The Alexiad (100 Copy Collector's Edition)

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About The Alexiad

Product description In The Alexiad, Anna Komnene describes the political and military history of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of her father, Emperor Alexios I. The text is a reference on the Byzantium of the High Middle Ages, documenting the Byzantine Empire's interaction with the Crusades and highlighting the conflicting perceptions of the East and West in the early 12th century. The Alexiad, written in 1148 AD, is divided into 15 books. Its scope is limited to the duration of Alexios' reign, which it is thus able to depict in full detail, especially regarding political relations between the Byzantine Empire and western European powers. The Alexiad remains one of the few primary sources recording Byzantine reactions to both the Great Schism of 1054 and the First Crusade, as well as documenting first-hand the decline of Byzantine cultural influence in both eastern and western Europe. This cloth-bound book includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket, and is limited to 100 copies. About the Author Anna Komnene (1 December 1083 - 1153), commonly latinized as Anna Comnena, was a Byzantine princess, scholar, physician, hospital administrator, and historian. She was the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and his wife Irene Doukaina. She is best known for her attempt to usurp her brother, John II Komnenos, and for her work The Alexiad, an account of her father's reign. At birth, Anna was betrothed to Constantine Doukas, and she grew up in his mother's household. She was well-educated in Greek literature and history, philosophy, theology, mathematics, and medicine." Anna and Constantine were next in line to the throne until Anna's younger brother, John II Komnenos, became the heir in 1092. Constantine died around 1094, and Anna married Nikephoros Bryennios in 1097. The two had several children before Nikephoros' death around 1136. Following her father's death in 1118, Anna and her mother attempted to usurp John II Komnenos. Her husband refused to cooperate with them, and the usurpation failed. As a result, John exiled Anna to the Kecharitomene monastery, where she spent the rest of her life. In confinement there, she wrote The Alexiad. She died sometime in the 1150s; the exact date is unknown.