289. Constantine, betrothed to Helena the daughter of Robert Guiscard, but later to Anna Comnena. He probably died before she was of marriageable age.
290. Sophocles, Ajax, 293.
291. Cf. note 289.
292. Sophocles, Ajax, 551.
293. Andronicus played little part in the history of these times and his subsequent fate is unknown.
294. After the abdication of Michael VII Parapinaces, Constantine (or Constantius) was confined in a monastery by Nicephorus, the new emperor. He appears to have died in cattle at Durazzo (1082).
295. The Sultan made war on Michael, determined to avenge the death of Romanus, and after Isaac Comnenus and Roussel had both been taken prisoner by the Turks, the emperor appointed John Ducas commander-in-chief. Roussel was liberated and decided to throw in his lot with John. He proclaimed him emperor.
Irene and Alexius Comnenus
Thereupon Michael, with his usual duplicity, caked upon the Sultan to help him. The rebels were soon captured and although they were ransomed, John became a monk. Towards the end of the reign he arranged a marriage between his grand-daughter Irene and Alexius Comnenus, the future emperor. This alliance united the two most powerful families at Byzantium. In 1081 he emerged from his monastery to help Alexius in his successful revolt against Nicephorus.
296. Author of a book on strategy. Lived probably in the reign of Trajan (A D. 98C117).
297. Apollodorus of Damascus wrote on Engines of War at Rome in the first century A.D. He also planned the Forum of Trajan.
298. In fact, John was a crafty intriguer and cruelly revengeful.
299. Nicephorus Botaneiates, the future emperor, claimed to be a descendant of the ancient Fabii family or Rome. He was one of the two contestants for the throne when the generals revolted against Michael VII in 1077. He eventually defeated his rival Bryennius amd forced Michael to abdicate and retire to a monastery. He reigned for three years before he himself was compelled to resign and become a monk.
300. Possibly a reference to the fact that Romanus IV Diogenes had dismissed him in 1071, when preparing for the campaign that was to end at Manzikert.
301. He had been promoted to the office of curopalates.
302. Nothing appears to be known about Psellus after the abdication of Michael VII in January 1078.
Read More about Eudocia 1067 part 16
