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Power and Aristocracy – Transformation and Composition of the Komnenos “Clan” (1081–1200) – A Statistical Approach

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Ceranea
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2020
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vol. 10
141-173
EN
The fall of imperial authority and the decline of the Byzantine state at the end of the 12th century has its cause not only in foreign policy but also, to a large extent, in the family policy of the Komnenoi emperors. The “clan” system introduced during Alexios I’ reign and continued by his successors, connected the aristocratic elites with the imperial family by blood ties. In the 12th century, the composition of this group, linked by a complicated marriage network, underwent a significant transformation, which could be one of the most important factors of the later crisis. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First: distinguishing two groups of aristocrats within the Komnenos “clan” i.e. “core” Komnenos family and affine families. Second: determining their approximate numer during the 12th century. Relatively large amount of data about aristocratic elites of that period allows for statistical approach. Written sources and sigillography of the 12th century Byzantium is rich in information about high ranking persons. In addition, the Komnenos era has been thoroughly described in prosopographical works. This allows for counting the number of aristocrats and thus obtaining reliable results. Such an approach is not free from estimation and probability. However, the amount of information is sufficient enough to show the overall trends visible in the composition of the elites associated with the Komnenoi. The result of this study is a table that shows the tendency of the weakening of the Komnenos family in face of a constantly growing group of affine aristocratic families. This sheds a new light on the progressive collapse of the imperial authority after the death of Manuel I Komnenos, the key role of destructive actions of Andronikos I, and the weakness of the Angelos dynasty.
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The Family Strategy for Purple – Comparing the Methods of Andronikos I and Alexios I Komnenos of Constructing Imperial Power

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Ceranea
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2019
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vol. 9
301-317
EN
In this paper I would like to concentrate on strategies and methods that were guiding Alexios I and Andronikos I of the Komnenos dynasty during the process of gaining and consolidating their power in the Byzantine Empire. Between these two emperors, who belonged to the same family, there exist many analogies in the way of carrying out a coup and constructing the authority based on a group of faithful aristocrats. It is crucial to highlight the active family politics which characterized both the emperors, as it was the main strategy aimed at ensuring the durability of the freshly acquired power. Between Andronikos’ and his grandfather’s coups passed almost exactly one hundred years. The completely different social and political situation of the Byzantine Empire in the late 12th century forced Andronikos to take a different approach. The most striking change was in the way of eliminating potential threats from the circles of Constantinopolitan aristocracy, especially when it comes to his relatives. Such a comparative analysis leads to some important observations concerning the social changes in the late 11th and 12th centuries, as well as mechanisms of seniority and precedence of power in the Komnenos family.
3
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John Carr, The Komnene Dynasty: Byzantium’s Struggle for Survival 1057–1185, Barnsley 2018

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Antiquitatis et Medii Aevi Incohantis
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2019
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vol. 4
154-157
4
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A great introduction into the subject of Byzantine aristocratic family (Nathan Leidholm, Elite Byzantine Kinship, ca. 950–1204: Blood, Reputation and the Genos, Leeds: Arc Humanities Press 2019, 186 s.)

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Antiquitatis et Medii Aevi Incohantis
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2020
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vol. 5
225-235
5
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The Title Hierarchy of the Last Komnenoi and the Angelos Dynasty – from Sebastohypertatos to Sebastokrator 

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Ceranea
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2021
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vol. 11
283-300
EN
The system of dignities introduced by Alexios I Komnenos was an answer for the need of a new reformed title hierarchy, adequate for aristocratic model of exercising power. It served as a clear manifestation of the special privileged position of emperor’s kinsmen. The titles granted to those relatives and affines can be traced accurately up to the reign of Manuel I. So far, however, little space has been devoted to the analysis of that system during the Angelos dynasty.It is often generally assumed following Niketas Choniates testimony, that the title hierarchy in the late 12th century suffered certain loss of value or inflation. It is worth taking a closer look at this process, on the example of the titles traditionally granted to the closest family members, at the courts of Andronicus I Komnenos and the Angeloi. I would like to focus particularly on those dignities, that at the time of the Komnenoi were given to the emperor’s siblings and his sons-in-law – from sebastohypertatos to sebastokrator. That part of the title hierarchy was much closer to a ruler, making it easier to trace.The basic problem encountered by researchers of this period is the small number of sources, not allowing for full reconstruction of the title hierarchy. However, very limited information found in the written sources can be complemented by aristocratic lead seals, which often included the dignity of their owners.From such an analysis emerges a picture of a steady evolution of the Komnenian system. The emperors of the late 12th century adjusted court dignities to need at hand. Yet that process doesn’t seem to diminish significantly the value of the highest titles.
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Arystokracja przeciw Komnenom – spisek Michała Anemasa jako reakcja na przemiany społeczne w Bizancjum u schyłku XI wieku

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Lachowicz P.
Studia Antiquitatis et Medii Aevi Incohantis
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2018
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vol. 3
57-75
EN
This article focuses on the events described in the twelfth book of Alexiad, known as the plot of Michael Anemas. As author suggests, motives that led Anemai brothers and their allies, to failed attempt to kill Alexios I, were much more complex than Anna Komnene described. Starting from background of the plot, going through discussing the exact date, analyzing people involved, their motives and the way they were persecuted, this article leads to the conclusion that rebels felt unsatisfied by Alexios’s system of rule – the Komnenian “clan”. As the last of its kind, during the rule of Komnenoi dynasty, the plot of Michael Anemas proves to us a change in the structure of the Byzantine aristocracy, that occurred in the last twelve years of the eleventh century.
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