Maria of Antioch, empress, second wife of Manuel I Komnenos M / L XII
Μαρία (Varzos 81-I.422) (Maria 63)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(28)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(1)
Was murdered by the tyrant (
Andronikos 1
)
ἀναιρεθείσης τῆς ἁγίας γυναικὸς ἐκείνης παρὰ τοῦ τυράννου. Kleinchroniken 147.86
Description
(5)
Outstanding in beauty; such beauty, the Constantinopolitans said, their age had never seen
κάλλει κατ᾿ ἐκεῖνον διενεγκοῦσαι τὸν χρόνον ... τηλίκον γὰρ κάλλος οὔπω, Βυζάντιοι ἔλεγον, ὁ καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς ἐγνώρισεν αἰών. Kinnamos 210.5-12
She was a beautiful woman, so extremely beautiful that she was compared to all the beautiful goddesses of Antiquity
ἕως σφόφρα καλὴ καὶ τὸ κάλλος ἀξύμβλητος. Niketas Choniates, Historia 116.61-66
She was able to win over everybody by her radiant appearance, her pearly complexion, her even disposition, her straightforward intelligence and her charming address
τῷ τῆς θέας λαμπρῷ καὶ τῷ τῆς ὄψεως μαργαρώδει καὶ τῷ τοῦ ἤθους ὁμαλῷ καὶ τῷ τῦ φρονήματος ἀσυμπλόκῳ καὶ τῷ ἐπαγωγ`῀ῶ τοῦ φθέγματος .... Niketas Choniates, Historia 244.62-64
A holy woman
τῆς ἁγίας γυναικὸς ἐκείνης. Kleinchroniken 147.86
She was beautiful enough for love affairs, even if she concealed the fact by her nun's veil
ἐρώτων οὔσῃ ὡραίᾳ, εἰ καὶ κρύπτεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐπηγγείλατο ἐκείνη .... Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 18.19-20
Dignity/Office
(7)
Augousta
Αὐγούσταν. Kinnamos 211.6, 250.7
Basilis (consort)
βασιλίς. Niketas Choniates, Historia 147.62, 224.17
Basilissa
βασιλίσσης. Niketas Choniates, Historia 229.71, 230.83
Despoina
δεσποίνῃ. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 20.1, 34.4
δεσποίνης. Niketas Choniates, Historia 229.68, 235.8
Empress of Constantinople
imperatricis Constantinopoleos. William of Tyre bk. 21, 12 (13).42
Regent
ἐπίτροπος. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 20.22
Education
(null)
Ethnic label
(1)
Latin (She was a Latin by race)
Λατινίς ... τὸ γένος. Niketas Choniates, Historia 147.62
Second Name
(null)
Kinship
(24)
daughter of
Raymond 17001
θυγατέρες. Kinnamos 210.5-6
θυγατέρων. Niketas Choniates, Historia 115.55
θυγατρός. Niketas Choniates, Historia 139.43
daughter (youngest) of
Constance 4002
filiarum eius novissima. William of Tyre bk. 18, 31.53-54
kin of
Baldwin 53
consobrinarum. William of Tyre bk. 18, 30.40
mistress of
Alexios 25003
(... πλησιάζοντος). Niketas Choniates, Historia 224.35
(... προσείχετο). Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 20.1
(συγγίνεται). Niketas Choniates, Historia 225.44
mother of
Alexios 2
τῇ μητρί. Kleinchroniken 147.85
μητρί. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 18.19, 20.1
μητρί. Niketas Choniates, Historia 225.43, 234.01
sister of
Agnes 17002
ἀδελφήν. Kinnamos 286.5
ἀδελφῇ. Niketas Choniates, Historia 267.52
sister of
Baldwin 104
(γυναικάδελφος). Niketas Choniates, Historia 180.85
sister of
Philippa 17001
κασιγνήτην. Kinnamos 250.7
ἀδελφή. Niketas Choniates, Historia 139.43
sororem. William of Tyre bk. 21, 12 (13).42
sister (younger) of
Bohemond 20102
germanam iuniorem. William of Tyre bk. 18, 30.41-42
sororem iuniorem. William of Tyre bk. 18, 30.41-42
sister-in-law of
Bela 53
(ἐπ᾽ ἀδελφῇ γαμβρόν). Niketas Choniates, Historia 267.52
step-mother of
Maria 17002
μητρυιάν. Niketas Choniates, Historia 230.3, 232.34
wife of
Manuel 1
(ταύτην ἁρμόζεται). Kinnamos 210.22-211.3
uxorem. William of Tyre bk. 18, 30.24
γαμετῇ. Niketas Choniates, Historia 169.83
Language Skill
(1)
Latin
She understood the bad advice
Isaakios 108
gave to Latin-speaking ambassadors, and told
Manuel 1
Niketas Choniates, Historia 147.63-64
Location
(10)
Antioch (on the Orontes)
was a native of Antioch (on the Orontes) ᾿Αντιοχείας. Kinnamos 210.5-10
Belegrada
she promised
Bela 53
rich rewards if he ravaged Belegrada 267.53-54 Βελέγραδα. Niketas Choniates, Historia 267.53-54
Branicevo
she promised
Bela 53
rich rewards if he ravaged Branicevo Bρανίτζοβαν. Niketas Choniates, Historia 267.53
Constantinople
she sailed to Constantinople from St Symeon portus Sancti Symeonis. William of Tyre bk. 18, 31.64-65
she was empress of Constantinople Constantinopoleos. William of Tyre bk. 21, 12 (13).42
Constantinople: Hagia Sophia
was married to
Manuel 1
in Hagia Sophia εἰς τὸν ... τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ Σοφίας οἶκον. Kinnamos 211.1-2
Constantinople: Hagios Diomedes (monastery)
she was imprisoned by
Andronikos 1
in the monastery of Hagios Diomedes ἐν τῷ σεμνείῳ τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις σοφοῦ ίατῆρος Διομήδους. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 40.12
she was shut up in a tiny cell in the monastery of Hagios Diomedes εἰς τὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Διομήδους μονήν. Niketas Choniates, Historia 268.55
Constantinople: Philopation, imperial apartments of Manganes
she was visited by
Andronikos 1
in the imperial apartments of Manganes, having moved there from the palace τὰς ἐν τῷ Φιλοπατίῳ βασιλικὰς ... οἰκοδομάς, αἳ τοῦ Μαγγάνη ἐλεγοντο. Niketas Choniates, Historia 255.27-30
Saint Symeon (Suwaydiyya, port of Antioch)
she sailed to Constantinople from St Symeon portus Sancti Symeonis. William of Tyre bk. 18, 31.64-65
Occupation/Vocation
(2)
Nun
(ἀγγελικοῦ σχήματος). Kleinchroniken 147.85
She clouded the sun of her beauty spiritually with a black veil
τὸν τοῦ κάλλους ἥλιον πνευματικῶς νεφώσασα κατὰ περιβολὴν μέλαιναν. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 18.20 -21
Possession
(null)
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(3)
Xene
Ξένῃ. Kleinchroniken 147.85
Ξένης. Eustathios: Capture of Thessalonike 34.4
Ξένης. Niketas Choniates, Historia 255.33
Uncertain Ident
(1)