Who was Anna Komnene?
Q: Who was Anna Komnene?
A: Anna Komnene was a Greek princess, scholar, and doctor, born in Constantinople on December 2, 1083. She was the eldest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina.
Q: Who was Anna originally engaged to?
A: Anna was originally engaged to Constantine Ducas, heir to the throne.
Q: Who did Anna marry after Constantine Ducas died?
A: After Constantine Ducas died at a young age, Anna married Nicephorus Bryennius in 1097 AD.
Q: What was Anna's goal for her husband?
A: Anna wanted her husband, Nicephorus Bryennius, to inherit the throne.
Q: Who took the throne instead of Anna's husband?
A: Anna's brother, John II Komnenos, took the throne in 1188, instead of her husband.
Q: What is Anna's book, The Alexiad, about?
A: The Alexiad, written by Anna while she was retired to a convent, is about the Byzantine Empire. The 15 books of The Alexiad were written in Greek. Anna had access to the royal archives and had an inside view of politics, making her book still important today.
Q: When did Anna Komnene die?
A: Anna Komnene died in 1153 or 1154 AD, shortly after becoming a nun.
