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Birth:          ABT 1133 
Death:          BEF 12 Dec 1185 

Notes
blinded 1182/3
a General in the Civil and Moslem wars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andronikos_Doukas_Angelos
Andronikos Doukas Angelos (Greek: ??d??????? ????a? ???e???, c.?1133 – before 
1185) was a Byzantine aristocrat related to the ruling Komnenos dynasty. Under his 
cousin, Manuel I Komnenos, he served without success as a military commander 
against the Seljuk Turks, and as envoy to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Following 
Manuel's death, in 1182 he was sent to stop the rebellion of Andronikos I Komnenos, 
but was defeated and eventually joined him. Shortly after he led a failed conspiracy of 
leading aristocrats against Andronikos I, but when it was discovered, Andronikos and 
his sons fled the Empire. Andronikos ended up in Acre, where he died. He was the 
father of emperors Isaac II Angelos and Alexios III Angelos.
Life[edit]

Andronikos was born around 1133, the thirdborn son of Constantine Angelos and 
Theodora Komnene, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r.?1081–
1118) and Irene Doukaina.[1][2] Some time before 1155, probably around 1150, he 
married Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa, sister of Theodore Kastamonites, who became an 
all-powerful minister during the reign of Andronikos' son Isaac II.[3][4] Andronikos is 
first recorded in the sources during the court and ecclesiastical synod convened in 
March 1166 over the interpretation of Christ's statement "My Father is greater than I", 
where he participated along with his brothers.[5]

In 1176 he participated, along with his older brother John, as a unit commander of the 
vanguard in the campaign against the Seljuk Sultanate of Iconium that led to the 
Byzantine defeat in the Battle of Myriokephalon.[5] In the next year, Andronikos led an 
embassy—including also the megas hetaireiarches John Doukas Kamateros, Alexander, 
Count of Gravina, and George Sinaites—to the Kingdom of Jerusalem to renew the 
alliance between his first cousin, Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (r.?1143–1180), and 
King Baldwin IV.[6]

In 1179, Emperor Manuel entrusted Andronikos with leading a campaign against the 
Turks in the area of Charax in Phrygia. However, during the night, some Turks got to 
the rear of the imperial army and raised loud voices. Fearing that he was encircled, 
Andronikos rode his horse and fled first headlong towards Chonae. Seeing the flight of 
its commander, the Byzantine army panicked and began to flee, and only the 
intervention of another imperial relative, Manuel Kantakouzenos, who sword in hand 
confronted the fleeing soldiers and pointed out that no enemy was attacking them, 
managed to stop the rout. Emperor Manuel was so incensed at the disgraceful actions 
of Andronikos that he threatened to have him publicly paraded through the streets of 
Constantinople dressed as a woman; in the end, however, he relented and did not 
carry out his threat.[7] Shortly after, Andronikos tried to divorce his wife, Euphrosyne 
Kastamonitissa, and marry his mistress, but the Emperor and the synod forbade him to 
do so.[7]

In spring 1182, Empress-regent Maria of Antioch and her chief minister, Alexios 
Komnenos, sent Andronikos to confront another cousin, Andronikos Komnenos, who 
had rebelled and was marching onto Constantinople. Andronikos Komnenos had 
reached the vicinity of Nicomedia, where many local people joined him. In a battle 
near Charax, Andronikos was defeated by the rebel's army, even though that was a 
hastily assembled force consisting, according to Niketas Choniates, only of "farmers 
unfit for warfare and a contingent of Paphlagonian soldiers", led not even by a military 
experienced commander, but by "a certain eunuch". On his return to Constantinople, 
Andronikos was faced with accusations that he had misappropriated money meant for 
the army's salary. Fearing accusations of pro-rebel sentiments, at the advice of his 
sons he barricaded himself and his family in their walled palace at Exokionion, before 
fleeing the city altogether and joining Andronikos Komnenos in Bithynia.[8][9][10] 
Emboldened by this defection, Andronikos Komnenos moved to Chalcedon, across the 
Bosporus from Constantinople. Following the defection of the megas doux Andronikos 
Kontostephanos with the navy to the rebel, a revolt broke out in the city and the gates 
were opened to Andronikos Komnenos, who now ascended the throne as emperor.
[11][12]

Soon, however, the very same nobles who had aided Andronikos Komnenos in 
becoming emperor conspired against him, after it became clear that he did not intend 
to restore them to the privileged position they had held under Emperor Manuel. 
Andronikos Angelos and Andronikos Kontostephanos, along with their numerous sons, 
and the logothetes tou dromou Basil Kamateros were the leaders of the plot, but it was 
quickly discovered by the Emperor's agents. Kamateros, Kontostephanos and four of 
his sons, as well as many other members of the conspiracy, were seized and blinded, 
but the Angeloi escaped. According to Choniates, while fleeing from the pursuing 
imperial soldiers, Andronikos and his sons found a boat laden with empty amphorae; 
throwing the cargo overboard, they boarded it and sailed to safety.[13][14] Andronikos 
left Byzantine territory and went to Damascus and Baghdad, where he met and 
received aid from Saladin, before settling at Acre. He probably died there, some time 
before the rise of his son Isaac to the throne in September 1185.[7]

Family[edit]

Andronikos and Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa had eight children, six sons and two 
daughters.[3][15] Only Constantine, Alexios, and Isaac are securely attested as 
Andronikos' sons. The names of the other three sons are unknown and disputed 
among scholars.[3]
Constantine Komnenos Angelos (c.?1151 – after 1199), military commander, blinded by 
Andronikos Komnenos, and raised to sebastokrator by his brother Isaac. Married and 
had issue, the names of both his wife and offspring are unknown.[16]
John Angelos (c.?1152 – possibly after 1222), blinded by Andronikos Komnenos, and 
likely raised to Caesar and then sebastokrator by his brother Isaac. Married, possibly 
to Irene Komnene, and had one son, Andronikos.[17]
Alexios III Angelos (c.?1153 – 1211), raised to sebastokrator by is brother Isaac, 
usurped the throne from him in 1195. Generally an inept and pleasure-loving ruler, he 
reigned until he fled before the attacks of the Fourth Crusade in 1203. He tried to 
capture the Empire of Nicaea in 1211 but was defeated by Theodore I Laskaris and 
died soon after. Married Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamatera and had three daughters, 
Irene, Anna, and Eudokia.[18]
Michael Angelos (c.?1154 – unknown), unnamed in the sources, he has been 
tentatively identified with a Caesar of this name, known only from a single seal. Like 
all brothers except for Isaac and Alexios, he too was blinded by Andronikos I.[19]
Theodore Angelos (c.?1155 – after 1199), in 1183 he led a rebellion against 
Andronikos I at Prussa, and was defeated, blinded, and exiled to the Seljuks. When 
Isaac became emperor, he may have been raised to Caesar. Married and had issue, 
the names of both his wife and offspring are unknown.[20]
Isaac II Angelos (1156–1204), in 1183 he led a rebellion along with Theodore 
Kantakouzenos against Andronikos I at Nicaea, but after Kantakouzenos' death 
submitted to the Emperor. Isaac's killing of the hated chief minister, Stephen 
Hagiochristophorites, in 1185 inspired a popular revolt that deposed Andronikos and 
brought Isaac to the throne. He ruled until deposed by his brother Alexios in 1195, but 
was restored by the Crusaders in 1203, remaining on the throne along with his son 
Alexios IV until his death, shortly before the final Sack of Constantinople by the 
Crusaders. He married firstly an unknown lady and had three children, Euphrosyne, 
Irene, and Alexios IV; with his second wife Margaret of Hungary he had had two sons, 
Manuel and John.[21]
Irene Angelina (c.?1154 – unknown), married John Kantakouzenos, who on the 
occasion was named Caesar. The couple had at least one son, whose name is 
unknown.[22]
Theodora Angelina (c.?1160 – unknown), married marquess Conrad of Montferrat, who 
on the occasion was named Caesar. After Conrad abandoned her in 1187 to go to 
Jerusalem, she retired to the Dalmatou Monastery, which was converted into a female 
convent for her.[23]

Parents
ANGELOS Konstantinos (ABT 1093 - AFT 1166)
KOMNENE Theodora (15 Jan 1096 - )

Siblings
ANGELOS DOUKAS Andronikos (ABT 1133 - BEF 12 Dec 1185)

Marriage To KASTAMONITISSA Euphroysne (ABT 1110 - ABT 1190)
    m. BEF 1153 

Notes


Children by KASTAMONITISSA Euphroysne ABT 1110 - ABT 1190
ANGELOS Alexios (Alexius) III (ABT 1153 - AFT 1211)
ANGELOS Isaakios II (Sep 1156 - Jan 1204)

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