Individual Details
Euphrosyne Dukaina Kamaterina
(Abt 1155 - Abt 1210)
Euphrosyne was born about 1155, the daughter of Andronikos Dukas Kamateros, a high official who held the titles of 'megas droungarios' and 'pansebastos'.
About 1169 Euprosyne married Alexios III Angelos, the older brother of the future Emperor Isaac II Angelos. She and Alexios had three daughters, of whom two would have progeny.
Although Isaac II bestowed many titles and honours upon his brother, Alexios seized the throne on 8 April 1195, deposing Isaac and proclaiming himself emperor. In this he was assisted by Euphrosyne, who had organised a party of aristocratic supporters. Euphrosyne took control of the palace and quelled the opposition herself, securing the accession of her husband to the throne by wholesale bribery. Euphrosyne was a dominating woman with a talent for politics, and she virtually ruled the empire in the name of Alexios III, who was concerned primarily with pleasure and idle pursuits. She issued commands herself and even altered Alexios' decrees when it suited her. Euphrosyne and Alexios were criticised for their love of finery and the enrichment of their relatives at state expense. Her own brother, Basil Kamateros, and her son-in-law, Andronikos Kontostephanos, accused Euphrosyne of adultery with one of her ministers, a nobleman named Vatatzes. Alexios III believed the allegations and had Vatatzes executed. Euphrosyne was stripped of her imperial robes and banished to a convent at Nematarea in October 1196. However, her relatives convinced Alexios to reinstate her, and she was recalled six months later in spring 1197.
In 1203, faced with the Fourth Crusade and the return of his nephew Alexios IV Angelos, Alexios III fled Constantinople with a magnificent treasure and some female relatives, including his daughter Eirene. Euphrosyne was left behind and was immediately imprisoned by the new regime. Alexios IV was soon strangled by Alexios Dukas Mourtzouphlos, the lover of Euphrosyne's daughter Eudokia, who then proclaimed himself emperor as Alexios V. In April 1204 Euphrosyne fled the city along with her daughter and Alexios V, and they made their way to Mosynoupolis, where Euphrosyne's husband Alexios III had taken refuge. Alexios III had Alexios V blinded and abandoned to the Crusaders, who had him executed.
Euphrosyne and Alexios III fled across Greece to Thessalonica and Corinth, but were finally captured and imprisoned by Boniface I, marchese de Monferrato. In 1209 or 1210 they were ransomed by their cousin Michael I of Epirus, and Euphrosyne spent the remainder of her life in Arta. She died in 1210 or 1211.
Source: Leo van de Pas
About 1169 Euprosyne married Alexios III Angelos, the older brother of the future Emperor Isaac II Angelos. She and Alexios had three daughters, of whom two would have progeny.
Although Isaac II bestowed many titles and honours upon his brother, Alexios seized the throne on 8 April 1195, deposing Isaac and proclaiming himself emperor. In this he was assisted by Euphrosyne, who had organised a party of aristocratic supporters. Euphrosyne took control of the palace and quelled the opposition herself, securing the accession of her husband to the throne by wholesale bribery. Euphrosyne was a dominating woman with a talent for politics, and she virtually ruled the empire in the name of Alexios III, who was concerned primarily with pleasure and idle pursuits. She issued commands herself and even altered Alexios' decrees when it suited her. Euphrosyne and Alexios were criticised for their love of finery and the enrichment of their relatives at state expense. Her own brother, Basil Kamateros, and her son-in-law, Andronikos Kontostephanos, accused Euphrosyne of adultery with one of her ministers, a nobleman named Vatatzes. Alexios III believed the allegations and had Vatatzes executed. Euphrosyne was stripped of her imperial robes and banished to a convent at Nematarea in October 1196. However, her relatives convinced Alexios to reinstate her, and she was recalled six months later in spring 1197.
In 1203, faced with the Fourth Crusade and the return of his nephew Alexios IV Angelos, Alexios III fled Constantinople with a magnificent treasure and some female relatives, including his daughter Eirene. Euphrosyne was left behind and was immediately imprisoned by the new regime. Alexios IV was soon strangled by Alexios Dukas Mourtzouphlos, the lover of Euphrosyne's daughter Eudokia, who then proclaimed himself emperor as Alexios V. In April 1204 Euphrosyne fled the city along with her daughter and Alexios V, and they made their way to Mosynoupolis, where Euphrosyne's husband Alexios III had taken refuge. Alexios III had Alexios V blinded and abandoned to the Crusaders, who had him executed.
Euphrosyne and Alexios III fled across Greece to Thessalonica and Corinth, but were finally captured and imprisoned by Boniface I, marchese de Monferrato. In 1209 or 1210 they were ransomed by their cousin Michael I of Epirus, and Euphrosyne spent the remainder of her life in Arta. She died in 1210 or 1211.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | Abt 1155 | ||||
| Marriage | 1169 | Alexios III Komnenos Angelos Emperor of Byzantium | |||
| Death | Abt 1210 |
Families
| Spouse | Alexios III Komnenos Angelos Emperor of Byzantium (1155 - 1211) |
| Child | Anna Komnena Angelina (1174 - 1212) |