Raoul (Byzantine family)
Encyclopedia
The Raoul was a Byzantine
aristocratic family of Norman
origin, prominent during the Palaiologan period. From the 14th century on, they were also known as Ralles . The feminine form of the name was Raoulaina .
The exact origin of the family is unknown. It has been suggested that it was founded by Rudolph Peel de Lan, a Norman who was sent as ambassador to Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–1081) and whom Anna Komnene
records as "Raoul" in her history. However, no source mentions a defection to the Byzantines. Another view holds that Raoul was another ambassador sent in 1080, and brother of Roger
"the son of Dagobert", who defected to the Byzantines at the same time and forced Raoul to flee to the imperial court as well.
The first member of the family appears in 1108, when "Humbert, son of Graoul [Raoul]", a councillor of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118) was part of the Byzantine delegation that signed the Treaty of Devol
. The family is less prominent during the remainder of the century, although they were by all accounts prosperous landowners, with large estates in Thrace
, and members of the imperial aristocracy.
In 1195, the sebastos
Constantine Raoul supported the usurpation of Alexios III Angelos
(r. 1195–1203). His possible son, the protovestiarios
Alexios Raoul
, was a senior military leader under John III Vatatzes (r. 1222–1254), but was not favoured by Theodore II Laskaris
(r. 1254–1258), who stripped him of his title and imprisoned his four sons. The family thus sided with Michael VIII Palaiologos
(r. 1259–1282). He appointed Alexios' eldest son, John Raoul Petraliphas
, as protovestiarios, while another, Manuel, was made pinkernes
. Manuel and a third brother, Isaac, supported of Patriarch Arsenios Autoreianos in opposing the Union of the Churches
however, and were arrested and blinded
. John in the meantime had wed Theodora Palaiologina Kantakouzene
, who after his death became a nun and one of the best-known literati of Constantinople
in the last decades of the 13th century. Under Andronikos II Palaiologos
(r. 1282–1328), their son Alexios was megas domestikos and one of his sons megas stratopedarches.
Another Alexios Raoul was megas domestikos after 1333, but more notable is the writer and official Manuel Raoul, who spent part of his career in the Despotate of the Morea. The family declined after the mid-14th century, except for its Morean branch, which flourished and was active up to the time of the Ottoman
conquest. The brothers Thomas and George Rallis led a rebellion against the ottomans in 1458/1460. Other members of the family accompanied princess Sophia Palaiologina to Muscovy, where they served as diplomats.
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...
aristocratic family of Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
origin, prominent during the Palaiologan period. From the 14th century on, they were also known as Ralles . The feminine form of the name was Raoulaina .
The exact origin of the family is unknown. It has been suggested that it was founded by Rudolph Peel de Lan, a Norman who was sent as ambassador to Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–1081) and whom 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...
records as "Raoul" in her history. However, no source mentions a defection to the Byzantines. Another view holds that Raoul was another ambassador sent in 1080, and brother of Roger
Roger (son of Dagobert)
Roger, the son of Dagobert , was a Norman magnate who deserted to the Byzantine Empire where he entered the service of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos . He is the founder of the noble Byzantine family of Rogerios.- Life :...
"the son of Dagobert", who defected to the Byzantines at the same time and forced Raoul to flee to the imperial court as well.
The first member of the family appears in 1108, when "Humbert, son of Graoul [Raoul]", a councillor 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) was part of the Byzantine delegation that signed the Treaty of Devol
Treaty of Devol
The Treaty of Devol was an agreement made in 1108 between Bohemond I of Antioch and Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, in the wake of the First Crusade. It is named after the Byzantine fortress of Devol in Macedonia...
. The family is less prominent during the remainder of the century, although they were by all accounts prosperous landowners, with large estates in Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
, and members of the imperial aristocracy.
In 1195, the sebastos
Sebastos
Sebastos was an honorific used by the ancient Greeks to render the Roman imperial title of Augustus. From the late 11th century on, during the Komnenian period, it and variants derived from it formed the basis of a new system of court titles for the Byzantine Empire. The female form of the title...
Constantine Raoul supported the usurpation of 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...
(r. 1195–1203). His possible son, the protovestiarios
Protovestiarios
Protovestiarios was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs.-History and functions:The title is first attested in 412, as the comes sacrae vestis, an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" , coming under the praepositus sacri cubiculi...
Alexios Raoul
Alexios Raoul (protovestiarios)
The protovestiarios Alexios Raoul was a Byzantine aristocrat and general of the Empire of Nicaea.- Life :Alexios was the scion of a wealthy aristocratic family with large landholdings around Smyrna, and possibly the son of the sebastos Constantine Raoul, who had played a role in the usurpation of...
, was a senior military leader under John III Vatatzes (r. 1222–1254), but was not favoured by Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris was emperor of Nicaea, 1254–1258.-Life:Theodore II Doukas Laskaris was the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and...
(r. 1254–1258), who stripped him of his title and imprisoned his four sons. The family thus sided with Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
(r. 1259–1282). He appointed Alexios' eldest son, John Raoul Petraliphas
John Raoul Petraliphas
John Raoul Komnenos Doukas Angelos Petraliphas was a Byzantine noble and military commander during the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos .- Life :...
, as protovestiarios, while another, Manuel, was made pinkernes
Pinkernes
Pinkernes was a high Byzantine court position. The term, deriving from the Greek verb , signified the Byzantine emperor's cup-bearer. The position is attested in Philotheos's Kletorologion of 899, where a pinkernes of the Byzantine emperor and of the Augusta are listed amongst the eunuchs of...
. Manuel and a third brother, Isaac, supported of Patriarch Arsenios Autoreianos in opposing the Union of the Churches
Second Council of Lyon
The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, France, in 1274. Pope Gregory X presided over the council, called to act on a pledge by Byzantine emperor Michael VIII to reunite the Eastern church with the West...
however, and were arrested and blinded
Political mutilation in Byzantine culture
Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a...
. John in the meantime had wed Theodora Palaiologina Kantakouzene
Theodora Raoulaina
Theodora Palaiologina Kantakouzene Raoulaina was a Byzantine noblewoman, the niece of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos . Widowed twice, she clashed with her uncle over his unionist religious policies, and became a nun. She also restored the monastery of Saint Andrew in Krisei, to where she...
, who after his death became a nun and one of the best-known literati of 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:...
in the last decades of the 13th century. Under Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
(r. 1282–1328), their son Alexios was megas domestikos and one of his sons megas stratopedarches.
Another Alexios Raoul was megas domestikos after 1333, but more notable is the writer and official Manuel Raoul, who spent part of his career in the Despotate of the Morea. The family declined after the mid-14th century, except for its Morean branch, which flourished and was active up to the time of the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest. The brothers Thomas and George Rallis led a rebellion against the ottomans in 1458/1460. Other members of the family accompanied princess Sophia Palaiologina to Muscovy, where they served as diplomats.