Autor/-in: Anna Comnena

Anna Komnene was born on December 1, 1083, in the Porphyra Chamber of Constantinople. She was the eldest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Empress Irene Doukaina. Raised in the imperial court, Anna received an exceptional education in literature, philosophy, history, and the sciences. In 1097, Anna married Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, a respected nobleman and historian. They had four children together: Alexios, John, Irene, and Maria. After her father's death in 1118, Anna and her mother plotted to overthrow her brother, John II Komnenos, but the plan failed, leading to her confinement in a monastery. While in the monastery, Anna wrote The Alexiad, chronicling her father's reign and the Byzantine Empire's struggles during the Crusades. Her work remains a vital source for understanding Byzantine history and culture. Anna died in 1153, leaving a lasting legacy as one of history's first female historians.