The princess who rewrote history - Leonora Neville
TED-Ed・2 minutes read
Anna, daughter of Emperor Alexios Komnenos, wrote The Alexiad, a 500-page history of her father’s reign, balancing loyalty to her family with accuracy. She studied various subjects secretly, married Nikephoros Bryennios to support her father, and advocated for fair treatment of the people during her family's rule.
Insights
- Anna, daughter of Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos, authored The Alexiad, a substantial historical work blending epic and historical styles, showcasing her struggle to maintain loyalty to her family while accurately depicting events.
- Anna, despite societal limitations, pursued a clandestine education in various subjects, later marrying to strengthen her father's reign and advocating for fair treatment of the populace during her family's rule, highlighting her intellectual prowess and commitment to justice.
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Recent questions
Who was Anna, daughter of Alexios Komnenos?
Anna was the daughter of Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos.
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Summary
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Anna Komnene: Scholar, Historian, and Imperial Daughter
- Alexios Komnenos, Byzantine emperor, carried the holy relic of the Virgin Mary into battle against the Scythian hordes for good luck, but his army was defeated, and he was stabbed in the buttocks during their retreat.
- Anna, Alexios' daughter, spent the last decade of her life writing The Alexiad, a 500-page history of her father's reign, modeled after ancient Greek epics and historical writings, where she navigated the delicate balance between loyalty to her family and accuracy in portraying events.
- Anna, born in 1083, studied a wide range of subjects secretly at night, expanding her knowledge to classical literature, rhetoric, history, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine, eventually marrying Nikephoros Bryennios to strengthen her father's reign and advocating for just treatment of the people during her family's imperial duties.
