Eudokia Makrembolitissa#Writings

Eudokia Makrembolitissa was the daughter of John Makrembolites and a maternal niece of Michael I Cerularius, the patriarch of Constantinople, whose sister Keroularie had married Makrembolites.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=168}} John, who belonged to the aristocracy of Constantinople, allied with Cerularius in 1040 to conspire against Emperor Michael IV, but their plan was stopped soon after.{{Sfn|ODB|p=1272, 1361}} The birth date of Eudokia is unknown, but scholars often place it {{circa}} 1030.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=608}} Some authors give her a lifespan of 1021–1096,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} but this is not corroborated by other sources.{{Sfn|ODB|p=739}}{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=168}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}} Eudokia married Constantine X Doukas sometime before his accession in 1059, probably {{circa}} 1049,{{Sfn|ODB|p=739}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}} when Constantine was 43 years old.{{Sfn|ODB|p=504}} She was Constantine's second wife, as his first one, a daughter of Duke Constantine Dalassenos, died soon after their marriage.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=168–169}} By 1059 they already had at least five children: the future Michael VII, an unnamed son who died young, Andronikos Doukas, Anna Doukaina and Theodora Doukaina.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=779}}

Constantine X Doukas was crowned emperor on 23 November 1059, the day after Isaac I Komnenos' abdication.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=764}} Eudokia was crowned augusta soon after, probably on the same year.{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}}{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=779}} They had a fourth son around this time, Konstantios Doukas, who was crowned before his brother Michael, and an other daughter, Zoe.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=764}} When Constantine fell ill in October 1066, he appointed caesar John Doukas and patriarch John VIII Xiphilinos as co-regents. Eudokia was meant only to take care of Michael and Konstantios, but Constantine knew that she had larger ambitions.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=|p=169}} Constantine died the next year, on 23 May 1067.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=764}}

Some historians regard Eudokia as an empress regnant who actually ruled in her own right for seven months,{{Sfn|Kalavrezou-Maxeiner|1977|pp=311-313}} while others consider her as a regent who was the de facto emperor.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=171–172}}{{Sfn|Cameron|2009|p=120}} Some books include her in lists of emperors,{{Sfn|Haldon|2005|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=xjAWDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA176 176]}}{{Sfn|Krallis|2019|p=xviii}}{{Cite book |last=Browning |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Browning (Byzantinist)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAlcKDsubMgC&pg=PA298 |page=298|title=The Byzantine Empire |year=1992 |edition=Revised |publisher=CUA Press |isbn=978-0-8132-0754-4 |language=en}} others do not.{{Sfn|ODB|p=[https://archive.org/details/odb_20210521/page/360/mode/1up 360]}}{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2023|p=[https://books.google.com/books/?id=D-LLEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA923 923]}} According to the contemporary Michael Psellos, Eudokia "succeeded [Constantine X] as supreme ruler, she did not hand over the government to others... she assumed control of the whole administration in person.{{Sfn|Psellos|loc=Eudocia 1}} Michael VII was "already long past his boyhood" by this time, but nevertheless "left the whole administration to his mother".{{Sfn|Psellos|loc=Eudocia 2}} Some authors argue that he had some type of mental disability.{{Sfn|ODB|p=1366}}

It was very unusual that, on Constantine X's silver and copper coins, he appeared with only his wife Eudokia, without his sons Michael and Constantios, even though they were co-emperors.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=170}}{{Sfn|Kalavrezou-Maxeiner|1977|pp=311-313}} One inscription on a silver reliquary, showing Constantine X and Eudokia, calls her "Great Empress of the Romans" (megalē basilis tōn Romaiōn), suggesting that she was a co-ruler or successor to Constantine.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=170−171}}{{sfn|Kalavrezou-Maxeiner|1977|pp=311-313}} Some inscriptions ascribe the masculine title Emperor to her. On Constantine X's silver coinage, the miliaresion, she and Constantine are together called 'faithful emperors of the Romaioi'.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=170}} On a tetarteron probably of late 1067, the inscription reads 'Eudokia and Michael, emperors', and on a seal, probably dated between May and December 1067, the inscription reads 'Eudokia, Michael and Constantios, emperors of the Romaioi'.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=172}} A seal, dated to early 1068, link Romanos and Eudokia as co-rulers with the title 'Romanos and Eudokia emperors of the Romaioi'{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=175}} On coins, the title of basilis(sa) is used by only the empresses who assumed the throne: Irene, Zoe, Theodora, and Eudokia Makrembolitissa.{{sfn|Kalavrezou-Maxeiner|1977|pp=309-310}} On Constantine X's miliaresion, Eudokia has taken the place to the spectator's right, which is traditionally given to the co-emperor and successor to the throne.{{sfn|Kalavrezou-Maxeiner|1977|pp=311-313}} Calling her the ruler of the world (κοσμοκράτορ), the dedication poem provides evidence for Eudokia's perception of herself as sharing the empire with her husband Constantine.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=178}} On the dating clauses of South Italian charters, Eudokia's name always takes precedence over those of her sons, and she is often the only one to receive the imperial title.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=172}}{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=782}}

Constantine left as co-regents Michael, Konstantios and Eudokia. Eudokia holds the first place in the Hierarchical order, and she alone bears the imperial status.{{Cite journal |last=Χριστοφιλοπουλου |first=Αικατερίνη |author-link=:el:Αικατερίνη Χριστοφιλοπούλου|date=1970-09-29 |title=Ἡ ἀντιβασιλεία εἰς τὸ Βυζάντιον |url=https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/bz/article/view/3460 |journal=Byzantina Symmeikta |volume=2 |language=el |pages=65–75 |doi=10.12681/byzsym.648 |issn=1791-4884|doi-access=free }} Historian Michael Attaleiates, in order to declare the status of Eudokia after May 1067 and of Zoe and Theodora in April 1042, uses the title of autokrator, precisely because the above were brought to the Byzantine throne with the same legal status as male emperors. Byzantine sources, referring to imperial statutes, usually mention the name of the ruler who issued this decree, and the name of the first-class emperor is never omitted. Eudokia issued a decree determining the distance between buildings being erected, and the inscription of only the name of Eudokia as its publisher presupposes her imperial capacity at the time of the issuance of the legislation. Alexios II, for whom Maria was regent, was simply basileus, but upon his father Manuel I's death he was immediately proclaimed autokrator. On the other hand, Michael VII continued to be referred as simply basileus after his father Constantine X's death and was proclaimed autokrator in 1071. On the coin of 1067, Eudokia is depicted in the midst of her two sons. The arrangement of the figures corresponds to a certain legal relationship between the co-emperors, the senior emperor in the middle and on either side of him the junior co-emperors. The inscription from Mesembria testify to the repair of the city wall under Constantine and Eudokia. In the inscriptions concerning the renovation of the walls, the rulers who held the throne in the capacity of emperor at the time of the construction work and following the writing of the inscription are always mentioned.

Eudokia had sworn on Constantine's deathbed not to remarry, and she even made the oath in the presence of patriarch John VIII Xiphilinos.{{Sfn|ODB|p=739}} However, she knew that her position of power could be compromised if she continued to wield power alone. She then chose Romanos IV Diogenes, a general who had great popularity with the army.{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=24}} This decision was quite controversial, as Romanos had been accused of conspiring with the Hungarians shortly before Constantine X's death.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=173}} Eudokia hoped that his skills and leadership would stop the advance of the Seljuk Turks in the East.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=24}}{{Sfn|Hill|2014|p=63}} On 25 December, Eudokia rewarded Romanos with the titles magistros and stratelates in preparation for his coronation.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=173}} However, they still needed the approval of the patriarch of Constantinople. According to some sources, Eudokia tricked John VIII into believing that she would marry one of his brothers. John VIII accepted the offer and canceled the oath.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=173}}{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=25}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}} The marriage and imperial coronation took place on 1 January 1068, to the surprise of the patriarch and other officials.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=173−174}}{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=25}}

File:135 - Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Mutinensis - color).png]]

With her new husband's assistance, Eudokia was able to dispel the impending danger. She had two sons with Romanos IV, Nikephoros and Leo.{{Sfn|ODB|p=739}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}} Another of Eudokia and Constantine's sons, Andronikos Doukas, was also made co-emperor by Romanos IV, although he had been excluded from power by his own father, mother, and brothers. He was probably crowned too in 1068, although he is ignored by contemporary chronicles.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=779}} Contemporary coinage seems to depict Romanos as inferior to Michael and his brothers, and thus inferior to the empress. He is sometimes not even called "emperor", as some tetarteron only call him despotes and reserve the title basileus for Eudokia.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|pp=173−174}}{{Sfn|Hill|2014|p=64}} According to Michael Psellos, she explicitly referred to him as "a subject, not a ruler."{{Sfn|Psellos|loc=Eudocia 8}} Romanos IV, however, soon started to act independently of her, even starting to resent her.{{Sfn|Psellos|loc=Romanos 10}} Discontent was also shared by a faction of the Senate and army, with John Doukas at the head.{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=|pp=24–25}}

On 26 August 1071, Romanos IV faced Alp Arslan, sultan of the Seljuk Empire, at the decisive Battle of Manzikert.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=780}}{{Sfn|Schreiner|1975|p=170}} The Byzantine army was destroyed and the emperor himself was captured, partly because of the treachery of general Andronikos, John Doukas's son.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=176}}{{Sfn|Hill|2014|p=64}}{{Sfn|Finlay|1877|p=|pp=31–33}} The news reached Constantinople a few days later, causing much shock in the populace.{{Sfn|Psellos|loc=Romanos 23}} On {{circa}} 1 October the Senate declared Romanos IV deposed and proclaimed Eudokia and Michael VII as joint rulers.{{Sfn|Schreiner|1975|p=161}}{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=176}} Some sources state that Eudokia was already planning on deposing her husband, but this is very unlikely.{{Sfn|Vratimos|2003}} The new regime only lasted one month,{{efn|Polemis dates the joint rule of Eudokia and Michael VII in 24 September – 24 October 1071,{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=780}} while Schreiner dates it in 1 October – 1 November 1071.{{Sfn|Schreiner|1975|p=161}}}} when Eudokia's opposition became strong enough to depose her, especially after news of Romanos release arrived at the capital.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=780}}{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=176}} Michael VII was then proclaimed sole autokrator by John Doukas, who forced Eudokia to retire to a monastery as a nun.{{Sfn|Grierson|1973|p=780}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}}{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=177}}

Eudokia continued to be influential even after her exile in 1071.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=177}} Soon after her deposition, she allied with Anna Dalassene, a sister-in-law of Isaac I Komnenos who had also been exiled,{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=177}} to restore Romanos IV and depose John Doukas.{{Sfn|Hill|2014|p=65}} However, Doukas soon fell from grace as a result of the schemes of eunuch Nikephoritzes, who was close to the Komnenos family.{{Sfn|Hill|2014|p=65}} Eudokia later performed a memorable funeral and burial for Romanos IV, who died on 4 August 1072.{{Sfn|Vratimos|2003}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}}

After Michael VII was deposed in 1078 by Nikephoros III Botaneiates, Eudokia was recalled to Constantinople by the new emperor, who offered to marry her. This plan did not come to pass, mainly due to the opposition of John Doukas, who returned to power after Nikephoritzes's exile. However, Nikephoros still sent her many rewards and gifts of gratitude.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=178}}{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}}{{Sfn|ODB|p=739}} Her date of death is unknown, but it was sometime after the accession of Alexios I Komnenos in 1081.{{Sfn|Garland|2002|p=178}} Her last known action is the adoption of one of the cousins of Patriarch Michael I Cerularius.{{Sfn|PBW|loc=Eudokia 1}}

Attributed to Eudokia is a dictionary of history and mythology, called {{lang|el|Ἰωνιά}} (i.e., Collection or Bed of Violets). It is prefaced by an address to her husband, Romanos Diogenes, and the work is described as "a collection of genealogies of gods, heroes, and heroines, of their metamorphoses, and of the fables and stories respecting them found in the ancients; containing also notices of various philosophers".{{sfn|Smith|1870}} However, the book is now thought to be a modern (16th-century) compilation, falsely attributed to Eudokia, and compiled by the counterfeiter Constantine Paleocappa {{circa}} 1540.{{sfn|Dorandi|2013}} The sources from which the work was compiled include Diogenes Laërtius and the Suda.{{sfn|Dorandi|2013}}

Image:Constantine X and Eudokia in St. Demetrius' reliquary (detail).jpg|Constantine X and Eudokia in a reliquary of Demetrius of Thessaloniki, by John Autoreianos.{{sfn|Evans|Wixom|1997|pp=77–78}}{{efn|The inscription reads: "Constantine Doukas in Christ the Lord, pious Basileus and Autokrator of the Romans / Eudokia in Christ the Lord, great Basilissa of the Romans."{{sfn|Evans|Wixom|1997|pp=77–78}}}}

File:Constantine X, Michael VII and Eudokia.jpg|Miniature of Constantine X and Eudokia alongside their son and co-emperor Michael VII Doukas.{{Sfn|Spatharakis|1976|pp=27–34}}

File:Romanus IV. und Eudocia.jpg|Gold tetarteron of Romanos IV Diogenes and Eudokia.

By her first husband, Eudokia had seven children, four sons and three daughters:{{Cite book |last=Norwich |first=John Julius |title=Byzantium. 2: The apogee |date=1993 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-011448-5 |location=London |pages=301}}

• Michael VII Doukas, co-emperor from 1060 and senior emperor after 1071.
• A son who died in infancy.
• Anne Doukaina, nun.
• Andronikos Doukas, co-emperor from 1068 to 1078.
• Theodora Doukaina, who married Domenico Selvo, Doge of Venice.
• Konstantios Doukas, co-emperor from 1060 to 1078, died in battle with the Normans in 1081.
• Zoe Doukaina, who married Adrianos Komnenos, a brother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. They had a son, Alexios, and two daughters, maybe named Anne and Alexia.

By her second husband, she had two sons, most likely twins:{{Cite book |last=Bartusis |first=Mark C. |title=Land and privilege in Byzantium: the institution of pronoia |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-00962-2 |location=Cambridge New York |pages=147}}

• Nikephoros Diogenes, blinded by order of Alexios I Comnenus on charges of treason.
• Leo Diogenes, died in battle.

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

Primary sources

• {{cite book|last=Psellos|first=Michael|url=https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/psellus-chrono07.asp|title=Cronographia|volume=7|author-link=Michael Psellos}}

Secondary sources

{{Refbegin|30em}}

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{{Refend}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-hou|Makrembolites|||}}

{{s-reg}}

{{s-bef| before = Constantine X}}

{{s-ttl| title = Byzantine empress regnant| years = 23 May – 31 December 1067}}

{{s-aft| after = Romanos IV}}

{{s-roy}}

{{s-bef| before = Catherine of Bulgaria}}

{{s-ttl| title = Byzantine empress consort| years = 23 November 1059 – 23 May 1067 and 1 January 1068 – 1 October 1071 }}

{{s-aft| after = Maria of Alania}}

{{s-end}}

{{Roman emperors}}

{{Roman empresses}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makrembolitissa, Eudokia}}

Category:1030s births

Category:Year of birth uncertain

Category:Byzantine empresses regnant

Category:Remarried empresses consort

Category:11th-century regents

Category:11th-century women writers

Category:Keroularios family

Category:Doukid dynasty

Category:11th-century Byzantine empresses

Category:Byzantine women writers

Eudokia

Category:Augustae

Category:11th-century Byzantine writers

Category:11th-century Byzantine nuns

Category:Byzantine regents

Category:11th-century women regents

Category:Mothers of Byzantine emperors

Category:Forcibly monasticised