Alan mistress of Konstantinos IX Monomachos M XI
τῇ Σεβαστῇ (Anonyma 210)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(19)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(null)
Description
(11)
A young girl who was a hostage to (Byzantium) from Alania; her kingdom was not august nor one with a great position, but it constantly gave pledge of good faith to the Roman empire
τινος μείρακος ... ἐξ Ἀλανίας ὁμηρευούσης ἡμῖν· βασιλεία δὲ αὐτὴ οὐ πάνυ σεμνή, οὐδὲ ἀξίωμα ἔχουσα, τῷ δε ῾Ρωμαίων κράτει τὸ ἐχέγγυον ἀεὶ διδούσα τῆς πίστεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.8-11
A young girl ... a hostage from a nation which was not large; she was not in any way distinguished, but was respected by
Konstantinos 9
because she was of royal blood and was held in the highest honour
τις μεῖραξ ..., ἐξ ἔθνους οὐ μεγίστου ὁμηρεύουσα παρ᾿ ἡμῖν, γενναῖον μὲν οὐδὲν ἔχουσα, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς ἐκ βασιλικοῦ αἷματος παρ᾿ αὐτῷ σεβομένη καὶ τὰ πρῶτα τῆς τιμῆς ἔχουσα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 145.6-9
The beloved (of
Romanos 62
) princess
τὴν ἐρωμένην ... βασιλίδα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 145.16-17
She was not remarkable for beauty nor blessed in her retinue, but was ornamented with two graces only - her white skin and her lovely flashing eyes
οὔτε τὸ εἶδος ἀξιοθέατον, οὔτε τὴν θεραπείαν εὔδαιμον, δυσὶ δὲ μόναις κεκόσμητο χάρισι, λευκὸν ἦν τὴν χροίαν καὶ καλλίστοις ἐπήστραπτεν ὄμμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.12-15
She was beautiful and intelligent, knowing how and when to speak, a sight to make
Ioannes 289
forget Euchaita
Psellos Letters (K - D) 34, 55.7-56.11
She was a veritable Proteus, changing and diverse
ἦν ἡ γυνὴ Πρωτεὺς ἀτεχνῶς ἐξαλλάττων καὶ ποικιλλόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 152.11-12
Beloved (by
Romanos 62
)
τὴν ἐρωμένην. Psellos: Chronographia VI 155.12
Her transformation (after
Zoe 1
's death) was sudden and novel: unaccustomed ornament on her head, her neck splendid with gold, snake-bracelets about her arms, heavy pearls hanging from her ears, her girdle gold and adorned with pearls
ὁ μετασχηματισμὸς ἀθρόος τε καὶ καινός· τήν τε γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἀσυνήθης κόσμος ἐκύκλου, ... ἐπικαρπιοί τε ὄφεις χρυσοῖ τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῇ διενέμοντο, καὶ τῶν ὤτων μαργαρῖται βαρεῖς ἀπεκρέμαντο, ἡ δὲ ζώνη, ... . Psellos: Chronographia VI 152.5-11
A young girl, given as hostage to the Romans from the Alans, a child of one of the leaders among them
μείρακά τινα, ὅμηρα δοθεῖσαν ᾿Ρωμαίοις ἐξ Ἀλανῶν, παῖδά τινος τῶν παρ ᾿ ἐκείνοις ἀρχηγετούντων. Zonaras 17.28.3
This girl Sebaste
τὴν σεβαστὴν ταυτηνὶ μείρακα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 154.5-6
Everything came to absolutely nothing: when
Konstantinos 9
died she was again considered a hostage and
Romanos 62
's fire kindled only phantoms
ἀτελέστατα ἐγεγόνει πάντα· ὅ τε γὰρ αὐτοκράτωρ ἐτεθνήκει, ..., ἐκείνων δὲ ἡ μὲν σεβαστὴ εἰς ὁμηρείας αὖθις μερίδα λελόγισται, τὸν δὲ μέχρι φαντασμάτων ὁ τοῦ ἔρωτος ἀνάπτει πυρσός. Psellos: Chronographia VI 155.20
Dignity/Office
(6)
Basilis
βασιλίς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 154.7
Panhyperlampros
πανυπέρλαμπρος. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 120.369
Sebaste
Σεβαστὴν. Zonaras 17.28.3, 17.28.5
σεβαστὴ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 153.7; 154.5
σεβαστή. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 120.369
τῇ Σεβαστῇ. Nea Mone, Gedeon 429
Education
(null)
Ethnic label
(2)
Alan (Alan)
ἐξ Ἀλανῶν. Zonaras 17.28.3
ἐξ Ἀλανίας. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.9
Second Name
(null)
Kinship
(3)
daughter of
Anonymus 6037
θυγάτριον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.12-15
παῖδά. Zonaras 17.28.3
lover (wife) of
Konstantinos 9
ὁμευνέτιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 154.7
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(2)
Constantinople: Great Palace
was in the private apartments of palace ἐν τοῖς ἀδύτοις. Psellos: Chronographia VI 155.10
Helos (Patras?)
was probably the sebaste to whom
Konstantinos 9
granted the estate of Helos (Patras?) τοῦ Ἕλους. Nea Mone, Gedeon 429
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(1)
The estate of Helos
κτῆμα τοῦ Ἕλους. Nea Mone, Gedeon 429
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)