Rusudan of Georgia, Empress of Trebizond
Encyclopedia
Rusudan of Georgia, Empress of Trebizond was the second Empress consort of Manuel I of Trebizond
.
, but there are at least two theories concerning the identities of her parents.
According to the first theory, Rusudan was a daughter of David VI of Georgia and his first wife Theodora. George Pachymeres
calls this Theodora an illegitimate niece of Michael VIII Palaiologos
, by one of his brothers. The identity of her father was not mentioned. The Georgian Chronicle, a 13th century compilation drawing from earlier sources, considers her a daughter of Michael VIII himself. The Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten (1978) by Detlev Schwennicke considers her parents to be John Doukas Palaiologos
by his second wife, a member of the Tornikes family. Theodora may have been an illegitimate daughter of this Tornikaina by an affair previous to her marriage. Either brother of the Palaiologos
family may have been her father. Her mother was a daughter of Constantine Tornikes. According to George Acropolites, Constantine was granted the title of megas primikerios by John III Doukas Vatatzes
. He fell out of favor and removed from position by Theodore II Laskaris
. The identity of this Tornikaina's mother is unknown.
According to the second theory, Rusudan was a daughter of David VII Ulu
. He was married at the same time to Jigda Khanum and Gvantsa
to about 1252, so either woman could be her mother. However the Georgian chronicle considers Jigda childless Jigda Khanum was reportedly a daughter of Kaykhusraw II
. The known wives of Kaykhusraw II include "the daughter of a Greek priest", "a Turkish woman from Konya
" and Gürcü Hatun
. All three women could be possible mothers of Jigda. However, David Hughes suggests her mother was "Ghazia Khatun", a member of the Ayyubid dynasty
from Aleppo. This Ghazia Khatun is theorised to be a daughter of An-Nasir Yusuf
, ruler of Syria.
. "Lady Theodora Komnene, the first daughter of lord Manuel the Grand Komnenos by Russadan from Iberia." Which indicates that she was the mother of Theodora of Trebizond
.
Manuel had at least two daughters whose mother is not mentioned. They could be children by Rusudan or another of his wives. One of the daughters married Demetre II of Georgia
, the other married one of his Didebul. Though mentioned in modern genealogies as a name, "Didebul" was actually a title. According to "The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty" by Christopher Buyers, the Didebul were "non-hereditary noblemen of high rank, senior to aznaur, usually enjoyed by one in state service".
Rusudan is estimated to have married Manuel in the 1240s and to have died during the 1250s or early 1260s. Manuel is next reported married to Irene Syrikaina
.
Manuel I of Trebizond
Manuel I Megas Komnenos , Emperor of Trebizond from 1238 to 1263, surnamed the "Great Captain", was the second son of Alexios I, the first emperor of Trebizond, and Theodora Axuchina. He succeeded his brother, John I Axouchos...
.
Family
Rusudan was a member of the Bagrationi dynastyBagrationi Dynasty
The Bagrationi dynasty was the ruling family of Georgia. Their ascendency lasted from the early Middle Ages until the early 19th century. In modern usage, this royal line is frequently referred to as the Georgian Bagratids, a Hellenized form of their dynastic name.The origin of the Bagrationi...
, but there are at least two theories concerning the identities of her parents.
According to the first theory, Rusudan was a daughter of David VI of Georgia and his first wife Theodora. George Pachymeres
George Pachymeres
Georgius Pachymeres , a Byzantine Greek historian and miscellaneous writer, was born at Nicaea, in Bithynia, where his father had taken refuge after the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204...
calls this Theodora an illegitimate niece of Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
, by one of his brothers. The identity of her father was not mentioned. The Georgian Chronicle, a 13th century compilation drawing from earlier sources, considers her a daughter of Michael VIII himself. The Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten (1978) by Detlev Schwennicke considers her parents to be John Doukas Palaiologos
Despot John Palaeologus
John Komnenos Palaiologos was a Byzantine aristocrat, brother to Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos , who served as the commander in chief of the Byzantine army. He played a prominent part in his brother's military campaigns, most notably in the crucial victory at the Battle of Pelagonia, but also...
by his second wife, a member of the Tornikes family. Theodora may have been an illegitimate daughter of this Tornikaina by an affair previous to her marriage. Either brother of the Palaiologos
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
family may have been her father. Her mother was a daughter of Constantine Tornikes. According to George Acropolites, Constantine was granted the title of megas primikerios by John III Doukas Vatatzes
John III Doukas Vatatzes
John III Doukas Vatatzes, Latinized as Ducas Vatatzes |Nymphaion]]) was emperor of Nicaea 1221–1254.-Life:John Doukas Vatatzes was probably the son of the general Basileios Vatatzes, Duke of Thrace, who died in 1193, and his wife, an unnamed daughter of Isaakios Angelos and cousin of the Emperors...
. He fell out of favor and removed from position by Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris was emperor of Nicaea, 1254–1258.-Life:Theodore II Doukas Laskaris was the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and...
. The identity of this Tornikaina's mother is unknown.
According to the second theory, Rusudan was a daughter of David VII Ulu
David VII Ulu
David VII Ulu , from the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia in 1247–1270. He reigned over the eastern part of the country from 1259 to 1270.-Life:David was an illegitimate son of King Giorgi IV Lasha by a non-noble woman...
. He was married at the same time to Jigda Khanum and Gvantsa
Gvantsa
Gvantsa was a Queen Consort of Georgia as the second wife of King David VII “Ulu” .She was the daughter of Kakhaber IV Kakhaberidze, Duke of Racha and Takveri, who married Gvantsa off to Prince Avag Mkhargrdzeli, Lord High Tutor and Lord High Constable of Georgia with whom she begot a daughter...
to about 1252, so either woman could be her mother. However the Georgian chronicle considers Jigda childless Jigda Khanum was reportedly a daughter of Kaykhusraw II
Kaykhusraw II
Ghiyath al-Din Kaykhusraw II was the sultan of the Seljuqs of Rûm from 1237 until his death in 1246. He ruled at the time of the Babai uprising and the Mongol invasion of Anatolia. He led the Seljuq army with its Christian allies at the Battle of Köse Dağ in 1243...
. The known wives of Kaykhusraw II include "the daughter of a Greek priest", "a Turkish woman from Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
" and Gürcü Hatun
Gürcü Hatun
Gürcü Hatun was a Georgian princess and favorite wife of Kaykhusraw II, Seljuk Sultan of Rum. After his death in 1246 she married the Anatolian strongman Pervane Mu‘in al-Din Suleyman. She was the mother of Kayqubad II and patron to Rumi...
. All three women could be possible mothers of Jigda. However, David Hughes suggests her mother was "Ghazia Khatun", a member of the Ayyubid dynasty
Ayyubid dynasty
The Ayyubid dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin, founded by Saladin and centered in Egypt. The dynasty ruled much of the Middle East during the 12th and 13th centuries CE. The Ayyubid family, under the brothers Ayyub and Shirkuh, originally served as soldiers for the Zengids until they...
from Aleppo. This Ghazia Khatun is theorised to be a daughter of An-Nasir Yusuf
An-Nasir Yusuf
An-Nasir Yusuf An-Nasir Yusuf (Arabic: الناصر يوسف ) An-Nasir Yusuf (Arabic: الناصر يوسف ) (Royal Name: al-Malik al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf (Arabic: الملك الناصر صلاح الدين يوسف )(1228–1260 ) was the Ayyubid ruler of most of Syria, including Aleppo (1236–1260) and Damascus (1250–1260)...
, ruler of Syria.
Empress
Rusudan is mentioned briefly in the chronicle of Michael PanaretosMichael Panaretos
Michael Panaretos wrote a chronicle of the Trapezuntine empire of Alexios I Komnenos and his successors from 1204 to 1426. Panaretos was a protosebastos and protonotarios in the service of Alexios III Komnenos...
. "Lady Theodora Komnene, the first daughter of lord Manuel the Grand Komnenos by Russadan from Iberia." Which indicates that she was the mother of Theodora of Trebizond
Theodora of Trebizond
Theodora Megale Komnene , , Empress of Trebizond from 1284 to 1285. She was a daughter of Emperor Manuel I of Trebizond by his second wife, Rusudan, a Georgian princess....
.
Manuel had at least two daughters whose mother is not mentioned. They could be children by Rusudan or another of his wives. One of the daughters married Demetre II of Georgia
Demetre II of Georgia
Saint King Demetrius II the Self-sacrificer , from the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia in 1270–1289.-Life:...
, the other married one of his Didebul. Though mentioned in modern genealogies as a name, "Didebul" was actually a title. According to "The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty" by Christopher Buyers, the Didebul were "non-hereditary noblemen of high rank, senior to aznaur, usually enjoyed by one in state service".
Rusudan is estimated to have married Manuel in the 1240s and to have died during the 1250s or early 1260s. Manuel is next reported married to Irene Syrikaina
Irene Syrikaina
-Name:The male form of her family name has been suggested being either "Syrikainos" or "Syrikos". The name may be related to the island Syros or to the terms "Syrios", "Syrikos", "Syriakos", all Greek language for Syrian. The geographic term Syria also applied to Coele-Syria and...
.