Patriarch Basil II of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Basil II Kamateros was the Patriarch of Constantinople
from August 1183 to February 1186.
Basil was a member of the Kamateros
family, which provided a number of leading officials in the 12th century. He initially served under Manuel I Komnenos
(r. 1143–1180) as a diplomat, but after a disastrous mission in Italy, he fell out of favour and was banished. His fortunes revived under Andronikos I Komnenos
(r. 1183–1185), who had also been exiled by Manuel.
At the time, Andronikos was having trouble with Patriarch Theodosios Boradiotes
, who opposed the emperor on a number of issues. These were the projected marriage of his illegitimate daughter Eirene to Alexios, the illegitimate son of Manuel I, although they were close relatives, as well as the expulsion of the Empress-Dowager Maria of Antioch
from the Great Palace
. Theodosius was forced to abdicate and replaced by Basil.
Basil immediately complied with Andronikos' wishes, clearing the path for the marriage and even absolving the murderers of the young emperor Alexios II Komnenos
(r. 1180–1183). After Andronikos was overthrown and executed in September 1185 however, Basil failed to ingratiate himself with the new emperor Isaac II Angelos
(r. 1185–1195 and 1203–1204), despite officiating at his coronation. He was deposed and condemned by a synod
for his approval of Eirene's and Alexios' marriage. Nothing further is known of him after that.
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
from August 1183 to February 1186.
Basil was a member of the Kamateros
Kamateros
The Kamateros or Camaterus were a Byzantine family of functionaries from Constantinople that became prominent in the 10th–12th centuries. Several family members were scholars and literary patrons. The feminine form of the name is Kamatera ....
family, which provided a number of leading officials in the 12th century. He initially served under 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) as a diplomat, but after a disastrous mission in Italy, he fell out of favour and was banished. His fortunes revived under Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1183 to 1185). He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and grandson of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.-Early years:...
(r. 1183–1185), who had also been exiled by Manuel.
At the time, Andronikos was having trouble with Patriarch Theodosios Boradiotes
Patriarch Theodosius I of Constantinople
Theodosius I Boradiotes was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1179 to 1183....
, who opposed the emperor on a number of issues. These were the projected marriage of his illegitimate daughter Eirene to Alexios, the illegitimate son of Manuel I, although they were close relatives, as well as the expulsion of the Empress-Dowager Maria of Antioch
Maria of Antioch
Maria of Antioch was a Byzantine empress as the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. She was the daughter of Constance of Antioch and her first husband Raymond of Poitiers...
from the Great Palace
Great Palace of Constantinople
The Great Palace of Constantinople — also known as the Sacred Palace — was the large Imperial Byzantine palace complex located in the south-eastern end of the peninsula now known as "Old Istanbul", modern Turkey...
. Theodosius was forced to abdicate and replaced by Basil.
Basil immediately complied with Andronikos' wishes, clearing the path for the marriage and even absolving the murderers of the young emperor Alexios II Komnenos
Alexios II Komnenos
Alexios II Komnenos or Alexius II Comnenus , Byzantine emperor , was the son of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and Maria, daughter of Raymond, prince of Antioch...
(r. 1180–1183). After Andronikos was overthrown and executed in September 1185 however, Basil failed to ingratiate himself with the new emperor Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
(r. 1185–1195 and 1203–1204), despite officiating at his coronation. He was deposed and condemned by a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
for his approval of Eirene's and Alexios' marriage. Nothing further is known of him after that.