- For several other persons named Constantine Doukas, see Constantine Doukas (disambiguation). Constantine Doukas or Constantine Ducas ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δούκας Kōnstantinos Doukas) is the name of several members of the
- For the Moldavian ruler of the same name, see Constantine Ducas. Constantine Ducas ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δούκας, Romanian: Constantin Duca) son of George Ducas, was a Voivode
Constantine Doukas or Ducas (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δούκας, Kōnstantinos Doukas), (c. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly 1074–c. 1095) was Byzantine co-emperor from c. 1075 to 1078 and from 1081 to 1087. He was the son of Emperor Michael VII Doukas and his Georgian wife Maria of Alania. Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Empress Maria (Μαρία της Αλανίας მართა მარიამი (c
Constantine was porphyrogennētos, i. e. , born in the purple, and was associated on the throne by his father soon after his birth. He was quickly involved in imperial diplomacy, as the infant was betrothed to Olympias of Apulia, renamed Helena, the daughter of the Norman leader Robert Guiscard and Sikelgaita. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. Robert Guiscard (from Latin Viscardus and Old French Viscart, often rendered the Resourceful, the Cunning, the Wily Sikelgaita (also Sichelgaita or Sigelgaita) (1040 &ndash 16 April 1090) was a Lombard princess the daughter of Guaimar IV After his father was forced to abdicated in 1078, Constantine's mother Maria married the new Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, but failed in convincing him to recognize the imperial status and succession rights of her son. Constantine's demotion also involved the breaking off of the engagement to the daughter of Robert Guiscard, who used this as pretext to commence military action against the Byzantine Empire.
After the fall of Botaneites in 1081, Maria's intimacy (of whatever nature) with his successor Alexios I Komnenos and the latter's policy of alliance with the Doukas family brought about Constantine's restoration as co-emperor. Alexios I Komnenos, or Comnenus (Greek Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός (1048 &ndash August 15, 1118) Byzantine emperor (1081&ndash1118 Doukas or Ducas ( Greek: Δούκας fem Doukaina or Ducaena, Δούκαινα pl His signature was appended to all official documents issued by Alexios, and he accompanied the emperor on public occasions. When Anna Komnene, the first child of Alexios I and Irene Doukaina was born, she was promptly betrothed to Constantine, which confirmed his positions as heir. Anna Komnene or Comnena (Greek Άννα Κομνηνή Anna Komnēnē December 1, 1083 &ndash1153 was a Byzantine princess and scholar daughter of Irene Doukaina or Ducaena ( Greek: Ειρήνη Δούκαινα, Eirēnē Doukaina) (c Maria's request, a noted philosopher Theophylaktos of Ohrid wrote a special treatise for the young prince’s education.
However, Constantine's position was undermined by his weak constitution and, more immediately, by the birth of a son (the future John II Komnenos) to Alexios I in 1087. John II Komnenos or Comnenus ( Iōannēs II Komnēnos) ( September 13, 1087 &ndash April 8, 1143) was Byzantine Although now deprived of his status as co-emperor and imperial heir, Constantine retained the emperor's favor and remained on good terms with him. Maria was forced to retire to a monastery. During Alexios' campaign against the Serbians in 1094 Constantine dined and entertained the emperor at his own expense. Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country Later he refused to participate in a rebellion against Alexios. Constantine apparently died in c. 1095.
References
- Polemis, D. I. (1968). The Doukai.
- (1966) in J. M. Hussey: The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume IV The Byzantine Empire, Part 1 Byzantium and Its Neighbours. London: The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 793.
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