Английская Википедия:George Palaiologos

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Other uses Шаблон:Infobox military person George Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Шаблон:Lang-el; Шаблон:Fl.) was a Byzantine aristocrat and general. One of the earliest known members of the Palaiologos dynasty, he was a capable military commander who played a critical role in helping his brother-in-law Alexios I Komnenos seize the throne in 1081. In subsequent year he played an important role in Alexios' campaigns, especially the Battle of Dyrrhachium against the Italo-Normans or the Battle of Levounion against the Pechenegs, and was a major source used by Anna Komnene in her Alexiad.

Life

Early life and career

George Palaiologos was the son of the first known member of the Palaiologos family, Nikephoros Palaiologos.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn He was also linked to the Kourtikes family, as the general Basil Kourtikes was his cousin.Шаблон:Sfn Sometime before 1081, he married Anna Doukaina, the sister of Irene Doukaina, the wife of Alexios I Komnenos (Шаблон:Reign), making him the brother-in-law to the future emperor.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

George Palaiologos is first mentioned in 1078, alongside his father, who was serving as the governor of the Theme of Mesopotamia at the time; the two supported the rise to the throne of Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Шаблон:Reign), although his father had been a Doukas loyalist.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn In 1080, Palaiologos participated in a campaign against the rebel general Nikephoros Melissenos. Along with his cousin, Basil Kourtikes, he was placed under the command of the incompetent court eunuch John, who refused to follow Palaiologos' advice. Soon, however, John became frightened of the constant attacks of the Turks, and left the army in Palaiologos' hands. Although the latter managed to save the army from disaster, John complained about him at court, and on his return to Constantinople Palaiologos was prohibited from entering the imperial palace.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

Role in the Komnenian coup

Файл:Alexios I Komnenos.jpg
Portrait of Alexios I Komnenos as emperor, from a 12th-century Greek manuscript

Although related to the Komnenoi by marriage, Palaiologos only joined their plot to usurp the throne reluctantly, and at the last moment;Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn the historian Basile Skoulatos suggests that he rather preferred his wife's grandfather, the Шаблон:Lang John Doukas, to seize the throne instead.Шаблон:Sfn The Komnenoi met Palaiologos as they were departing Constantinople to lead the revolt at Kosmidion, on the night of 14 February 1081; Palaiologos had taken the precaution of bringing with him his fortune from the Blachernae Monastery where he had deposited it. According to the sources, it was the pleading of his mother-in-law, Maria of Bulgaria, which convinced him to cast his lot with the Komnenoi, joining their forces at Tzouroulos.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn At the family council at Skiza, Palaiologos supported the candidature of Alexios for the throne, against Alexios' elder brother, Isaac Komnenos.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

When the Komnenian army marched on Constantinople, Palaiologos was put in charge of negotiating with the German commander Gilpract, who commanded the garrison at the Gate of Charisios; Palaiologos managed to persuade Gilpract to defect, allowing the Komnenian forces unopposed entry to the capital on 1 April. Immediately after, Palaiologos boarded a boat and secured the allegiance of the imperial fleet for Alexios. This proved crucial, as Botaneiates attempted to use the fleet to ferry across the troops of Melissenos, who had been encamped at the Asian shore of the Bosporus at Damalis.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

At the same time, when the Komnenoi and some of their partisans, now sure of their victory, contemplated sidelining the Doukai and having Alexios discard Irene Doukaina, Palaiologos angrily protested that he had only joined them in support of her interests.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Palaiologos' control of the fleet was vital to the yet insecure Komnenian regime, as only the fleet prevented Melissenos from crossing the strait; and Palaiologos had the sailors of the fleet acclaim jointly Alexios and Irene.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn along with the Шаблон:Lang John Doukas, Palaiologos successfully pressured Patriarch Cosmas I of Constantinople to not resign before he had crowned Irene as empress.Шаблон:Sfn

Palaiologos' father had remained loyal to Botaneiates, and their meeting in Constantinople after the coup is described by Skoulatos as one of the "most passionate" scenes of the Alexiad, the great historical biography written by Alexios Komnenos' daughter Anna Komnene.Шаблон:Sfn

Military career under Alexios

Soon after the Komnenian coup, Palaiologos was tasked by Alexios with defending the city of Dyrrhachium against an imminent attack by the Italo-Normans of Robert Guiscard. Palaiologos arrived in the city to find its previous governor gone, but hastened to organize its defence, before the Normans landed on 17 June.Шаблон:Sfn He led the city's resistance in the ensuing siege, despite being wounded in a sally in July, in support of a Venetian attack on the Normans.Шаблон:Sfn On 15 October, as Alexios arrived at the city at the head of a relief army, Palaiologos left the city to join him. In the ensuing war council, Palaiologos opposed a pitched battle with the Normans, but was overruled; and in the Battle of Dyrrhachium on 18 October the Byzantines were heavily defeated. His father Nikephoros was killed, and the city, left without hope of rescue, surrendered soon after.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

In October or November 1083, Palaiologos led the Byzantine army that recaptured Kastoria from Norman control.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn In 1087, he participated in Alexios' campaign against the Pechenegs. There he advised the emperor to pursue the Pechenegs into the Paristrion, and later to seek the protection of the walls of Great Preslav. Alexios however listened to other advice, and in the ensuing Battle of Dristra in August 1087, the Byzantines suffered another heavy defeat; Palaiologos himself was nearly captured in the melee.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn In February 1091 he led a force out from Constantinople to reinforce Alexios, who was fighting the Pechenegs, only to encounter the emperor returning victorious to the capital. Two months later, on 29 April, Palaiologos commanded the Byzantine right wing at the Battle of Levounion, which ended the Pecheneg threat for good.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

In 1094 Palaiologos, with the rank of Шаблон:Transl, took part in the Council of Blachernae.Шаблон:Sfn In early 1095, he was placed in charge of the defence of Berrhoe (modern Stara Zagora) against Cuman attacks, alongside Nikephoros Melissenos.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn In July 1097, after the Siege of Nicaea by the First Crusade, Palaiologos engaged in a violent quarrel with Tancred, who refused to swear allegiance to Alexios.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

Likely his last mention was a visit to the hermit saint Cyril Phileotes, shortly before the latter's death in December 1110.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn George Palaiologos died sometime between 1118 and 1136.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

Legacy

George Palaiologos was the chief source used by Anna Komnene in her Alexiad on her father's battles, and is very favourably portrayed by her in her book as both capable and loyal.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Alexiad is in turn the main source about Palaiologos' life.Шаблон:Sfn Anna's positive assessment is also shared by her husband, the general and historian Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, who calls Palaiologos a "brave warrior, of high military ability".Шаблон:Sfn

Family

George Palaiologos had a younger brother, Nicholas.Шаблон:Sfn Through his marriage to Anna Doukaina, George had four sons:Шаблон:Sfn

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

Further reading

Шаблон:Palaiologoi

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