Dalassenos
Encyclopedia
Dalassenos feminine form Dalassene or Dalassena (Δαλασσηνή), was a Byzantine
aristocratic family prominent in the 11th century.
in eastern Turkey
. The ethnic origin of the family is unknown; Nicholas Adontz
identified them as Armenians
, but their names are not Armenian, and most scholars hesitate to accept Adontz's suggestion.
The first prominent member of the family was the magistros Damian Dalassenos
, who held the important post of doux
of Antioch
in 995/6–998. His sons also reached senior offices: two of them, Constantine
and Theophylaktos, also occupied the post of doux of Antioch, while Romanos was katepano
of Iberia. The East, and Antioch in particular, seem to have been the preserve and main power base of the family during the first decades of the 11th century.
Constantine in particular was a favourite of Emperor Constantine VIII
(r. 1025–1028), who reportedly considered naming him his heir shortly before his death. Under Romanos III Argyros (r. 1028–1034) the family remained loyal, at least outwardly. Constantine however is accused in some sources of having played a role in the failure of Romanos' campaign against Aleppo
in 1030. Constantine then emerged as the leader of the aristocratic opposition during the reigns of Michael IV the Paphlagonian (r. 1034–1041) and Michael V
(r. 1041–1042). This led to repressive measures and the imprisonment and exile of most of the family by Michael IV's minister John the Eunuch
. After the overthrow of Michael V in 1042 however, Constantine was again considered as a potential emperor by the Empress Zoe
, who however preferred Constantine IX Monomachos
(r. 1042–1055).
In the 1060s and 1070s, members of the family, whose relation to the magistros Damian and his sons is unclear, served primarily as senior generals in the Balkans
, like the doux of Skopje
Damian in 1073 or the doux of Thessalonica
Theodore in ca. 1062. The family became most notable however through the marriage of the ambitious and capable Anna Dalassene (the great-granddaughter, on her mother's side, of the magistros Damian), to John Komnenos
, the younger brother of the general and emperor Isaac I Komnenos
(r. 1057–1059). Anna resolutely advanced her children's careers, until her son Alexios I Komnenos
ascended the throne in 1081. During Alexios' frequent absences from Constantinople
on campaign, she functioned as the de facto regent of the Empire.
played a significant role in the early reign of Alexios I Komnenos, but most members of the family known thereafter are civil officials. The most prominent of the 12th-century Dalassenoi is John Dalassenos Rogerios, who was named Caesar
ca. 1138 and led an unsuccessful conspiracy against Manuel I Komnenos
(r. 1143–1180).
The Dalassenos name remained prominent until the end of the 12th century, but declined thereafter, and in the later Empire the name appears only rarely, and then among lower levels of society.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
aristocratic family prominent in the 11th century.
Origins and rise to prominence
The family's name derives from their ancestral home, the city of Dalassa, modern TalasTalas, Turkey
Talas is a town in central Anatolia and a district of Kayseri Province in Turkey. The population of Talas city was 40,122 in 2000, while the district of Talas as a whole counted 60,925 people.-History:...
in eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The ethnic origin of the family is unknown; Nicholas Adontz
Nicholas Adontz
Nicholas Adontz was a prominent Armenian historian, specialist of Byzantine and Armenian studies, and philologist. Adontz was the author of the Armenia in the Period of Justinian, a highly influential work and landmark study on the social and political structures of early Medieval Armenia.-Early...
identified them as Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, but their names are not Armenian, and most scholars hesitate to accept Adontz's suggestion.
The first prominent member of the family was the magistros Damian Dalassenos
Damian Dalassenos (duke of Antioch)
Damian Dalassenos was a Byzantine aristocrat and general, who served as the doux of Antioch in 995/6–998.Damian is the first attested member of the distinguished Dalassenos clan. As a holder of the high title of magistros, he succeeded the disgraced Michael Bourtzes as governor of Antioch in...
, who held the important post of doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
in 995/6–998. His sons also reached senior offices: two of them, Constantine
Constantine Dalassenos (duke of Antioch)
Constantine Dalassenos was a prominent Byzantine aristocrat and general of the first half of the 11th century. An experienced as well as popular general, he twice came close to ascending the imperial throne and marriage to the porphyrogenita empress Zoe, and suffered a long period of imprisonment...
and Theophylaktos, also occupied the post of doux of Antioch, while Romanos was katepano
Katepano
The katepánō was a senior Byzantine military rank and office. The word was Latinized as capetanus/catepan, and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the Italian "capitaneus"...
of Iberia. The East, and Antioch in particular, seem to have been the preserve and main power base of the family during the first decades of the 11th century.
Constantine in particular was a favourite of Emperor Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII was reigning Byzantine emperor from December 15, 1025 until his death. He was the son of the Emperor Romanos II and Theophano, and the younger brother of the eminent Basil II, who died childless and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire in his hands.-Family:As...
(r. 1025–1028), who reportedly considered naming him his heir shortly before his death. Under Romanos III Argyros (r. 1028–1034) the family remained loyal, at least outwardly. Constantine however is accused in some sources of having played a role in the failure of Romanos' campaign against Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
in 1030. Constantine then emerged as the leader of the aristocratic opposition during the reigns of Michael IV the Paphlagonian (r. 1034–1041) and Michael V
Michael V
Michael V "the Caulker" or Kalaphates , , was Byzantine emperor for 4 months in 1041–1042, as the nephew and successor of Michael IV and the adoptive son of his wife, the Empress Zoe.Michael V was the son of Stephen by Maria, a sister of Emperor Michael IV...
(r. 1041–1042). This led to repressive measures and the imprisonment and exile of most of the family by Michael IV's minister John the Eunuch
John the Eunuch
John the Eunuch, also known as the Orphanotrophos , was the chief court eunuch during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Romanus III . Being unable to father children himself, he sought to found a dynasty for his family through his brother Michael, to which end he introduced him to the reigning...
. After the overthrow of Michael V in 1042 however, Constantine was again considered as a potential emperor by the Empress Zoe
Zoe (empress)
Zoe reigned as Byzantine Empress alongside her sister Theodora from April 19 to June 11, 1042...
, who however preferred Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos, Latinized as Constantine IX Monomachus , c. 1000 – January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055. He had been chosen by the Empress Zoe as a husband and co-emperor in 1042, although he had been exiled for conspiring...
(r. 1042–1055).
In the 1060s and 1070s, members of the family, whose relation to the magistros Damian and his sons is unclear, served primarily as senior generals in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, like the doux of Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
Damian in 1073 or the doux of Thessalonica
Thessalonica (theme)
The Theme of Thessalonica was a military-civilian province of the Byzantine Empire located in the southern Balkans, comprising varying parts of Central and Western Macedonia and centred around Thessalonica, the Empire's second-most important city.-History:In Late Antiquity, Thessalonica was the...
Theodore in ca. 1062. The family became most notable however through the marriage of the ambitious and capable Anna Dalassene (the great-granddaughter, on her mother's side, of the magistros Damian), to John Komnenos
John Komnenos
John Komnenos or Comnenus can refer to:* John Komnenos , Byzantine general, along with his wife Anna Dalassene progenitor of the Komnenian dynasty...
, the younger brother of the general and emperor Isaac I Komnenos
Isaac I Komnenos
Isaac I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1057 to 1059, and the first reigning member of the Komnenos dynasty...
(r. 1057–1059). Anna resolutely advanced her children's careers, until her son Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
ascended the throne in 1081. During Alexios' frequent absences from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
on campaign, she functioned as the de facto regent of the Empire.
Later members
The admiral Constantine DalassenosConstantine Dalassenos (thalassokrator)
Constantine Dalassenos was a prominent Byzantine military leader on land and sea during the early reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos . Information on his life is only known from the Alexiad of Anna Komnene.- Life :...
played a significant role in the early reign of Alexios I Komnenos, but most members of the family known thereafter are civil officials. The most prominent of the 12th-century Dalassenoi is John Dalassenos Rogerios, who was named Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
ca. 1138 and led an unsuccessful conspiracy against Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(r. 1143–1180).
The Dalassenos name remained prominent until the end of the 12th century, but declined thereafter, and in the later Empire the name appears only rarely, and then among lower levels of society.