Maria of Gothia

Maria of Gothia was the first wife of David of Trebizond.

Family

She was a daughter of Alexios II of Theodoro, ruler of the Principality of Theodoro in Crimea.^[1] Her native state was also known as Gothia because its territory had previously belonged to the Crimean Goths. The Goths had undergone Hellenization under the influence of the Byzantine Empire. Her family were the Gabras, considered to be Byzantine Greeks of partial Armenian descent.

Alexios II was a son of Alexios I of Theodoro (reigned 1402–1434). His paternal grandfather was Stephen of Theodoro. Stephen was a son of Basil of Theodoro.^[2] The relation of Basil to his predecessor Demetrios of Theodoro is uncertain, though they could be father and son.^[3]

The Goths in the Crimea (1936) by Alexander Vasiliev presented the theory that Demetrios and his successors were descendants of Constantine Gabras. Constantine was the Duke of Trebizond in the early 12th century.^[3] Constantine is considered a nephew of Theodore Gabras, the 11th century Duke of Trebizond mentioned in the Alexiad by Anna Komnene. However the exact relation is uncertain. Constantine could also be a younger brother or even son of Theodore.^[2]

Maria, if assumed to be a direct descendant of Theodore, has uncertain further ancestry through his wives. The Alexiad mentions Theodore Gabras having married twice. Either could be the ancestor of the Theodoro line of the family. The identity of his first wife is unknown. Their son Gregory Gabras was reportedly betrothed to Maria Komnene, daughter of Isaac Komnenos, Duke of Antioch and his wife, an unnamed cousin of Maria of Alania. This betrothal was annulled when Theodore married a first cousin to the mother of Maria. The marriage of the younger family members was prohibited on grounds of consanguinity.^[4] Gregory went on to marry another Maria Komnene, daughter of Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. According to Joannes Zonaras, this marriage was also annulled on grounds of consanguinity.^[5]

The second wife of Theodore is mentioned in the Alexiad as an "an Alan of noble blood". Anna Komnene does not mention her name but reports this Alan was a paternal first cousin to the wife of the Duke of Antioch. Both were described as cousins to Maria of Alania. Maria was a daughter of Bagrat IV of Georgia and Borena of Alania. Whether the two ladies were paternal or maternal cousins of Maria is unknown.^[6]

Marriage

The marriage of Maria and David of Trebizond is reported in "Dell'Imperadori Constantinopolitani", a manuscript held in the Vatican Library. The document is also known as the "Massarelli manuscript" because it was found in the papers of Angelo Massarelli (1510–1566).^[7] Masarelli is better known as the general secretary of the Council of Trent, who recorded the daily occurrings of the council.^[8]

A report by historian Theodore Spandounes, dated to 1538 names the wife of David as Helena Kantakouzene. However Spandounes gives the parents of this second wife as Theodore Kantakouzenos and Euphrosyne Palaiologina. According to the Massarelli manuscript those were the parents of Theodora Kantakouzene, wife of Alexios IV of Trebizond and mother of David. The marriage of David to a maternal aunt is considered improbable. Spandunes had probably confused the Empresses of Trebizond. This casts doubt on his account of Helena and her existence is questionable.^[9]

The children of David have been attributed variously to Maria or Helena by various genealogies. They included Basil, Manuel and George Komnenos, princes decapitated by orders of Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire in 1463. Their sister Anna married first Mohammed Zagan Pasha, Beglerbeg of Macedonia and secondly to Sinan Beg, son of Ilvan Beg. Another daughter reportedly married Mamia II, Prince of Guria. Cyril Toumanoff gives Maria, a third daughter, as wife of Constantine Mourousis.^[10].^[11]

Royal titles
Preceded by Bagrationi	Empress consort of Trebizond c. ?–?	Succeeded by Helena Kantakouzene

References

1. ^ Profile of Maria in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
2. ^ ^{a b} Profile of the Gabras family in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
3. ^ ^{a b} Kelsey J. Williams, "George Gabbras"
4. ^ Profile of Maria Komnene in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
5. ^ Profile of the other Maria Komnene in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
6. ^ Profile of the two Alan cousins in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
7. ^ Tony Hoskins, "Anglocentric medieval genealogy"
8. ^ "The Archives: the past & the present", section "The Council of Trent"
9. ^ Profile of Maria of Gothia in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
10. ^ Profile of David of Trebizond and his children in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
11. ^ Kelsey J. Williams, A Valid Seljukid Descent

External links

• About Gabras dynasty

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