Above: The royal wedding of Alexios I Comnenus and Irene Ducaena. Irene Ducaena was the wife and empress of Alexios I Comnenus, marrying him shortly after he seized the throne on April 1, 1081. Her daughter, the erudite Anna Comnena, wrote glowingly of her mother in her history, The Alexiad – extolling her beauty, wisdom, …
For those of you interested in 11th century Byzantium, here is an excerpt from my novel, Imperial Passions – The Porta Aurea. This scene takes place in the church of the great monastery of St. John Stoudion. The monastery was not far from the Porta Aurea (Golden Gate) of Constantinople. It marks the end of …
Many medieval Byzantines did not use a surname. How the individual chose his surname remained fluid for many years. It often referred back to the area or town where the family originated, or from a family profession or trait.
I recently read a book about the city of Paris and the author mentioned that a particular hospital was the “first hospital in Europe”. I had to shake my head at his ignorance of the history of the Byzantines. However, it inspired me to make a list of a few things I know of that the Byzantines did long before the rest of Europe did.
Sharing the cover of my new novel, Imperial Passions – The Porta Aurea. It tells the story of the life of Anna Dalassena, the mother of Alexios I Comnenus. It ends when her brother-in-law, Isaac Comnenus, seizes the throne. My next novel will tell her story from that time to when Alexios become emperor.
Byzantine women in the 11th and 12th centuries received an education and had opportunities for influence and power.
Almost from its earliest days, the Byzantine Empire had women who ruled – either in their own name or as regent.
1. You will not receive more than one email from me each month.
2. It may be contentious, but I may discuss Byzantine politics from time to time. Amateurish modern politics will never be discussed.
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