Roger (son of Dagobert)
Encyclopedia
Roger, the son of Dagobert (in Greek
), was a Norman
magnate who deserted to the Byzantine Empire
where he entered the service of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118). He is the founder of the noble Byzantine family of Rogerios.
magnate and companion of Robert Guiscard
, alongside whom he took part in the Norman conquest of southern Italy
. In 1080/1081 however, as Robert Guiscard was preparing to cross the Adriatic and invade the Byzantine Empire
, Roger defected to the Byzantines and informed their emperor, Alexios I Komnenos
, of the Norman preparations. Roger's flight also forced his brother, Raoul, to seek refuge in the Byzantine court as well. He became the ancestor of the Raoul/Ralles
family.
Anna Komnene
in her Alexiad
, and Nicholas Kallikles
in a eulogy written for Roger's funeral, relate his subsequent career under Alexios: receiving the rank of sebastos
, he fought with the emperor against the Pechenegs, Seljuk Turks, as well as against the Normans. In 1098, he served along with his brother Raoul as ambassadors to Godfrey of Bouillon
, and during Bohemond's invasion of the Balkans
in 1108 he was used as an envoy and hostage during the negotiations between the Normans and the Empire. Later he was also one of the signatories of the Treaty of Devol
which ended hostilities between Bohemond and Byzantium.
Both Byzantine and Western chroniclers praised Roger for his bravery and for his eloquence.
family, which was closely tied to the imperial Komnenos
dynasty. He had at least one confirmed son, the Caesar
John Rogerios Dalassenos
. Another member of the family, the sebastos Constantine Rogerios, was a contemporary of John Rogerios and served under the emperor John II Komnenos
(r. 1118–1143), but his precise relation to Roger is unknown.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
), was a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
magnate who deserted to the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
where he entered the service of Emperor 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,...
(r. 1081–1118). He is the founder of the noble Byzantine family of Rogerios.
Life
Roger was a NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
magnate and companion of Robert Guiscard
Robert Guiscard
Robert d'Hauteville, known as Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria, from Latin Viscardus and Old French Viscart, often rendered the Resourceful, the Cunning, the Wily, the Fox, or the Weasel was a Norman adventurer conspicuous in the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily...
, alongside whom he took part in the Norman conquest of southern Italy
Norman conquest of southern Italy
The Norman conquest of southern Italy spanned the late eleventh and much of the twelfth centuries, involving many battles and many independent players conquering territories of their own...
. In 1080/1081 however, as Robert Guiscard was preparing to cross the Adriatic and invade the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, Roger defected to the Byzantines and informed their emperor, 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,...
, of the Norman preparations. Roger's flight also forced his brother, Raoul, to seek refuge in the Byzantine court as well. He became the ancestor of the Raoul/Ralles
Raoul (Byzantine family)
The Raoul was a Byzantine aristocratic family of Norman origin, prominent during the Palaiologan period. From the 14th century on, they were also known as Ralles . The feminine form of the name was Raoulaina ....
family.
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
in her Alexiad
Alexiad
The Alexiad is a medieval biographical text written around the year 1148 by the Byzantine historian Anna Comnena, daughter of Emperor Alexius I....
, and Nicholas Kallikles
Nicholas Kallikles
Nicholas Kallikles was a prominent physician and a leading court poet active in the Byzantine court in Constantinople during the reigns of Alexios I Komnenos and John II Komnenos .-Life:Very little is known about Kallikles' life...
in a eulogy written for Roger's funeral, relate his subsequent career under Alexios: receiving the rank of sebastos
Sebastos
Sebastos was an honorific used by the ancient Greeks to render the Roman imperial title of Augustus. From the late 11th century on, during the Komnenian period, it and variants derived from it formed the basis of a new system of court titles for the Byzantine Empire. The female form of the title...
, he fought with the emperor against the Pechenegs, Seljuk Turks, as well as against the Normans. In 1098, he served along with his brother Raoul as ambassadors to Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon was a medieval Frankish knight who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until his death. He was the Lord of Bouillon, from which he took his byname, from 1076 and the Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1087...
, and during Bohemond's invasion of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
in 1108 he was used as an envoy and hostage during the negotiations between the Normans and the Empire. Later he was also one of the signatories of the Treaty of Devol
Treaty of Devol
The Treaty of Devol was an agreement made in 1108 between Bohemond I of Antioch and Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, in the wake of the First Crusade. It is named after the Byzantine fortress of Devol in Macedonia...
which ended hostilities between Bohemond and Byzantium.
Both Byzantine and Western chroniclers praised Roger for his bravery and for his eloquence.
Family
He married an unknown lady of the DalassenosDalassenos
Dalassenos , feminine form Dalassene or Dalassena , was a Byzantine aristocratic family prominent in the 11th century.- Origins and rise to prominence :...
family, which was closely tied to the imperial Komnenos
Komnenos
Komnenós or Comnenus was the name of a ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire , who halted the political decline of the Empire from c.1081 to c.1185.-Origins:...
dynasty. He had at least one confirmed son, the Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
John Rogerios Dalassenos
John Rogerios Dalassenos
John Roger or Rogerios , also known as John Dalassenos , was a Byzantine aristocrat, son-in-law of Emperor John II Komnenos and Caesar...
. Another member of the family, the sebastos Constantine Rogerios, was a contemporary of John Rogerios and served under the emperor John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
(r. 1118–1143), but his precise relation to Roger is unknown.