Eirene Doukaina, wife of Alexios I M XI / E XII
δεσποίνης (BBÖ I.28, Polemis 26, Skoulatos 83, cf. Varzos 15-I.87, Mullett 37) (Eirene 61)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(73)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(2)
She died after
Alexios 1
, but before
Nikephoros 117
and
Theodora 25001
, in the series of major blows to affect the Komnenian house in the period
Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XXXIX.169-170
She is recorded among the deceased in the obituary of the Typikon of the Pantokrator monastery (October, 1136)
Pantokrator Typikon 210-211
Description
(24)
When advancing time dulled the fiery darts of love in
Alexios 1
, then he directed his love towards her and was wholehearted in affection for her, and wanted to be virtually inseparable from her
ἐπεὶ δ᾿ ὁ χρόνος προήκων τῷ αὐτοκράτορι τὰ πυρφόρα βέλη τοῦ ἔρωτος ἤμβλυνε, τότε πρὸς τὴν Αὐγούσταν τρέψας τὸν ἔρωτα ὅλος ἦν τῆς πρὸς ἐκείνην στοργῆς καὶ ἤθελεν εἶναι σχεδὸν αὐτῆς ἀδιάσπαστος. Zonaras 18.24.15
Such was
Alexios 1
's subsequent disposition towards her, and then she had great power, and continued thus as long as he remained physically strong
τοιαύτη μὲν οὖν τῇ βασιλίσσῃ ἐς ὕστερον ἡ διάθεσις, καὶ μεγάλα τότε ἠδύνατο καὶ εἶχεν οὕτω μέχρις ἂν ἔρρωτο τὸ σῶμα τῷ βασιλει. Zonaras 18.24.16
On campaign she kept herself away from people's eyes as far as possible, making herself available only to the needy, to whom she gave away both money and advice
οὐ χρημάτων δὲ μετεδίδου τοῖς πένησι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ λῴονα συνεβούλευε. Anna Komnene 367.68-368.80
She was the emperor
Alexios 1
's unsleeping guard
τὸν ἀνύστακτον τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος φύλακα. Anna Komnene 385.51
Was engaged night and day in the study of divine scripture together with her husband (
Alexios 1
)
περὶ τὴν τῶν θείων λόγων ἐξερεύνησιν διὰ πάσης νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας διαπονουμένων. Anna Komnene 165.54-56
Was frequently found by
Anna 62
with her favourite reading, Maximos the Confessor: at Anna's protests, she admitted the difficulty of Maximos' work, but said she could not tear herself away from it
τοὺς λόγους διερευνωμένης τῶν δογματιστῶν ἁγίων πατέρων, μάλιστα δὲ τοῦ φιλοσόφου Μαξίμου καὶ μάρτυρος. Anna Komnene 165.57-68
On campaign she was armed only with zeal, struggle against the passions, and sincere faith
ἡ περὶ τὰ πράγματα δραστηριότης καὶ τὸ κατὰ τῶν παθῶν ἐπιπληκτικώτατον καὶ ἡ ἀνυπόκριτος πίστις. Anna Komnene 367.58-59
Her marriage to
Alexios 1
made him the only Komnenian whom her powerful Doukas clan could support
Anna Komnene 75.12-17
Towards her
Alexios 1
was neither averse initially nor especially devoted, but when mastered by lust he was not wholly just towards his marriage bed, so that she had been smitten by darts of jealousy
πρὸς δὲ τὴν κοινωνὸν τοῦ βίου ὁ βασιλεὺς οὗτος οὔτ᾿ ἀποστρόφως εἶχε τὸ πρότερον οὔτε λίαν ἐκείνῃ προσέκειτο. ἀφροδισίων δ᾿ ἡττώμενος οὐ πάνυ τὰ ἐς εὐνὴν ἐτύγχανε δίκαιος. Zonaras 18.24.14
Was fifteen years old when her husband came to the throne and she went to live in the lower palace
πεντεκαιδέκατον ἔτος ἄγουσαν. Anna Komnene 89.60-61
When she had to go on campaign with
Alexios 1
she devoted herself to good works, appearing in public as empress only when occassion demanded and blushing as she did so
οὐ πάνυ τι δημοσιεύεσθαι ἤθελεν. Anna Komnene 364.78-365.87
Her beauty was not studied, the result of careful make-up, but natural and unaffected; she showed all the traditional imperial virtues, and easily made the transition from the luxury of the court to the simplicity of the monastery
ἤνθει ... ὁ λειμὼν ἀμελούμενος. Italikos 148.25-151.8
She was beautiful and fascinating, particularly effective at cutting down the swaggerer and encouraging the shy (a detailed physical encomium)
Anna Komnene 94.14-95.46
Her endurance of the blows of family losses was compared to mythological heroines (Niobe, Hecuba) and to substances of proverbial strength (steel, diamond)
σὺ δ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἔτλης καὶ ἔμεινας. Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II.60-85
Still very young when her father (
Andronikos 61
) was approaching death
τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ κομιδῇ νέους. Bryennios 219.14
Married
Alexios 1
legally
κατὰ νόμους συνῆπτο. Anna Komnene 75.15
She was from a family of triple emperors and generals
τὸ γένος ἐκ τριγονίας βασιλικόν. Italikos 148.13-24
She was overflowing with grace, shining with the beauty of her body and the splendour of her character
καὶ γὰρ ἦν χαρίτων ἡ νεᾶνις ἀνάπλεως, ὥρᾳ τε σώματος διαλάμπουσα καὶ ἠθῶν ἀγλαΐαις. Bryennios 221.8-10
She wished neither to be seen nor to be heard beyond the minimum: she was such a miracle of modesty
τοσοῦτον ἦν ἐκείνη χρῆμα θαυμάσιον εἰς αίδῶ. Anna Komnene 365.92-93
Noble fruit of the imperial Doukas clan
τοῦ Δουκικοῦ βασιλείου ῥιζώματος, οὗ...ἐξέφυ καρπὸς εὐγενής. Bryennios 69.12-13
Because she had great power, her son-in-law (
Nikephoros 117
) Bryennios the kaisar was also very strong
τῆς δὲ βασιλίσσης μέγα δεδυνημένης, καὶ τῷ κηδεστῇ τῷ Βρυεννίῳ τῷ καίσαρι πολλή τις ἦν ἰσχὺς. Zonaras 18.26.14
Since as an empress she could not avoid the company of men, she kept total control both on her gaze and on her tongue, so that nothing should seem bold or blameworthy, either from her or her companions
Tornikes, Georgios 237.9-23
She (like
Alexios 1
) had all the virtues, and especially modesty, frugality in eating and drinking, and generosity in alms for the poor
Tornikes, Georgios 237.24-241.16
She was one of the four deceased members of
Ioannes 2
's family given daily commemoration in the obituary of the Pantokrator monastery
Pantokrator Typikon 210-211
Dignity/Office
(17)
Augousta
τῇ Αὐγούστῃ. Glykas 622.13
Αὐγούσταν. Zonaras 18.21.15, 18.22.22
Αυγούστα. Zonaras 18.24.14, 18.24.15, 18.26.2, etc.
αὐγούστῃ. Kyrillos Phileotes 235
αὐγούστα.
Seal 0
αὐγούστα.
Seal 0
αὐγούσταν. Anna Komnene 364.79
Basilis
δεσποίνης. Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 441.11
βασιλίσσῃ. Zonaras 18.22.29
βασιλίσσῃ. Zonaras 18.24.16
βασιλίς. Zonaras 18.24.17, 18.24.22
τῶν βασιλέων. Anna Komnene 5.10
βασιλίδα. Anna Komnene 367.51-52
βασιλίς. Niketas Choniates, Historia 5.90
βασιλίς. Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II, tit
βασιλίδα. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 6.32
Despoina
δεσποίνης. Christos Philanthropos, note 1, 3 etc.
Education
(3)
A woman cultivated by
Michael 20130
who was an empress from the previous generation, who did little work and showed little sense in theological learning
γυναῖκα βραχύπονον καὶ ὀλιγόνουν τὰ θεῖα. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 6.30-32
She asked
Michael 20130
to improvise an encomium for her before her theatron; she was praised as very learned, an enthusiast for literature and an inspiration for an orator speaking before her
πασῶν βασιλίδων λογιωτέρα. Italikos 146.1-147.24
She was inseparable from her daughter
Anna 62
, and imparted to her the delicacy and restraint in manner and dress for which she was famous; she also chose
Anonymus 727
, her instructor in grammar
Tornikes, Georgios 257.13-265.8
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(2)
Doukas
Δουκαίνῃ.
Seal 0
Δουκῶν ῥίζης ὅρπηκες. Tornikes, Georgios 235.14-15
Kinship
(82)
aunt of
Nikephoros 20151
(ἀδελφιδοῦς). Anna Komnene 473.13
daughter of
Andronikos 61
θυγάτριον. Anna Komnene 94.16
(πατρός). Christos Philanthropos, note 6
(πατρός). Kecharitomene 1846
daughter of
Maria 62
(μητέρα). Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 441.11
(μητρί). Anna Komnene 89.61
(μητρός). Christos Philanthropos, note 11
(μητρός). Kecharitomene 1853
daughter (eldest) of
Andronikos 61
τῇ πρωτοτόκῳ τῶν θυγατέρων. Bryennios 221.4-5
daughter (eldest) of
Maria 62
τῇ πρωτοτόκῳ τῶν θυγατέρων. Bryennios 221.4-5
daughter-in-law of
Anna 61
(πενθερᾶς). Kecharitomene 1858
daughter-in-law of
Ioannes 63
(πενθεροῦ). Kecharitomene 1856
granddaughter of
Eirene 20117
(μάμμη). Christos Philanthropos, note 1
granddaughter of
Ioannes 62
τῆς θυγατριδῆς. Bryennios 235.28
ἐγγόνη. Zonaras 18.21.15
(τῷ πρὸς πατρὸς αὐτῆς πάππῳ). Anna Komnene 89.61-62
(πάππου). Christos Philanthropos, note 26
granddaughter of
Traianos 101
(πάππου). Christos Philanthropos, note 28
grandmother of
Alexios 25002
μήτηρ μητρός. Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XLIII.a.7-8
grandmother of
Eirene 25003
(ἐγγόνης). Kecharitomene 1821
kin (on her mother's side) of
Radomir 102
μητρόθεν συγγενής. Anna Komnene 244.84
mother of
Andronikos 108
(υἱοῦ). Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II, tit
υἱοῦ. Kecharitomene 1806
mother of
Anna 62
(τῇ πρώτῃ θυγατρί). Glykas 622.17
(θυγάτριον). Zonaras 18.22.22
(τὴν πρεσβυτέραν των θυγατέρων). Zonaras 18.24.19
(θυγάτηρ). Anna Komnene 5.10
μητρός. Anna Komnene 206.13
μήτηρ. Anna Komnene 366.30
μήτηρ. Niketas Choniates, Historia 5.90-91
(θυγατρός). Kecharitomene 1827
mother of
Anonymi 172
(τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν). Kyrillos Phileotes 235
mother of
Eudokia 111
(θυγατέρα). Zonaras 18.22.30
(πορφυρόβλαστον). Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II.21
(θυγατρός). Kecharitomene 1834
mother of
Ioannes 2
(υἱῷ). Glykas 622.15
μήτηρ. Bryennios 69.13
(υἱὸν). Zonaras 18.24.17, 18.24.22
(ἄρρεν). Anna Komnene 185.32
μητρός. Pantokrator Typikon 210-211
(υἱοῦ). Kecharitomene 1796
mother of
Isaakios 102
(υἱέας). Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II.25
mother of
Manuel 106
(υἱός). Christos Philanthropos, note 27
mother of
Maria 146
(ἐτέχθη θῆλυ). Anna Komnene 185.28
(παῖδα). Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II.19
(θυγατρός). Kecharitomene 1832
mother of
Theodora 107
(θυγατρός). Kecharitomene 1842
mother of
Zoe 110
(θυγάτηρ). Christos Philanthropos, note 4
mother-in-law of
Eirene 62
(νύμφης). Kecharitomene 1801
mother-in-law of
Eirene 63
(νύμφης). Kecharitomene 1840
mother-in-law of
Eirene 64
(νύμφης). Kecharitomene 1837
mother-in-law of
Konstantinos 62
(γαμβροῦ). Christos Philanthropos, note 32
mother-in-law of
Konstantinos 286
(γαμβροῦ). Kecharitomene 1817
mother-in-law of
Michael 274
πενθερᾷ. Zonaras 18.22.29
mother-in-law of
Nikephoros 117
(τῷ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς κηδεστῇ). Glykas 622.17
(τὸν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ κηδεστήν). Zonaras 18.24.19
(κηδεστῇ). Zonaras 18.26.14
(γαμβροῦ). Kecharitomene 1809
mother-in-law of
Nikephoros 178
(γαμβρόν). Prodromos, Historische Gedichte II.18
niece of
Konstantios 61
ἀνεψιᾶς. Bryennios 223.1
niece of
Michael 7
ἀδελφόπαιδες. Tornikes, Georgios 235.16
sister of
Anna 63
αὐταδέλφης. Kecharitomene 1870
sister of
Ioannes 65
(αὐτάδελφος). Christos Philanthropos, note 13
(αὐταδέλφου). Kecharitomene 1866
sister of
Konstantinos 284
(ἀδελφοῦ). Christos Philanthropos, note 3
sister of
Michael 121
(ὁμαίμονα). Kyrillos Phileotes 212
(ἀδελφοῦ). Anna Komnene 212.85
(ἀδελφοῦ). Christos Philanthropos, note 14
(αὐταδέλφου). Kecharitomene 1859-1860
sister of
Stephanos 162
(αὐταδέλφου). Christos Philanthropos, note 7
sister of
Theodora 5001
αὐταδέλφου. Christos Philanthropos, note 17
αὐταδέλφης. Kecharitomene 1862-1863
wife of
Alexios 1
τὴν κοινωνὸν τοῦ βίου. Glykas 622.9
τοῦ βίου τὴν κοινωνόν, νυμφίοι. Bryennios 67.15-16, 223.12
τῆς συνεύνου. Kyrillos Phileotes 212
τὰς ὁμευνέτιδας. Zonaras 18.21.1
τὴν κοινωνὸν αὐτῷ τοῦ βίου. Zonaras 18.21.15
τὴν κοινωνὸν τοῦ βίου. Zonaras 18.24.13
(ἀνδρὸς). Zonaras 18.24.17
ὁμευνέτις. Anna Komnene 93.83
συλλέκτρῳ. Niketas Choniates, Historia 5.92
σύζυγον. Theophylact of Ohrid, Speech to Alexios I 117.7
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(16)
Aer (Bithynia)
was summoned from Prinkipo to Aer Ἀέρα. Anna Komnene 463.77
Constantinople: Great Palace
reached the palace βασίλεια. Zonaras 18.26.3
was summoned to the palace τὰ βασίλεια. Zonaras 18.21.1
when her husband
Alexios 1
came to the throne she went to live in the Great Palace ἐν τῷ κάτω...παλατίῳ. Anna Komnene 89.62
Constantinople: Great Palace, Aristerion
she received
Eustathios 102
late at night in the Aristerion, near her room Ἀριστήριον. Anna Komnene 449.57
Constantinople: Hagia Sophia
took refuge in Hagia Sophia τὸ μέγα τέμενος τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου Σοφίας. Zonaras 18.22.2
Constantinople: Kanikleiou
was summoned from the monastery of Kanikleiou ἐκ τῆς μονῆς τοῦ Κανικλείου. Zonaras 18.21.1
was transferred to the monastery of Kanikleiou τὴν ῥηθεῖσαν μονὴν. Zonaras 18.21.2-3
Constantinople: Kecharitomene convent
Κεχαριτωμένη. Kecharitomene 1-2402
Helenopolis (Bithynia)
her ship was forced to anchor off Helenopolis Ἑλενουπόλεως. Anna Komnene 464.20
Kalli(ou)polis (Dardanelles)
spent time with
Alexios 1
at Kallioupolis Καλλιούπολιν. Anna Komnene 438.49
Kibotos
returned to the capital when Alexios was about to cross to Kibotos Κιβωτόν. Anna Komnene 443.96
Nikomedeia
she was summoned to Nikomedeia in a lull in the fighting Νικομήδειαν. Anna Komnene 466.91-92
Princes' Islands: Prinkipo
was positiond on Prinkipo Πρἰγκιπον. Anna Komnene 463.77
Psyllos (Thrace)
frustrated a Bulgarian plot by staying with
Alexios 1
as far as Psyllos Ψύλλον. Anna Komnene 385.35
Thessalonike
she had spent some time at Thessalonike Θεσσαλονίκης. Anna Komnene 394.28
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(1)
The proasteion of Patrikonas (in Chalkidike, mentioned as being in the vicinity of the proasteion of Rouseou at Bryai)
τοῦ δεσποινικοῦ προαστείου τοῦ Πατρικωνᾶ. Docheiariou 83.12
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)