Konstantios Doukas

Life

Konstantios Doukas was born in 1060, the son of Emperor Constantine X Doukas and Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa. He was born during Constantine's reign; meaning that he was a porphyrogennetos ("born in the purple"). His father became emperor on 24 November 1059, after Isaac I Komnenos selected him as his heir, shortly before Isaac abdicated.

Later in 1060, Constantine elevated both Michael VII and Konstantios to junior emperors under him, but did not elevate his middle son Andronikos Doukas to junior emperor, for unknown reasons. Konstantios retained his title of junior emperor during the reigns of Constantine (1060–1067), Romanos IV Diogenes (1068–1071), and Michael VII (1071–1078). Konstantios was engaged to Anna Vsevolodovna of Kiev in 1074.

Michael VII was forced to abdicated on 31 March 1078, due to a popular uprising and the two active revolts of Nikephoros III Botaneiates and Nikephoros Bryennios, retiring to the Monastery of Stoudios. Michael VII chose Konstantios to succeed him, as Andronikos had died a few years before this or he wasn't interested to throne. Konstantios technically became senior emperor following Michael's abdication. However, the Byzantine Senate had already declared Michael VII deposed on 7 January 1078. According to Michael Attaleiates, "they [the populace] kept the City in order without a ruler for three days".

Konstantios only had to contend with Nikephoros III, as Nikephoros Bryennios had been defeated by Nikephoros III at the Battle of Kalavrye, and subsequently blinded by him. Konstantios rapidly lost support, as it became clear he had no skill as a ruler. Upon Nikephoros III's entry into Constantinople on 3 April, Konstantios' supporters attempted to negotiate, but the populace of Constantinople rejected him completely. Later that year an Anatolian army rebelled in favour of Konstantios, but it was quickly defeated by Nikephoros' forces. Konstantios was sent to be tonsured and live in a monastery on one of the Princes' Islands in the Propontis. By becoming a monk he became unable to marry, and thus his engagement to Anna Vsevolodovna was cancelled.

He was recalled by Alexios I Komnenos, who succeeded Nikephoros, and who was related to Konstantios by way of his marriage to Irene Doukaina, in 1081. He was made a general, and sent to campaign against the Normans. After Alexios seized the throne, he elevated Constantine Doukas to co-emperor. Konstantios fought in the Battle of Dyrrhachium on 18 October 1081, where Byzantine forces besieging Dyrrachium were engaged by Norman forces. Although the Byzantines were initially successful, with the Norman right wing being routed by the Byzantine left wing, the Norman center routed the central forces of the Byzantines. During this engagement, the Varangian Guard, with whom Konstantios was fighting, was separated from the core body of the Byzantine army and massacred. Konstantios himself perished in the combat.

Due to the limited sources for Konstantios' life, he's often confused with his younger nephew, the grc Constantine Doukas. However, Constantine was only a child during this time (born in 1074), so contemporary sources most likely talk about Konstantios instead.

Arts

Konstantios Doukas is thought to be engraved on the Holy Crown of Hungary, which was given to King Géza I of Hungary (r. 1074–1077) by Konstantios' brother Michael VII, depicted alongside King Geza I and Michael VII; although some argue that it actually depicts Constantine Doukas.

References

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