Photograph of Constantine Doukas.
Constantine Doukas

Overview

:For several other persons named Constantine Doukas, see Constantine Doukas (disambiguation). :For the Moldavian ruler of the same name, see Constantine Ducas.

Constantine Doukas or Ducas (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δούκας, Kōnstantinos Doukas), (c. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Later he refused to participate in a rebellion against Alexios. Constantine apparently died in c. 1095.

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This biography says:

...1075 to 1078 and from 1081 to 1087. He was the son of Emperor Michael VII Doukas and his Georgian wife Maria of Alania....

This biography says:

...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. 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...

This biography says:

...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....

That biography says:

Michael VII Doukas had married Maria of Alania, daughter of King Bagrat IV of Georgia. By her he had at least one son: * Constantine Doukas, co-emperor from c. 1075 to 1078 and from 1081 to 1087/8, died c. 1095.

This biography says:

...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. 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...

This biography says:

...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...

That biography says:

...His mother consolidated the Doukas family connection by arranging the Emperor's marriage to Irene Doukaina, granddaughter of the Caesar John Doukas, the uncle of Michael VII. As a measure intended to keep the support of the Doukai, Alexios restored Constantine Doukas, the young son of Michael VII and Maria, as co-emperor and a little later betrothed him to his own first-born daughter Anna, who moved into the Mangana Palace with her husband and his mother...

This biography says:

...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...

That biography says:

As was customary of the Medieval times, Anna was betrothed at infancy. She was to marry Constantine Doukas, the son of Emperor Michael VII and Maria of Alania. Because at the time of the engagement Emperor Alexios I had no rightful male heirs to inherit the throne, young Constantine was proclaimed the co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire...

This biography says:

...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. Maria's request, a noted philosopher Theophylaktos of Ohrid wrote a special treatise for the young prince’s education...

This biography says:

...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. 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...

That biography says:

With Robert, Sikelgaita had eight children: #Mafalda (1059/1060 – 1108), married Raymond Berengar II of Barcelona and then Aimeric II, Viscount of Narbonne #Roger Borsa (1060/1061 – 1111) #Guy (died 1107) #Robert Scalio (died 1110) #Sibilla (Sybil), married Ebles II, Count of Roucy #Mabillia (Mabel), married William de Grandmesnil #Heria, married Hugh V, Count of Maine #Olympias, betrothed to Constantine Doukas, son of Michael VII Ducas and Maria Bagrationi, in 1074