Isaakios I KOMNENOS Emperor of Byzantium (1057-59)

   Research Notes:

Nikeforos Bryennios names "maiori natu Isaacio…iunior Ioannes" as the two sons of "Comneni Manuelis". There is little indication about his date of birth but the chronology of the descendants of his brother Ioannes suggests that Isaakios may have been born in [1005/10]. The Alexeiad names "Manuel, father of the previous emperor Isaakios Komnenos and his brother Ioannes (who was my grandfather on the paternal side)" when recording that he was "promoted supreme commander of all the east by the then emperor Basileios".

Domestikos 1042-[1054/57]. He led the troops which crushed the revolt of the generals of Asia. Cedrenus records that Empress Theodora sent "magistro Isaacio Comneno" to fight the Turks after her accession (in 1055). Cedrenus names "magister Isaacius Comnenus, magister Catacalo Ambustus" as leaders of the noble party in the army who opposed the succession of Emperor Mikhael VI Stratiotikos, adding that the latter had abrogated the appointment of "Catacalo Ambustus" as magister and "dux Antiochiĉ" and replaced him by "Michaelum patruelem suum".

Isaakios was acclaimed Emperor ISAAKIOS I on the plain of Gunaria in Paphlagonia 8 Jun 1057. Cedrenus records the acclamation 8 Jun "indictione 10" of Isaakios Komnenos as emperor. He defeated the imperial army at Hades near Nikaia 20 Aug 1057. Isaakios's army marched on Constantinople, and Emperor Mikhael VI abdicated before Isaakios entered the city 1 Sep 1057, and was crowned there the same day by Patriarch Mikhael Keroularios. Despite a short reign, he succeeded in consolidating the military position of the empire. He practised all kinds of economy to restore financial stability, confiscating assets which had previously been distributed by his predecessors. The process included the confiscation of property donated to the church which led Isaakios into conflict with the Patriarch, culminating in the latter being sent into exile 8 Nov 1058. Isaakios abdicated 25 Dec 1059, due to illness, in favour of Konstantinos Doukas, President of the Senate, having first offered the throne to his younger brother Ioannes who refused it. He became a monk at the monastery of Studion.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BYZANTIUM%2010571204.htm#IsaakiosIdied1061

   Marriage Information:

Isaakios married Ekaterina KOMETOPOULAINA of Bulgaria, daughter of Ivan Vladislav KOMETOPOULOS Tsar of the Bulgarians (1015-18) and Marija of Byzantium, before 1057. (Ekaterina KOMETOPOULAINA of Bulgaria died after 1061 in Convent of Myrelaion.)