Maria of Alania

Maria of Alania
Maria of Alania.

Empress Maria (Greek: Μαρία της Αλανίας, Georgian: მართა, მარიამი; c. 1050 – after 1103) was a daughter of the Georgian king Bagrat IV of the Bagrationi (1027–1072) and spouse of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VII Doukas and later also Nikephoros III Botaneiates. She is frequently known as Maria of Alania in apparent confusion with her mother Borena of Alania, the second wife of Bagrat of Georgia.

Born princess Martha (მართა) of Georgia, she was sent to Constantinople to be brought up and educated under the patronage of the Empress Theodora in 1056. The latter, however, died the same year and Martha returned home. She married in 1065 Michael, a son of Constantine X Doukas and the future emperor. In 1078, a palace coup ousted Michael and enthroned Nikephoros III Botaneiates. Maria agreed to marry the new emperor provided her son, Constantine Doukas, would be declared an heir apparent. Nikephoros subsequently violated his promise, and the empress became involved in a plot organized by the general Alexios Komnenos who was rumored to be her lover. Alexios forced Nikephoros to abdicate the throne and was himself crowned emperor in 1081. Alexios had Constantine proclaimed heir to the throne. Later Alexios betrothed his daughter, Anna Komnene, to Constantine. This situation changed drastically when Alexios had a son, the future emperor John II Komnenos, by the Empress consort Irene Doukaina in 1087: Anna’s engagement with Constantine was dissolved, the latter was deprived of his status of heir-apparent and Maria forced to retire to a monastery. Constantine died a teenager in or around 1096 and Maria’s involvement in politics was finally terminated.

Maria was renowned for her beauty and education. She had a frequent correspondence with the noted theologian and philosopher Theophylact of Bulgaria, who is said to have been inspired by the empress when writing his principal work Explanations to the Gospel according to John. Maria also patronized Georgian monasteries in the Balkans, especially the famous Iviron monastery on Mount Athos. She joined also her mother, Borena, in building the Kapata Monastery on Mount Sion at Jerusalem.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Maria of Alania
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Gurgen of Georgia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Bagrat III of Georgia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Gurandukht of Abkhazia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. George I of Georgia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Martha
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Bagrat IV of Georgia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. John-Senekerim II Artsruni, King of Vaspurakan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Mariam of Vaspurakan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Maria of Alania
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Borena of Alania
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maria of Alania
Born: c. 1050 Died: after 1103
Royal titles
Preceded by
Eudokia Makrembolitissa		 Byzantine Empress consort
1071–1081		 Succeeded by
Irene Doukaina
Empress-Mother of the Byzantine Empire
1078

References

  • Lynda Garland, Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204, first edition (1999), Routledge, ISBN 0-415-14688-7, pages 180-186
  • Lynda Garland (2006), Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience, 800-1200' p. 91-124, ISBN 075465737X
  • J. M. Hussey, editor, The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume IV The Byzantine Empire, Part 1 Byzantium and Its Neighbours (Bentley House, 200 Euston Road, London: The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1966), p. 793

External links


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