John Komnenos (governor of Dyrrhachium)
Encyclopedia
John Komnenos was a Byzantine
aristocrat, the nephew of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118) and long-time governor (doux
) of the strategically important city and theme of Dyrrhachium
.
Isaac Komnenos, and his wife, Irene of Alania. In 1081, his uncle the Emperor proposed a marriage match between John and a German princess to the German Emperor Henry IV
(r. 1056–1105), but nothing came of this.
as the governor (doux
) of Dyrrhachium, in modern-day Albania
. The city was of great importance to the Empire, as the "key of Albania" and the main point of entry from Italy into the Balkans
, a fact illustrated by the role it played in the Norman invasion
in the early years of Alexios' reign. Soon after the assumption of his duties however, he was accused by Theophylact of Bulgaria
of plotting against the Emperor. To defend himself against the accusation, John travelled to Philippopolis
, where Alexios resided. It is not clear whether the allegations had any substance; nevertheless, the affair evolved into a family quarrel between Alexios and his brother Isaac, who was also present. Eventually, Alexios dismissed the allegations and reconfirmed John in his post.
Later, in 1094, despite his military inexperience, John was charged with confronting the raids by the Serbs
under Vukan of Rascia into the Byzantine province. John allowed himself to become involved in prolonged negotiations with the Serbian ruler, giving him valuable time to prepare his forces. When he was ready, Vukan attacked the Byzantines near Lipenion and inflicted a heavy defeat upon them. John travelled to Constantinople
to explain his defeat to Alexios, but was not relieved of his post. In 1096, he received and hosted Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, whose fleet had shipwrecked off the coast of Dyrrhachium. John was probably still doux of Dyrrhachium in 1105/1106, when he is recorded by Anna Komnene
to have been defeated in a campaign against the Dalmatia
ns. As the threat of a renewed Norman invasion by Bohemond loomed, the Emperor replaced John with his younger brother Alexios.
, who took the monastic name John). Another "John Komnenos", married to an "Anna Doukaina", and their descendants, are mentioned in tomb inscriptions in the Pammakaristos Church
in Constantinople, which they founded. Several authors however, including Paul Magdalino, Jean-Claude Cheynet and Konstantinos Varzos, identify this John with Adrianos, and not with the governor of Dyrrhachium. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
, following these authors, gives the name of John's wife as Maria Doukaina.
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...
aristocrat, the nephew 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) and long-time governor (doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) of the strategically important city and theme of Dyrrhachium
Dyrrhachium (theme)
The Theme of Dyrrhachium was a Byzantine military-civilian province located in modern Albania, covering the Adriatic coast of the country...
.
Early life
John was born probably ca. 1074, the eldest son of Alexios' elder brother, the sebastokratorSebastokrator
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...
Isaac Komnenos, and his wife, Irene of Alania. In 1081, his uncle the Emperor proposed a marriage match between John and a German princess to the German Emperor Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
(r. 1056–1105), but nothing came of this.
Career
In early 1091, John was chosen by Alexios to replace John DoukasJohn Doukas (megas doux)
John Doukas was a member of the Doukas family, a relative of the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and a senior military figure of his reign. As governor of Dyrrhachium he secured the imperial possessions in the western Balkans against the Serbs...
as the governor (doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) of Dyrrhachium, in modern-day Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The city was of great importance to the Empire, as the "key of Albania" and the main point of entry from Italy into the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, a fact illustrated by the role it played in the Norman invasion
Battle of Dyrrhachium (1081)
The Battle of Dyrrhachium took place on October 18, 1081 between the Byzantine Empire, led by the Emperor Alexius I Comnenus, and the Normans of southern Italy under Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria...
in the early years of Alexios' reign. Soon after the assumption of his duties however, he was accused by Theophylact of Bulgaria
Theophylact of Bulgaria
Theophylact of Ohrid was a Greek archbishop of Ohrid and commentator on the Bible.-Life:...
of plotting against the Emperor. To defend himself against the accusation, John travelled to Philippopolis
Philippopolis
The term Philippopolis , which translates as "Philip's Town," may refer to the following cities:*Plovdiv, Bulgaria *Shahba, Syria...
, where Alexios resided. It is not clear whether the allegations had any substance; nevertheless, the affair evolved into a family quarrel between Alexios and his brother Isaac, who was also present. Eventually, Alexios dismissed the allegations and reconfirmed John in his post.
Later, in 1094, despite his military inexperience, John was charged with confronting the raids by the Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
under Vukan of Rascia into the Byzantine province. John allowed himself to become involved in prolonged negotiations with the Serbian ruler, giving him valuable time to prepare his forces. When he was ready, Vukan attacked the Byzantines near Lipenion and inflicted a heavy defeat upon them. John travelled to 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:...
to explain his defeat to Alexios, but was not relieved of his post. In 1096, he received and hosted Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, whose fleet had shipwrecked off the coast of Dyrrhachium. John was probably still doux of Dyrrhachium in 1105/1106, when he is recorded by Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
to have been defeated in a campaign against the Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
ns. As the threat of a renewed Norman invasion by Bohemond loomed, the Emperor replaced John with his younger brother Alexios.
Marriage
The name and identity of John's wife is unclear. He may be the nephew of Alexios I Komnenos named John who is recorded to have married an unnamed daughter of Michael VII Doukas (other candidates include John Taronites and Alexios' brother Adrianos KomnenosAdrianos Komnenos
Adrianos Komnenos , sometimes anglicized as Adrian or latinized as Adrianus Comnenus, was a Byzantine aristocrat and general, and a younger brother of the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos .- Life :...
, who took the monastic name John). Another "John Komnenos", married to an "Anna Doukaina", and their descendants, are mentioned in tomb inscriptions in the Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos , in 1591 converted into a mosque and known as Fethiye Mosque and today partly a museum, is one of the most famous Byzantine churches in Istanbul, Turkey...
in Constantinople, which they founded. Several authors however, including Paul Magdalino, Jean-Claude Cheynet and Konstantinos Varzos, identify this John with Adrianos, and not with the governor of Dyrrhachium. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium is a three volume historical dictionary published by the English Oxford University Press. It contains comprehensive information in English on topics relating to the Byzantine Empire. It was edited by the late Dr. Alexander Kazhdan, and was first published in 1991...
, following these authors, gives the name of John's wife as Maria Doukaina.