April 1081
Patriarch Cosmas approached me before everyone sat down at the banquet celebrating the new emperor.
“Lady Anna, you must know of the atrocities your son’s army perpetrated in the city the day they entered its walls,” he said. His words were somber, but his eyes would not meet mine.
“Your Beatitude,” I said, bowing my head to him. “I did know of it. My son was appalled at the way they ran riot, but he understands his men may have misunderstood Caesar John. They believed John Ducas told them they would be free to loot once they were inside the walls.”
The patriarch glanced across the room. He was staring across at Caesar John, who was glaring at us. The priest had the grace to look uncomfortable, swallowed and then continued.
“That was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Even so, they were your son’s men. Restitution and penance must be made.”
So that’s how John Ducas wanted matters to be. He would control Alexios through the patriarch. I looked hard at the patriarch and resolved that he would soon, one way or another, be retiring from that position.
“I understand. I will speak with my son.”
I met with Alexios and Isaac immediately after the celebration. He and Isaac were outraged at John Ducas’s attempt at manipulation.
“Mama, this only reinforces something I’ve wanted to speak with you about,” Alexios said.
We sat in the office that had once been his uncle’s in the Daphne Palace. The sun was setting on that promising spring day.
“John Ducas is a snake and I really do not want to marry his conniving granddaughter. I know I’m betrothed to Irene, but betrothals can be broken.”
I sighed, not surprised. “You want to marry Empress Maria, don’t you?”
Isaac watched us, keeping quiet.
“Yes,” he answered. “I have for years. You know that.” He looked at me, eyes glowing with hope and desire for the beautiful empress.
Isaac sat forward with his opinion. “I think we should concentrate on what the patriarch said. He wants penance and restitution. We need to find out what that means. Then bring up the idea of a different wife for you.”
“Isaac, you and I will visit the patriarch in the morning to find out exactly what he wants,” I said.
We sat in Patriarch Cosmas’s office behind the Hagia Sophia two hours after dawn the next day.
“I believe at least forty days of penance on the emperor’s part would suffice to demonstrate his sorrow for the actions his men committed. The penance should include fasting and sleeping on the floor, not a bed. And making payments to those who were robbed or otherwise damaged, of course,” he began.
“Of course,” I said cautiously. The way he spoke made me think this was only his opening bid.
“There’s also the matter of the emperor and his betrothed being wedded, and of her crowning.”
John Ducas might not have been in the room with us, but he was the one negotiating.
“We had planned for a wedding in a few months. In fact, I spoke with Irene’s mother about that just a few weeks ago.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that may be true, but you have to admit circumstances have changed. Your son is now emperor and can marry Irene at once and see she is crowned.”
Isaac leaned forward. “Your Beatitude, with all due respect, I’m not sure my brother still believes Irene Ducaena will make the best wife for him. He has been contemplating other choices, perhaps a marital alliance with a foreign ruler. The empire is beset on all sides, and we need alliances to stop the attacks.”
The patriarch’s fist hit the table.
“Absolutely not. Emperor Alexios signed a valid marriage contract with Lady Irene’s grandfather. He cannot set her aside even for reasons of state. The marriage must go forward. The sooner that happens, the better.”
Isaac persisted for his brother. “Sir, I know there was a contract signed, but surely the safety of the empire is a concern that rises above the Lady Irene? Empress Maria’s family rules in Alania and have been loyal to the empire.”
Cosmas looked at Isaac as though he had lost his mind. “You can’t possibly be thinking of her, can you? Empress Maria has already been married twice, and both of her husbands still live, even if in Holy Orders. You must know the Church does not permit third marriages. And not only that, she is the emperor’s adopted mother, the adopted brother of her son. A marriage between the emperor and Maria cannot, I repeat, absolutely cannot occur under such unorthodox circumstances.”
Isaac backed down at the patriarch’s vehemence.
“Your Beatitude, thank you for your time. We will return to the emperor and inform him of what we’ve discussed,” I said, bowing respectfully.
Alexios was miserable at the news we brought him, but soon the misery turned to anger. It simmered for a few days, disappointment written on his face. He stormed around the palace at odd hours, disgusted at being coerced again by the devious John Ducas. Finally, he sat down with Isaac and me.
“Of course, I will agree to do the penance, as will my entire family. In fact, I’ll personally do the penance for eighty days. I will also agree to marrying Irene and seeing her crowned. However, I must receive the patriarch’s promise that he will resign his post immediately after she’s crowned so that I can choose a patriarch more to my liking. Mama, I want you to choose one who will be best for us.”
“That’s all?” I asked.
“No. Irene and whatever Ducas relations she drags into the Great Palace with her will not be living in the Boukoleon with me. They can all live in the Aetos Palace. Besides, if I am to do penance, I can’t be having carnal relations with her, can I? No point in having her close by in that case. Of course, I’ll be leaving on campaign soon, I may not be back before November.”
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Getting Cosmas to retire sounds like an excellent idea. He’s clearly not an ally of ours. But putting Irene and her family in that old building?”
“I’ve been inside. It’s decent enough, not the worst of them. I’ve put the servants to work cleaning it up,” Alexios said, looking smug. “This way John Ducas will know exactly where he and his scheming granddaughter stand with me. I refuse to let them think I am their puppet. I refuse to be bullied by them.”
Patriarch Cosmas paled at Alexios’s demand for his retirement from office, but in the end, he agreed. My son and Irene were wed in a small ceremony in an ancient chapel on the palace grounds, followed by Irene’s crowning. It accomplished what John Ducas wanted, but without the great pomp and ceremony he expected, and with the loss of the patriarch’s influence. Nor was the marriage consummated since Alexios was still doing his penance when he left the city for Dyrrachium.
In the end, Irene realized her dream of marrying Alexios, along with gaining an imperial crown, but she slept alone on the top floor of the Aetos palace, surrounded by her Ducas kin. This would not be the marriage of her young girl’s dreams.
Alexios left by June on campaign against the Norman, Robert Guiscard, who had gained control of all of southern Italy and had now crossed the Adriatic and was laying siege to the city of Dyrrachium. Before Alexios departed, though, he issued this Chrysobull, an imperial proclamation, that finally closed the door to any aspirations to power that John Ducas, or even Irene, could ever have.
“When danger is foreseen or some other dreadful occurrence is expected, there is no safeguard stronger than a mother who is understanding and loves her son, for if she gives counsel her advice will be reliable; if she offers prayers, they will confer strength and certain protection. Such at any rate has been my experience of myself, your emperor, in the case of my own revered mother, who has taught and guided and sustained me throughout my earliest years. She had a place in aristocratic society, but her first concern was for her son and his faith in her was preserved intact. . .
“But now I am preparing with God’s help to do battle with Rome’s enemies; with much forethought an army is being recruited and thoroughly equipped; not the least of my cares, however, has been the provision of an efficient organization in financial and civil affairs. Fortunately, an impregnable bulwark for good government has been found—in the appointment of my revered mother, of all women most honored, as controller of the entire administration. I, your emperor, therefore decree explicitly in this present Chrysobull the following: because of her vast experience of secular affairs, whatever she decrees in writing shall have the permanent validity as if I myself, your Serene Emperor, had issued them or after dictating them had them committed to writing. Whatever decision or orders are made by her, written or unwritten, reasonable or unreasonable, shall be regarded as coming from myself. In years to come they will have the force of law permanently. Neither now nor in the future shall my mother be subjected to inquiry or undergo any examination whatsoever at the hands of anybody, whomever he may be. It shall be absolutely impossible in the future to demand account of any action taken by her under the terms of this present Chrysobull.
Alexios Comnenus, Emperor of the Romans
I might not wear a crown or have the title of Augusta, but in the absence of my son Emperor Alexios, I would rule the Roman Empire. I would be the queen on this chessboard.