Prokopia

Prokopia (c. 770 - after 813) was the Empress consort of Michael I Rangabe of the Byzantine Empire.

Family

She was a daughter of Nikephoros I. The name of her mother is not known. Her only known sibling is Staurakios.

Marriage

Prokopia married Michael Rangabe during the late 8th century. He was a son of Theophylaktos Rangabe, admiral of the Aegean fleet.

In 802, reigning Empress Irene was deposed by an alliance of patricians and eunuchs. Their leader was Nikephoros, father of Prokopia, who at the time held the position of finance minister ("logothetēs tou genikou"). On 31 October, 802, Nikephoros was declared to be the next Emperor. Making Prokopia a member of the imperial family. Her husband received the high court dignity of "kouropalatēs".

On 26 July, 811, Nikephoros was killed while fighting against Krum of Bulgaria at the Battle of Pliska. Much of the Byzantine army was annihilated with him and the battle is considered one of the worst defeats in Byzantine history. Among the few survivors was Staurakios who succeeded as emperor.

Staurakios had not escaped the battlefield unharmed. A sword wound near his neck had left him paralyzed. Members of the imperial guard had managed to transfer him to Adrianople but he never fully recovered from his wounds. The matter of Staurakios' succession was deamed urgent and two factions emerged at court. One centered around Theophano, wife of the Emperor, who reportedly sought to succeed her husband. The other centered around Prokopia who intended to place her husband on the throne.

Prokopia failed to pursue her brother to go along with her wishes at first. He apparently favored Theophano. However Michael and Prokopia had gathered enough support at court to threaten Staurakios himself. Unable to face opposition at his condition, Staurakios declared his brother-in-law as his designated her and abdicated at the same time. He then retired to a monastery. Prokopia had become the new Empress consort.

Empress

On 2 October, 811, Michael I Rangabe succeeded to the throne and Prokopia became the Empress consort. She is said to have effectively dominated the court for his brief reign. [ [http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower03.htm "Women in Power 750-1000"] , Guide To Women Leaders. Retrieved 24/01/08.] She insisted on following her husband in campaigns but her presence reportedly was not wellcomed by the troops.

Michael generously distributed money to the army, the bureaucracy, and the Church in an effort to establish himself. He also reopened negotiations with Charlemagne and recognized the rival emperor as "basileus" (emperor). However the war with Krum continued and would bring the downfall of the imperial couple.

On 22 June, 813, Michael lost the Battle of Versinikia. The Byzantine army was significantly larger that the Bulgarian but failed to use its advantage. Michael was among the first to retreat from the battlefield and other units followed his lead. Krum advanced to East Thrace and Constantinople itseld had become a viable target. Whatever support Michael and Prokopia had managed to gain did not long survive the military defeat.

On 11 July, 813, Michael abdicated the throne in favor of Leo V the Armenian. Theophanes Continuatus, the continuation to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, records that Prokopia opposed the abdication to no avail. She had to retire to a monastery soon after the abdication. Her year of death is not known.

Children

Prokopia and Michael I had at least five children:
* Theophylaktos (c. 792 - 15 January, 849), co-emperor from 812 to 813. He was castrated and exiled to a monastery. His date of death was recorded by Theophanes Continuatus.
* Staurakios (c. 793 - 813). Died prior to the abdication of his father. Circumstances unknown.
* Niketas (c. 797 - 23 October, 877). He was castrated and exiled to a monastery. Later emerged as Patriarch Ignatios of Constantinople.
* Georgo. Became a nun.
* Theophano. Became a nun.

Ignatios was later declared a saint. His hagiographythe records one of his sisters having helped iconodules during the persecutions of Theophilos (reigned 829 - 842). However which one is unclear.

Possible descendants

Modern genealogists in search of descent from antiquity have theorised Michael I and Prokopia could be ancestors to later Byzantine Emperors or nobility.

For example, David Hughes has theorised [ [http://www.angelfire.com/ego/et_deo/empire2britain.wps.htm "Five descent-lines of Queen Elizabeth of Britain from Julia, sister of Julius Caesar" (2005)] ] such a descent by which Theophylaktos was father to a daughter, named Melissena. Melissena married Inger Martinakios. Inger was father to Eudokia Ingerina. Only the relation between Inger and Eudokia seems to be confirmed by primary sources.

Another theory presented in the book "Plantagent Ancestry" (1928) stated that Theophylaktos was father to a son,Prokopios. Prokopios was father to Anna, supposed wife of Leon Skleros. Leon and Anna then being parents to Niketas Skleros and grandparents of Bardas Skleros. However there are several uncertainties in trying to trace the ancestry of this rival emperor.

References

External links

* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BYZANTIUM.htm#_Toc176857627 Her profile,along with her dynasty, in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley.]
* [http://fabpedigree.com/s053/f321149.htm A pedigree of Prokopia, applying various theories on her ancestry and descendants]