Anna+Komnene

=** Anna Komnene ** =

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Anna Komnene (1083 - 1153) was the daughter of [|Byzantium] emperor Alexios I Komnenos, although her influence still exists presently due to her efforts as a scholar and historian. As a member of the royal family she grew up with all the benefits of an aristocratic education, a tool which she uses extensively in her historical narrative //The Alexiad//. Anna's contribution to history is notable, as //The Alexiad// is an important primary source today in regards to her father's reign, the [|First Crusade] and the society of Byzantium in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Education
Anna's education can mostly be attributed to the influence of her father as she describes his strong support of education within the empire and palace. She was interested in a diverse range of fields, from the study of rhetoric to the sciences of medicine and geometry. Her main areas of interest included Hellenic texts and study of the Bible, which often formed part of the standard upper class male education in Byzantium. These two subjects influenced Anna greatly, playing an integral role in the writing of her history, which contains many references to the scriptures and both [|Homeric] texts within its content. Anna strongly believed in the foundational nature of both these subjects in regards to education, as she states Hellenic culture and tutoring allow you 'an elementary insight into the Bible.'

//The// //Alexiad//
 It was not until Anna retired from the palace and lived in her mother [|Irene Doukainia's]monastery that she wrote her history, devoting herself to 'books and the worship of god', while mourning the loss of her 'three rulers.' Her sources included old soldiers who had served in the army during her father's reign and also accounts from family members, especially those of her father Alexios. Although this has led to some scholars labeling her work as a 'one dimensional history' due to issues of partiality toward her father and Byzantium, others believe it is more a 'multi-dimensional history' considering the information available to her in regards to her positioning in the court. In contrast to a purely socio-politcal view of her father's reign, Anna is able to present a more personal and psychological view of her father and other subjects surrounding events during Alexios's reign, such as her second husband [|Nikephoros Bryennios]. Caesar Nikephorus plays an important role within Anna's //Alexiad//, as he was present during the First Crusade happening throughout Alexios's reign and is also partly responsible for //The Alexiad//. Her husbands account and her royal position allows battle stratagems to be described in detail, as in one example Anna is able to explain the reasoning behind Alexios's decision to purposely miss the Latin enemy during an encounter leading up to Good Friday, not wanting to murder fellow Christians in 'the holy week.' Caesar Nikephorus's presence at the encounter and Anna's close personal proximity to subjects involved adds valuable information to a predominately westernized historical record of the crusades, influencing modern perceptions of the crusades and Alexios's involvement.

Image sources:  1.http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=15738939  2.http://www.allcrusades.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY/PICS/0140442154-01.jpg