Irene Syrikaina - Empress

Empress

Irene is briefly mentioned in the chronicle of Michael Panaretos. "And the son of lord Manuel by the lady Irene Syrikaina, the lord George Komnenos, succeeded to the throne and reigned for fourteen years" Which indicates she was the mother of George, Emperor of Trebizond and John II of Trebizond, presumed to have been the youngest sons of Manuel. The marriage of Irene and Manuel likely occurred in the 1250s or early 1260s.

Manuel had at least two daughters whose mother is not mentioned. They could be children by Irene or another of his wives. One of the daughters married Demetre II of Georgia, the other married one of his Didebul. Though mentioned in modern genealogies as a name, "Didebul" was actually a title. According to "The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty" by Christopher Buyers, the Didebul were "non-hereditary noblemen of high rank, senior to aznaur, usually enjoyed by one in state service".

Panaretos records that Manuel died in March, 1263. He was succeeded by Andronikos II of Trebizond, only known son by Anna Xylaloe, his first wife.

Read more about this topic:  Irene Syrikaina

Famous quotes containing the word empress:

    We never really are the adults we pretend to be. We wear the mask and perhaps the clothes and posture of grown-ups, but inside our skin we are never as wise or as sure or as strong as we want to convince ourselves and others we are. We may fool all the rest of the people all of the time, but we never fool our parents. They can see behind the mask of adulthood. To her mommy and daddy, the empress never has on any clothes—and knows it.
    Frank Pittman (20th century)

    The Empress is Legitimist, my cousin is Republican, Morny is Orleanist, I am a socialist; the only Bonapartist is Persigny, and he is mad.
    Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808–1873)