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Total Categories: 6
Manuel Erotikos Komnenos was the first emperor from the Komnenos dynasty.
Answer: False
Manuel Erotikos Komnenos was the earliest known member of the family and the father of the first emperor, Isaac I Komnenos. Isaac I ruled from 1057 to 1059.
The Komnenos family originated from the region of Macedonia, according to historical accounts.
Answer: False
Historical accounts, particularly from Michael Psellos, indicate the Komnenos family originated from Thrace, specifically near Philippopolis, not Macedonia.
The Komnenos family acquired extensive estates in Paphlagonia, solidifying their position within the military aristocracy of Asia Minor.
Answer: True
The acquisition of estates in Paphlagonia was crucial for the Komnenos family's rise, integrating them into the influential military aristocracy of Asia Minor.
The Komnenoi claimed descent from the Roman Emperor Diocletian to bolster their legitimacy.
Answer: False
The Komnenoi tradition linked their lineage to Emperor Claudius Gothicus, not Diocletian, as a means to enhance their imperial legitimacy.
Modern scholars widely accept theories suggesting the Komnenos family had significant Roman or Aromanian ancestry.
Answer: False
Current scholarly consensus largely rejects theories of Roman or Aromanian ancestry, considering the family to be predominantly of Greek origin.
The name 'Komnenos' is believed to derive from the city of Constantinople.
Answer: False
Scholarly consensus suggests the name 'Komnenos' likely originates from the village of Komne in Thrace or the 'Fields of Komnene', rather than Constantinople.
Who was the first member of the Komnenos family to rule as Byzantine emperor?
Answer: Isaac I Komnenos
Isaac I Komnenos, son of Manuel Erotikos Komnenos, was the first member of the family to ascend to the Byzantine throne, ruling from 1057 to 1059.
According to Michael Psellos, from which region did the Komnenos family originate?
Answer: Thrace
The Byzantine historian Michael Psellos indicated that the Komnenos family originated from Thrace, specifically near Philippopolis.
The Komnenos family became strongly associated with which group of Byzantine nobility?
Answer: The military aristocracy of Asia Minor
The Komnenos family rose to prominence through their strong ties and extensive landholdings within the military aristocracy of Asia Minor.
Which Roman emperor did the Komnenoi tradition link their lineage to, in an effort to enhance legitimacy?
Answer: Claudius Gothicus
The Komnenoi tradition claimed descent from Emperor Claudius Gothicus to bolster their imperial legitimacy and historical standing.
What is the modern scholarly consensus on the ethnic origin of the Komnenos family?
Answer: Entirely Greek
Contemporary scholarly consensus posits that the Komnenos family was entirely of Greek ethnic origin, largely dismissing earlier theories of Roman or Aromanian descent.
Which region became the stronghold of the Komnenos family in the 11th century?
Answer: Paphlagonia
The Komnenos family established their primary power base and acquired significant estates in Paphlagonia during the 11th century.
What was the fate of Isaac I Komnenos's reign?
Answer: He abdicated in 1059 and became a monk.
Isaac I Komnenos, after a brief reign from 1057 to 1059, was compelled by court factions to abdicate and enter monastic life.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the Komnenos family's ethnic origin according to modern scholars?
Answer: They were entirely of Greek origin.
Modern scholarship predominantly identifies the Komnenos family as being entirely of Greek ethnic origin, refuting earlier theories of mixed or non-Greek ancestry.
The House of Komnenos ruled the Byzantine Empire continuously from 1057 until 1185.
Answer: False
The Komnenian dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire in two distinct periods: 1057-1059 and 1081-1185. The statement implies a single, unbroken period of rule, which is inaccurate.
Isaac I Komnenos ruled the Byzantine Empire for over two decades, from 1057 to 1080.
Answer: False
Isaac I Komnenos ruled for a brief period from 1057 to 1059, after which he abdicated. The period 1057-1080 encompasses parts of other dynasties' reigns.
Alexios I Komnenos re-established the Komnenos dynasty's rule in 1081 after a period of absence.
Answer: True
Following the brief reign of Isaac I and subsequent rule by other dynasties, Alexios I Komnenos ascended the throne in 1081, initiating the second and longer period of Komnenian rule.
The Komnenos dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire directly for approximately 104 years, starting with Alexios I Komnenos.
Answer: True
The continuous rule of the Komnenian dynasty over the Byzantine Empire, from Alexios I's accession in 1081 until Andronikos I's fall in 1185, lasted for 104 years.
Andronikos I Komnenos was the last ruler of the Komnenos dynasty in the Byzantine Empire, reigning until 1185.
Answer: True
Andronikos I Komnenos's reign marked the end of the Komnenos dynasty's direct rule over the Byzantine Empire in 1185.
Alexios I Komnenos's reign was marked by territorial losses and economic decline in the Byzantine Empire.
Answer: False
Alexios I's reign is generally characterized by stabilization and recovery, including territorial gains in Anatolia and effective management of the First Crusade, leading to relative prosperity.
The Komnenos dynasty maintained a policy of isolationism regarding the Crusader states.
Answer: False
The Komnenos dynasty engaged significantly with the Crusader states, notably through intermarriage with their ruling families and managing the passage of crusading armies.
John II Komnenos ruled for a longer period than his father, Alexios I Komnenos.
Answer: False
Alexios I Komnenos reigned for 37 years (1081-1118), while his son John II Komnenos ruled for 25 years (1118-1143). Manuel I Komnenos also ruled for 37 years.
The Komnenian era in Byzantine history refers to the period when the Doukas dynasty ruled the empire.
Answer: False
The 'Komnenian era' specifically denotes the period of Byzantine history when the Komnenos dynasty held imperial power, primarily from 1081 to 1185.
The Komnenos dynasty's rule in the Byzantine Empire ended when Andronikos I Komnenos abdicated peacefully in favor of the Angelos family.
Answer: False
Andronikos I Komnenos was overthrown and killed in 1185 by Isaac II Angelos, marking a violent end to the dynasty's rule, not a peaceful abdication.
What was the approximate duration of the Komnenos dynasty's continuous rule over the Byzantine Empire?
Answer: 104 years
The Komnenos dynasty maintained continuous rule over the Byzantine Empire for 104 years, from 1081 to 1185.
Which emperor re-established the Komnenos dynasty's rule on the Byzantine throne in 1081?
Answer: Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos ascended the throne in 1081, marking the restoration of the Komnenos dynasty's rule over the Byzantine Empire.
Who was the last ruler of the Komnenos dynasty in the Byzantine Empire?
Answer: Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos was the final emperor of the Komnenos dynasty in the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 1183 to 1185.
How did Alexios I Komnenos's reign impact the Byzantine Empire's relationship with the First Crusade?
Answer: He managed the passage of the First Crusade through Byzantine lands.
Alexios I Komnenos skillfully managed the passage of the First Crusade through Byzantine territory, negotiating with the crusaders while seeking to protect imperial interests.
The Komnenos dynasty's involvement with the Crusader states included:
Answer: Intermarrying with ruling families of Antioch and Jerusalem.
The Komnenos dynasty engaged in significant diplomatic and familial ties with the Crusader states, notably through strategic intermarriages with prominent ruling families.
Which Komnenos emperor ruled for the longest continuous period?
Answer: Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos reigned for 37 years (1081-1118), the longest continuous rule among the Komnenos emperors in the Byzantine Empire.
The 'Komnenian era' in Byzantine history primarily refers to the period when which dynasty held power?
Answer: The Komnenos dynasty
The 'Komnenian era' is the historical designation for the period when the Komnenos dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire.
Alexios I Komnenos married into the Doukas dynasty, strengthening his claim to the throne.
Answer: True
Alexios I's marriage to Irene Doukaina, a member of the influential Doukas family, was a strategic alliance that bolstered his legitimacy and claim to the imperial throne.
The combined clan name 'Komnenodoukai' referred specifically to the direct descendants of Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina.
Answer: False
The term 'Komnenodoukai' referred to a broader union and descendants stemming from the intermarriage of the Komnenos and Doukas families, not exclusively the direct offspring of Alexios I and Irene Doukaina.
Imperial succession within the Komnenos dynasty was strictly based on primogeniture, ensuring smooth transitions.
Answer: False
Succession within the Komnenos dynasty was often contested and not strictly based on primogeniture, frequently leading to internal conflicts and power struggles among family members.
The Laskaris family directly succeeded the Komnenoi on the Byzantine throne after 1185.
Answer: False
The Angelos dynasty, closely related through intermarriage, succeeded the Komnenoi after 1185. The Laskaris family later founded the Empire of Nicaea after the Fourth Crusade.
The Komnenoi intermarried with which previous imperial dynasty upon Alexios I's accession?
Answer: The Doukas dynasty
Alexios I Komnenos married Irene Doukaina, a member of the Doukas dynasty, forging a significant alliance that integrated the Komnenoi with the preceding imperial house.
Which of the following families descended from the wider union of Komnenoi and Doukas families?
Answer: The Palaiologos family
The Palaiologos family, along with others like the Angelos and Laskaris families, descended from the broader network of relations formed by the union of the Komnenoi and Doukas houses.
What was a primary cause of internal conflicts and conspiracies within the Komnenos dynasty?
Answer: Lack of a clearly defined succession order.
The absence of a strict primogeniture system often led to competing claims and internal strife, fueling conspiracies and power struggles within the Komnenos family.
Which closely related family succeeded the Komnenoi on the Byzantine throne after 1185?
Answer: The Angelos
The Angelos dynasty, closely linked to the Komnenoi through intermarriage, seized the Byzantine throne following the overthrow of Andronikos I Komnenos in 1185.
The combined surname 'Komnenodoukai' signifies a union between which two prominent Byzantine families?
Answer: Komnenos and Doukas
The term 'Komnenodoukai' denotes the significant union and subsequent descendants resulting from the intermarriage between the Komnenos and Doukas families.
The Empire of Trebizond was founded by the Komnenos family in 1204, shortly after the sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade.
Answer: True
A branch of the Komnenos family established the Empire of Trebizond in 1204, utilizing their ancestral lands in Paphlagonia as a base, in the context of the Byzantine Empire's fragmentation following the Fourth Crusade.
The Grand Komnenoi ruled the Empire of Trebizond for roughly 200 years, until its fall in 1461.
Answer: False
The Grand Komnenoi ruled the Empire of Trebizond from 1204 to 1461, a period of approximately 257 years, not 200.
Alexios I, the first emperor of Trebizond, was a descendant of Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos.
Answer: True
Alexios I Megas Komnenos, the founder and first emperor of Trebizond, was indeed a grandson of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos.
The rulers of the Empire of Trebizond adopted the title 'Little Emperors' (Mikroi Basileis).
Answer: False
The rulers of the Empire of Trebizond adopted the title 'Grand Komnenoi' (Megaloi Komnenoi) to emphasize their imperial lineage, not 'Little Emperors'.
David Megas Komnenos, the last emperor of Trebizond, died peacefully in exile after the Ottoman conquest.
Answer: False
David Megas Komnenos and his family were executed by Sultan Mehmed II in 1463, two years after the fall of Trebizond in 1461, rather than dying peacefully in exile.
Which Byzantine successor state was founded by a branch of the Komnenos family in 1204?
Answer: The Empire of Trebizond
In 1204, a branch of the Komnenos family established the Empire of Trebizond, a significant Byzantine successor state on the Black Sea coast.
What title was adopted by the rulers of the Empire of Trebizond to signify their imperial lineage?
Answer: The Grand Komnenoi
The rulers of the Empire of Trebizond adopted the title 'Grand Komnenoi' (Megaloi Komnenoi) to assert their direct descent from the imperial Komnenos dynasty.
What fate befell the last emperor of Trebizond, David Komnenos, and his family after the Ottoman conquest in 1461?
Answer: They were executed by Sultan Mehmed II.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Trebizond in 1461, Sultan Mehmed II ordered the execution of the last emperor, David Komnenos, and his family in 1463.
How long did the Empire of Trebizond rule under the Grand Komnenoi?
Answer: Approximately 257 years
The Empire of Trebizond, ruled by the Grand Komnenoi, existed for approximately 257 years, from its founding in 1204 until its fall in 1461.
The Despotate of Epirus was founded by descendants of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos's brother, Isaac Komnenos.
Answer: False
The Despotate of Epirus was founded by Michael I Komnenos Doukas, who was a descendant of Constantine Angelos and Theodora Komnene, the daughter of Alexios I Komnenos, not his brother Isaac.
Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus established his own independent rule on the island in 1184 and was later ousted by Richard I of England.
Answer: True
Isaac Komnenos declared himself ruler of Cyprus in 1184, establishing an independent state that lasted until Richard I conquered the island in 1191.
Who established the Despotate of Epirus, a state founded by a branch related to the Komnenoi?
Answer: Michael I Komnenos Doukas
Michael I Komnenos Doukas, a descendant of the Komnenoi through intermarriage, founded the Despotate of Epirus.
Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus established his own independent rule in what year?
Answer: 1184
Isaac Komnenos declared himself ruler of Cyprus in 1184, establishing an independent domain on the island.
Who was the founder of the Despotate of Epirus, a state linked to the Komnenoi lineage?
Answer: Michael I Komnenos Doukas
Michael I Komnenos Doukas, a descendant of the Komnenoi through his mother Theodora Komnene, established the Despotate of Epirus.
The Sack of Constantinople in 1204 led to a significant increase in the number of Komnenos family members.
Answer: False
The Sack of Constantinople in 1204 occurred after the end of the Komnenian dynasty's rule in Byzantium (1185). While it led to the fragmentation of the empire and the rise of successor states like Trebizond founded by Komnenoi, it did not directly increase the number of family members in the Byzantine context. Furthermore, the flashcard indicates purges and opposition led to reductions, not increases.
John Komnenos Molyvdos, a scholar and bishop, is considered the last known descendant of the Komnenos dynasty, dying in the early 18th century.
Answer: True
John Komnenos Molyvdos, an Ottoman Greek scholar and bishop, is widely identified as the final known descendant of the Komnenos dynasty, passing away in 1719.
Many modern Greek claims of descent from the Komnenos family are considered historically accurate by scholars.
Answer: False
Scholarly consensus suggests that most modern Greek claims of Komnenos descent are likely unsubstantiated or later fabrications, lacking rigorous historical evidence.
Who is often considered the last known descendant of the Komnenos dynasty, dying in 1719?
Answer: John Komnenos Molyvdos
John Komnenos Molyvdos, a scholar and bishop, is frequently identified as the final known descendant of the Komnenos dynasty, with his death recorded in 1719.
What is the modern scholarly consensus on many later Greek claims of descent from the Komnenos family?
Answer: They are likely fictional or later inventions.
Scholars generally regard most modern Greek claims of Komnenos lineage as lacking historical substantiation and likely being fictional or later fabrications.