Theodora Comnena

Theodora Comnena (born c. 1145) was a niece of Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus, and wife of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Isaakios Comnenus, a son of Emperor John II Comnenus. Her sister Maria married King Stephen IV of Hungary.

Related Topics:
1145 - Byzantine emperor - Manuel I Comnenus - Baldwin III of Jerusalem - John II Comnenus - Stephen IV of Hungary

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Baldwin had taken control of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from his mother Queen Melisende in 1153. He was unmarried, however, and around 1157 it was decided by the Haute Cour that a wife should be sought from the Byzantine Empire, the most powerful and wealthy neighbour of the kingdom. A Byzantine alliance would hopefully also bring much-needed money and military assistance against Nur ad-Din, sultan of Syria and Jerusalem's greatest enemy.

Related Topics:
Kingdom of Jerusalem - Queen Melisende - 1153 - 1157 - Haute Cour - Byzantine Empire - Nur ad-Din - Syria

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Attard, archbishop of Nazareth, Humphrey II of Toron, constable of Jerusalem, Joscelin Piscellus, and William de Barris were sent to Constantinople to negotiate for a wife for the king (Attard died while on the mission). The ambassadors were delayed in Constantinople for almost an entire year but it was finally decided that Theodora, daughter of the sebastocrator Isaac Comnenus, brother of emperor Manuel, would be chosen as Baldwin's wife. She was at the time only 12 or 13 years old, but was already renowned for her beauty. Her dowry was worth 100 000 hyperpyra. William of Tyre estimated that her extravagant wedding clothes cost another 14 000 hyperpyra. As a dowry from Baldwin, Theodora was granted the city of Acre, which she would hold as her own should Baldwin die childless.

Related Topics:
Archbishop of Nazareth - Humphrey II of Toron - Constable of Jerusalem - Constantinople - Sebastocrator - Hyperpyra - William of Tyre - Acre

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The ambassadors arrived in Jerusalem with Theodora in September of 1158. Aimery, the patriarch of Antioch, performed the marriage, as the patriarch of Jerusalem had not yet been consecrated. Baldwin was previously known for his frivolous lifestyle, but now became a devoted and loyal husband. Baldwin died only a few years later in 1162, and Theodora gained the city of Acre, as promised.

Related Topics:
1158 - Patriarch of Antioch - Patriarch of Jerusalem

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Andronicus, Theodora's kinsman, visited the kingdom in 1166 and was named lord of Beirut by Baldwin's brother and successor Amalric I. Andronicus invited Theodora to Beirut, and the two eloped to Damascus, or as William says, Andronicus abducted her in collusion with Nur ad-Din. It was likely not an abduction; Andronicus was already married, and had already had an affair with Philippa, sister of Bohemund II of Antioch, and he was likely trying to escape persecution by his cousin Emperor Manuel. As there was no legal marriage, Acre was returned to Amalric. Amalric had also married a Byzantine princess, Maria Comnena, and the imperial alliance remained intact.

Related Topics:
Andronicus - 1166 - Beirut - Amalric I - Damascus - Bohemund II of Antioch - Maria Comnena

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At the court of Nur ad-Din in Damascus, Andronicus and Theodora had two children together, Alexius and Irene, although Andronicus was inevitably excommunicated. They also travelled to Baghdad, and Andronicus was eventually made lord of a castle in Paphlagonia in the Sultanate of Rüm.

Related Topics:
Excommunicate - Baghdad - Paphlagonia - Sultanate of Rüm

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Theodora's ultimate fate is unknown, but she did not accompany Andronicus to Constantinople in 1182, so she was probably dead or discarded by that year. Her son, Alexius, died young. Her daughter Irene married a cousin, an illegitimate son of the Emperor Manuel I Comnenus, and also died young.

Related Topics:
1182 - Manuel I Comnenus

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Another Theodora Comnena was the wife of Bohemund III of Antioch and sister of Queen Maria Comnena. A third Theodora Comnena was the wife of Henry II of Austria and mother of Leopold V of Austria.

Related Topics:
Bohemund III of Antioch - Henry II of Austria - Leopold V of Austria

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