Gregory Taronites (governor of Chaldia)
Gregory Taronites | |
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Governor of Chaldia | |
Gregory Taronites (
Origin and early life
Gregory belonged to the aristocratic family of the
From a series of letters by Archbishop
Governorship and rebellion in Chaldia
On his arrival at
As his earlier offers had been so rudely rejected, Alexios at first intended to have Gregory blinded—the customary punishment for rebellion[8]—but was dissuaded by John, who pleaded for clemency for his cousin; instead, Gregory's hair and beard were shaved, and he was paraded around the streets of Constantinople before being thrown into the Prison of Anemas. At first, Gregory remained obstinate and continued to hurl abuse on the emperor from his cell, but after the intercession of Gregory's friend Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, the husband of Anna Komnene, he was persuaded to recant and beseech the emperor's pardon. In the end, he was not only released and pardoned, but accorded even higher honours.[3][9] B. Skoulatos considers him the same as the namesake protovestiarios who was one of the chief ministers in the early reign of John II Komnenos (r. 1118–1143),[9] but he is usually considered a different person.[1]
Character
In his letters, Theophylact of Ohrid, with apparent sincerity, lavished praise on Gregory and his military and administrative ability, and hoped for him to restore the Empire's lost glory. On the other hand, Anna Komnene presents a more sober picture of the man: despite his rebellion, she is not hostile towards him, but emphasizes his headstrong character.[10]
References
- ^ a b c ODB, "Taronites" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 2012–2013.
- ^ a b Skoulatos 1980, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d e Bryer 1970, p. 176.
- ^ Bryer 1970, p. 175.
- ^ Skoulatos 1980, p. 108.
- ^ Skoulatos 1980, pp. 116–117.
- ^ Skoulatos 1980, pp. 117, 156.
- ^ ODB, "Blinding" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 297–298.
- ^ a b Skoulatos 1980, p. 117.
- ^ Skoulatos 1980, pp. 117–118.
Sources
- Bryer, Anthony M. (1970). "A Byzantine Family: The Gabrades, c. 979 – c. 1653". University of Birmingham Historical Journal. XII. Birmingham: 164–187.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Skoulatos, Basile (1980). Les personnages byzantins de l'Alexiade: Analyse prosopographique et synthèse [The Byzantine Personalities of the Alexiad: Prosopographical Analysis and Synthesis] (in French). Louvain-la-Neuve and Louvain: Bureau du Recueil Collège Érasme and Éditions Nauwelaerts. OCLC 8468871.