Irene Komnene Laskarina Branaina Explained

Irene Komnene Laskarina Branaina (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Ειρήνη Κομνηνή Λασκαρίνα Βρανᾶίνα; died around 1271) was a Byzantine noblewoman and wife of sebastokrator Constantine Palaiologos, half-brother of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. She seems to have followed suit after her husband's retirement to a convent, and taken the monastic name of Maria. She probably died as a nun.

Marriage and family

Irene was the granddaughter of Byzantine General Theodore Branas and Agnes of France,^[1] though the Branas genealogy is poorly recorded.

Irene was married c. 1259/60 to Constantine Palaiologos,^[2] by whom he seems to have had five children"

• Michael Komnenos Branas Palaiologos^[3]
• Andronikos Branas Doukas Angelos Palaiologos^[4]
• Maria Komnene Branaina Laskarina Doukaina Tornikina Palaiologina.^[5] Married Isaac Komnenos Doukas Tornikios.^[6]
• Theodora. Married John Komnenos Doukas Angelos Synadenos and had three children. Later became a nun under the name Theodoule.
• Daughter (name unknown). Married Smilets of Bulgaria.^[7]

References

• Bekker, I. (ed.) (1835) Georgii Pachymeris De Michaele et Andronico Palaeologis, Corpus Scriptorum Historiæ Byzantinæ (Bonn) Vol I, De Michaele Palaeologo, Liber II, 5, p. 97.
• George Pachymeres, De Michaele Palaeologo & Andronicus Palæologus
• George Acropolites, Annals
• Book: Bartusis, Mark C.. The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society 1204–1453. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania Press. 1997. 0-8122-1620-2.
• Book: Cheynet. Jean-Claude. Vannier. Jean-François. Études Prosopographiques. Paris, France. Publications de la Sorbonne. 1986. 978-2-85944-110-4. French.
• Hooper, N. & Bennett, M., The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare (Cambridge University Press, 1996),
• 'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot), from Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments, Thomas, J. & Hero, A.C. (eds.) (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 2000)
• Guillaume Saint-Guillain, Identities and Allegiances in the Eastern Mediterranean after 1204 (Routledge, 2016),

Notes and References

1. Guillaume Saint-Guillain, Identities and Allegiances in the Eastern Mediterranean after 1204 (Routledge, 2016), p. 108
2. Pachymeres Vol I, De Michaele Palaeologo, Liber II, 5, p. 97
3. "Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople" (transl. Alice-Mary Talbot), 137
4. "Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople" (transl. Alice-Mary Talbot), 138
5. 'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot), 139
6. "Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople" (transl. Alice-Mary Talbot), 140
7. Pachymeres Vol II, Andronicus Palæologus, Liber V, 18, p. 407