Imperial Passions--The Great Palace Read online

  Praise for Eileen Stephenson

  Praise for Imperial Passions – The Great Palace:

  “For those who read Stephenson’s Imperial Passions – The Porta Aurea, and wanted more, the wait is over. Imperial Passions – The Great Palace, the story of Anna Dalassena, a most important and fascinating woman in Byzantine history, is delightfully instructive and engaging. Come ready to immerse yourself in a thrilling story both political and personal.”

  ~James Conroyd Martin, author of The Theodora Duology

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  Praise for Imperial Passions - The Porta Aurea

  “One book does not suffice to tell the fascinating story of Anna Dalassena, one of the more intriguing medieval ladies around. Ms Stephenson ends her narrative while there is still a lot of life ahead of Anna. I hope she will be kind enough to furnish us with a sequel as well-written and researched as Imperial Passions is!” Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews

  Shortlisted for Chanticleer Book Awards 2018 Chaucer Award for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction

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  Praise for Tales of Byzantium:

  “Elegantly described details, sharply observed characters. . . three very intriguing windows into a part of history largely unknown too many readers.” Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews

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  Winners of Indie/B.R.A.G. Medallions:

  Tales of Byzantium

  Imperial Passions - The Porta Aurea

  Byzantine History in the 11th Century - A Brief Introduction

  Imperial Passions - The Great Palace

  Eileen Stephenson

  Blachernae Books

  Copyright © 2021 by Eileen Stephenson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Blachernae Books

  Rockville, MD

  www.eileenstephenson.com

  Publishers Note:

  Imperial Passions – The Great Palace is a work of historical fiction. Apart from the well-known actual people, events and locales figuring in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions or locales is completely coincidental.

  Cover design by Jennifer Quinlan

  Imperial Passions-The Great Palace / Eileen Stephenson, 1st Edition

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  Print:

  ISBN: 978-0-9996907-2-7

  E-book:

  ISBN: 978-0-9996907-3-4

  Created with Vellum

  For Caleb, Stephanie, Molly, Nathan, Luke and Abigail

  Contents

  Main Characters

  Glossary

  Map of the Byzantine Empire - 1025

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Also by Eileen Stephenson

  Main Characters

  Dalassenus Family

  Anna Dalassena – wife of John Comnenus. All deceased: her parents Helena Dalassena & Alexios Charon, grandparents Adrian Dalassenus and wife Theodora*.

  Anna and John’s children: Manuel, Isaac, Marie “Marina”, Eudokia “Donya”, Theodora, Alexios, Adrian, Nikephoros “Niko”

  Constantine Dalassenus – Deceased. Adrian’s oldest brother, Anna’s Uncle Costas. Children: Deceased - Xene*. Damien Dalassenus – Uncle Costas’ son

  Romanus Diogenes – Great grandson of oldest sister of Constantine and Adrian Dalassenus. Married first to Anna “Anya” Alusiana. Children: Theophano “Thea” and Constantine “Costas”

  Ducas Family

  Constantine Ducas – husband of (1) Xene* Dalassena and (2) Eudokia Makrembolitissa. Children: Michael, Andronikos, Constantinos, Anna, Theodora, Zoe

  John Ducas – Constantine’s younger brother; m. Irene Pegonitissa. Children: Andronikos, Constantine

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  Comnenus Family

  Manuel Comnenus – Deceased. General under Basil II

  Isaac Comnenus – eldest surviving son of Manuel

  Catherine of Bulgaria – Isaac’s wife and daughter of deceased tsar of Bulgaria

  Marie “Marika” Comnena – daughter of Isaac and Catherine

  John Comnenus – younger son of Manuel. Husband of Anna Dalassena

  Eudokia “Donya”* Comnena – Deceased. Sister to Isaac and John; m. Michael Dokeianos (deceased). Their children: Theodore, George*, Helena and Anastasia

  * * *

  11th Century Rulers of the Eastern Roman (“Byzantine”) Empire to 1057

  Basil II – emperor for almost 50 years until his death in December 1025

  Constantine VIII – Basil’s dissolute younger brother; deceased in 1028

  Zoe – Eldest surviving daughter of Constantine VIII; empress upon his death. Deceased ~1050. Married: (1) Romanus III Argyros, (2) Michael IV, (3) Constantine IX Monomachos.

  Michael V – Michael IV’s nephew and adopted son of Zoe and Michael IV. Deceased in 1042 after being blinded by city mob.

  Theodora – Zoe’s younger sister and ruling empress following the death of Constantine IX Monomachos. Deceased 1056.

  Michael VI Bringas – bureaucrat named emperor by Empress Theodora on her deathbed. Forced to abdicate August 31, 1057 in favor of Isaac I Comnenus. Deceased by 1059.

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  Other Characters

  Eudokia Makrembolitissa – friend of Anna Dalassena; 2nd wife of Constantine Ducas

  Michael Keroularios – Eudokia Makrembolitissa’s uncle; patriarch

  Marie of Bulgaria – orphaned niece of Catherine of Bulgaria

  Michael Psellus – court functionary and historian

  Katakalon Kekaumenos – renowned general

  Peter Kekaumenos – soldier and nephew to Katakalon Kekaumenos

  Gagik – abdicated king of Armenia, later in service to empire

  Nikephoros Bryennios – renowned general

  Nikephoros Botaneiates – renowned general

  Michael Maurex – droungarios/admiral in Byzantine navy

  Palace Eunuchs: Thomas, Georgios, Nikephoritzes, Ignatios

  Michael Attaleiates – eminent judge; later historian

  Marie Kourtikios – physician

  Maria of Alania – princess of the Kingdom of Alania

  Irene – cousin of Maria of Alania

  Michael the Chartoularios – bureaucrat

  Constantine Leichoudes – priest

  Martina – refugee from Anatolia with her children George and Thekla

  Michael Taronites – young soldier from the dynatoi

  Nikephoros “Niko” Melissenos – young soldier from the dynatoi

  George Palaiologos – young soldier from the dynatoi

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  •Asterisked names indicate that no record of the individual’s actual name has survived.

  Italicized names indicate a character created for this story.

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  Note: At the time this story takes place, the use of surnames is inconsistent. Not everyone had a surnam
e, and of those who did, not all of them took their father’s name. For example, Anna Dalassena’s father, Alexios, only had the nickname of “Charon” and no recorded surname, while Anna took her maternal grandfather’s surname.

  Glossary

  19 Akkubita – The main banquet hall at the Great Palace. It had nineteen apses: nine on both sides, and one at the far end from the entrance for the emperor. It was originally built in the old Roman style with dining couches in the apses.

  Anatolia – Also known as Asia Minor, this is the geographic area currently occupied by the Asian side Turkey. It extended east to the borders with Armenia and Mesopotamia in 1025 and was divided into about 16 Themes, or provinces, during Anna’s lifetime.

  Black Sea - The Black Sea has been known by several names over history, sometimes by the name Euxine Sea, the hospitable sea.

  Chrysotriklinos – The main throne room, audience and occasional formal dining hall at the Great Palace. It was a large octagonal building with the main entry door of silver. Records indicate that the inside was covered with magnificent mosaics, lavish with gold, as well as gold lamps, and a throne of gold. There was a private entrance to the Boukoleon Palace for the monarch’s use.

  Domestic – A military leader. The Domestic of the Scholai was the leader of the Scholai elite taghmata, a regiment, and was the most senior military leader in the Byzantine Empire. The leaders of the six taghmata generally had the title of Domestic.

  Droungarios – A military leader, usually referred to the admiral of the imperial fleet, but could also be the leader of one of the elite regiments, such as the Vigla Taghmata.

  Dux – The commander/governor of the more critical cities or themes on the frontiers of the Empire.

  Dynatoi – The term used for the Byzantine aristocrats.

  Eparch of Constantinople – the city governor’s office. It had wide-ranging powers, from maintaining public order, to resolving business disputes, and tax collection.

  Franks – The Norman soldiers, generally the younger sons of the Norman nobility, who left in search of land and wealth in the south. Many of them settled in southern Italy and Sicily.

  Gynecaeum – Many families in Byzantium kept their women, as much as possible, in separate women’s quarters for protection. While not a universal practice, it was common, particularly among the upper classes.

  Great Palace – The imperial residence in Constantinople; originally built by Constantine the Great, but added onto by many emperors.

  Hagia Sophia – The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God. This basilica was built in the reign of Justinian about 575 and is considered the finest example of Byzantine architecture. It was the main church of the Eastern Church until 1453 when the Mehmet II conquered Constantinople and converted it and many other Orthodox churches to mosques.

  Hegoumenos/Hegoumena – The Greek term for the abbot/abbess of a monastery.

  Hippodrome – The stadium located near the Great Palace where chariot and horse races were traditionally held, as well as some imperial ceremonies. Finished by Constantine the Great in the 4th century, it could hold about 30,000 spectators and by Anna’s day it was at least 600 years old.

  Icon – Paintings of Christ, angels, the Mother of Christ, and other saints, to be venerated by Orthodox Christians.

  Iconostasis – A screen between the nave (where worshippers were located) and the altar, where the priest, bishops, and/or deacons would be located. There were “royal doors” that opened between the nave and altar. The screen was typically adorned with paintings of Christ, the Theotokos, angels, and saints, or Biblical scenes.

  Maphorion – A mantle, or veil, worn by Byzantine women when they went out.

  Mese – The main road in Byzantium, beginning at the Milion marker near the Great Palace and the Hagia Sophia.

  Milion – A marker near the Great Palace and the Hagia Sophia, where the Mese began, near the heart of Byzantium. Originally quite large, a small piece of it can still be seen in Istanbul today.

  Pascha – The Orthodox term for Easter.

  Prinkipo – One of the Princes’ islands in the Sea of Marmara where abdicated/exiled rulers and political enemies of the rulers of the Empire were sent, typically to be tonsured as a monk or nun, to live out their days in the monastery or convent there.

  Purple Room – The room in the Great Palace where Byzantine empresses traditionally gave birth. This room was built with walls of reddish/purple marble from Egypt called porphyry. Children born in this room traditionally bore the moniker of “Porphyrogenitus” or “Porphyrogenita”.

  Semantron - A wooden plank that makes a sound like a gong when hit with a mallet. Used to call the orthodox to church services since church bells were uncommon in Constantinople.

  Solidi – (Solidus – singular) The traditional gold coins of the Byzantine Empire. These were highly regarded for centuries for their stable quality and value, and were often traded into Western Europe where they were called “bezants”. During the period of this novel, however, emperors debased the coins to fund profligate imperial spending, resulting in inflation and popular dissatisfaction with the empire’s rulers.

  St. John Stoudion Monastery – This was the largest and best known of the monasteries in Byzantium for hundreds of years. It was commonly referred to simply as Stoudion. Portions of the ruined church can still be seen in Istanbul today.

  Strategos – Governor of a Byzantine Theme; often a general since they had defensive responsibilities, or possibly a large landowner in the Theme.

  Taghmata – These were the Byzantine Empire’s six elite regiments – Scholai, Exkoubitores, Ikanatoi, Vigla, Arithmos and Athanatoi.

  Tesserae – The small bits of stone, colored glass or marble that make up a mosaic.

  Theme – The regional “provinces” within the Byzantine Empire. Each theme’s defined borders could be altered, with the number of themes changing over the centuries.

  Themata – These were the provincial army corps. Each province had their own, composed of professional soldiers and local troops who held land in exchange for military service.

  Theodosian Land Walls – These nearly impregnable walls were built during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius II in the 5th century, extending in an arc from the Golden Horn in the north, to the Sea of Marmara in the south. They were matched with equally strong sea walls. The land walls consisted of a main fortress wall with numerous towers and watch posts, a lower outer wall, with a trench between the walls that could be filled with water. These walls were an amazingly effective deterrent for centuries and only fell in 1453 to the cannons of Mehmet II and the Ottoman Turks. Most of the walls can still be seen today in Istanbul.

  Theotokos – The Greek term used commonly to refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is literally translated as “God-bearer”. Mary is a frequent subject of Byzantine icons, but always pictured with Jesus.

  Varangian Guard – One of the most renowned mercenary corps in history, the Varangians were Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons and Russians who had wandered south in search of wealth. They dedicated themselves to serving the Byzantine emperor, however needed, beginning in the early 10th century until the late 14th century.

  Map of the Byzantine Empire - 1025

  The following map of the Byzantine Empire shows the extent of the empire in 1025, the year of the death of Emperor Basil II and the year Anna Dalassena was born. During Anna’s lifetime, much of this territory was lost due to exceptionally poor leadership in most of the years following Basil’s death.

  One place mentioned often in the story that is not on the map is Bithynia. This ancient name for part of the Anatolian peninsula was not the name of any Byzantine theme (a governing unit similar to a state or province) and covered various parts of Anatolia at different times. This area was generally on the western most coast of Anatolia, from the Black Sea area down to the Bosphoros and the Sea of Marmara. Eleventh century Byzantines still called that general part of Anatolia “Bithynia” the way Americans might refe
r to the “Midwest” or “the East Coast.” People generally knew what area was being referred to even though it isn’t specifically labeled on a map.

  I have no certainty of the location of the nomadic tribes of Scythes and Pechenegs. They did roam quite a bit. I’ve put them on the map so that readers can get a general idea of where they came from.

  The empire lost vast amounts of territory during Anna’s lifetime. The Hungarian kings were often trying and succeeding, before losing again, at taking Croatia and Serbia. The Norman mercenaries in Italy had taken over all remaining Byzantine territory there by about 1070. The Seljuk Turks began raiding in Anatolia by about 1050, but swooped into Anatolia almost without any impediment following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Every one of these losses cost the empire in tax revenue and resources, especially manpower.

  N.B. – The official name of the capital city of the Eastern Roman Empire was Constantinople. However, I realized, when reading the histories written in this period, that the people living in Constantinople almost never called the city by its official name. It was most often called by its old name of Byzantium, and sometimes the Queen of Cities. I suspect it was because the official name is a mouthful – six syllables in Greek vs. four syllables for the old name. I do use all three names in this novel.

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