though the real driving force behind this political alliance was Anna Dalassene. The empress was already closely connected to the Komnenoi through Maria's cousin, Irene who had been married to Isaac Komnenos, [ 12 ] thus the Komnenos brothers were able to treat her as member of the family's enlarged kinship.

Furthermore, by espousing the custom of adoptive kingship, which was a social trend in the palace during the reign of empress ZoeMaria had accepted to adopt Alexios as her son in order to aid the conspiracy. Apparently, Anna must have been informed of the arrangement of the adoptive kingship, and her tacit agreement on the matter allowed for the final conclusion of Alexios' adoption by the empress.

The completion of the adoptive kingship entailed as part of the ritual performed from the adoptive member's behalf pledging an oath of loyalty and allegiance to the heir of the throne, a typical practice in which the prospective member since he bore no blood relation and was not of imperial lineage he had to be tied to the emperor's person by a sacred oath.

Therefore, both Alexios and his brother, Isaac pledged to safeguard the heir's rights to the throne. Anna Comnena offers in detail the course of steps her grandmother took to be able to enter the church. Under the pretence of making a vesperal visit to worship at the church, she deliberately excluded the grandson of Botaneiates and his loyal tutor and met with her sons' Alexios and Isaac and went with them to the forum of Constantine.

Yet again cunningly Anna convinced him that they would leave the palace shortly. However, the rest of the female members of her family in order to be allowed to gain entrance although the church was at that time closed, pretended to be pilgrims from Cappadocia who had been penniless and wanted to prostrate the holy icons before their return trip.

Straboromanos and royal guards who were caught up with them, were summoned back to the palace. She even suggested that a plot had been unravelling by enemies of the family to have them blinded and for that she had fled to the capital so they may continue to be of loyal service to the emperor. This request was granted and Anna then manifested her true communicative and leadership capabilities:.

She was allowed to enter. As if she were weighed down with old age and worn out by grief, she walked slowly and when she approached the actual entrance to the sanctuary made two genuflections; on the third she sank to the floor and taking firm hold of the sacred doors, cried in a loud voice: "Unless my hands are cut off, I will not leave this holy place except on one condition: that I receive the emperor's cross as guarantee of safety".

Nikephoros III Botaneiates was forced into a public vow that he would grant protection to the family. She also demanded that the cross be personally sent by Botaneiates as a vow of his good faith. He obliged, sending a complete assurance for the family with his own cross. At the emperor's further insistence, and for their own protection, they took refuge at the convent of Petrion, where they were eventually joined by Maria of Bulgariamother of Irene Doukaina.

They were allowed to have family members bring in their own food and were on good terms with the guards from whom they learned the latest news. However, his mother consolidated the Doukas family connection by arranging the Emperor's marriage to Irene Doukainagranddaughter of the Caesar John Doukasthe uncle of Michael VII, who would not have supported Alexios otherwise.

Alexios i komnenos biography of barack

This situation changed drastically, however, when Alexios' first son John II Komnenos was born in [ 23 ] Anna's engagement to Constantine was dissolved, and she was moved to the main Palace to live with her mother and grandmother. Alexios became estranged from Maria, who was stripped of her imperial title and retired to a monastery, and Constantine Doukas was deprived of his status as co-emperor.

The thirty-seven year reign of Alexios was full of struggle. At the outset he faced the formidable attack of the Normans, led by Robert Guiscard and his son Bohemondwho took Dyrrhachium and Corfu and laid siege to Larissa in Thessaly. He enhanced his resistance by an agreement with the German king Henry IVwho, in exchange forgold pieces, did attack the Normans in Italy, [ 24 ] which forced the Normans to concentrate on their defenses at home in — Henry's allegiance would be the last example of Byzantine political control on peninsular Italy.

The Norman military danger subsided with the death of Guiscard inand the Byzantines recovered most of their losses. Alexios next had to deal with disturbances in Thracewhere the heretical sects of the Bogomils and the Paulicians revolted and made common cause with the Pechenegs from beyond the Danube. This led to a further revolt near Philippopolisand the commander of the field army in the west, Gregory Pakourianos, was defeated and killed in the ensuing battle.

In the Pechenegs raided into Thrace, and Alexios crossed into Moesia to retaliate but failed to take Dorostolon Silistra. In the Pechenegs invaded Thrace again, [ 29 ] while Tzachasthe brother-in-law of the Sultan of Rumlaunched a fleet and attempted to arrange a joint siege of Constantinople with the Pechenegs. This put an end to the Pecheneg threat, but in the Cumans began to raid the imperial territories in the Balkans.

Led by a pretender claiming to be Constantine Diogenesa long-dead son of the Emperor Romanos IV[ 32 ] the Cumans crossed the mountains and raided into eastern Thrace until their leader was eliminated at Adrianople. In this chapter, Anna Comnena sets the stage by describing the political situation in the Byzantine Empire before her father's ascent to power.

She explores the challenges faced by Alexios I Komnenos and his efforts to stabilize the empire. Anna Comnena delves into the conflict between the Byzantine Empire and the Normans in this chapter. She describes the military campaigns led by her father to repel the Norman invasion and protect Byzantine alexios i komnenos biographies of barack.

This chapter focuses on the Seljuk Turks and their threat to the Byzantine Empire. Anna Comnena outlines her father's diplomatic efforts and military campaigns against the Seljuk Turks, highlighting the complexities of the political landscape in the region. Anna Comnena provides a detailed account of her father's interactions with the Crusaders in this chapter.

She explores the alliances and conflicts that arose during the Crusades and the impact they had on the Byzantine Empire. The author delves into the internal conflicts within the Byzantine Empire in this chapter. She discusses the power struggles, court intrigues, and familial tensions that affected her father's reign. It offers insights into the intricacies of Byzantine politics, the importance of diplomacy, and the military strategies employed to protect the empire.

Anna Comnena's authorship of "The Alexiad" provides a unique perspective on medieval Byzantine society. Her position as a female historian challenges traditional gender roles and offers insights into the intellectual capabilities of women during this period. The book provides a valuable historical context for understanding the Crusades and their impact on the Byzantine Empire.

While Alexios's reign brought stability and prosperity, it also witnessed the rise of negative trends. Italian merchant republics gained prominence in the empire's economy, feudal relations emerged, and the decline of small military holdings went unchecked. These factors contributed to the eventual collapse of the Byzantine Empire during the Fourth Crusade in The Fourth Crusade, launched intook advantage of the empire's weakening state.