Spouse Anna Vatatzaina Name Alexios Branas Grandchildren N. Branaina Mother Maria Komnene Children Theodore Branas | Father Michael Branas Parents Michael Branas Issue Theodore Branas Died 1187 | |
Occupation Byzantine nobleman and military leader Great grandchildren Philippe de Toucy, Regent of Latin Empire of Constantinople | ||
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Alexios (or Alexius) Branas or Vranas (Greek: Ἀλέξιος Βρανᾶς) (died 1187) was a Byzantine nobleman, attempted usurper, and the last Byzantine military leader of the 12th century to gain a notable success against a foreign enemy.
Contents
Background
Alexios Branas was doubly linked to the imperial Komnenos family. He was the son of Michael Branas and of Maria Komnene, who was the great-niece of Alexios I Komnenos. He himself married Anna Vatatzaina, the niece of Manuel I Komnenos. Anna's sister, Theodora Vatatzaina, was also Manuel's lover. The Branas family had been prominent in the city and region of Adrianople since the middle of the 11th century. Another prominent family in the same city were the Vatatzes, into which Alexios Branas was married. Branas was described by a contemporary as "Small in stature, but collosal in the depth and the deviousness of his understanding and by far the best general of his time".
Successful Campaigns
Branas was one of relatively few generals who never rebelled against Andronikos I Komnenos, who rewarded his loyalty by raising him to the exalted rank of protosebastos. Branas led several successful campaigns on his behalf, against the forces of Béla III of Hungary in 1183, and against a rebellion in north-west Anatolia led by Theodore Kantakuzenos, centred on the cities of Nicaea, Prussa and Lopadion. Following the fall of Andronikos I and the elevation of Isaac II Angelos, in 1185, Branas achieved his greatest success in war when fighting against the Siculo-Norman invaders under William II of Sicily. At the Battle of Demetritzes he gained an overwhelming and decisive victory, which effectively ended the Norman threat to the Empire.
Rebellion and death
Branas held the new emperor Isaac II Angelos in contempt, this, combined with his successes as a general and connections to the former imperial dynasty of the Komnenoi, emboldened him to aspire to the throne.
In 1187, Branas was sent to counter the Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion. This time he did rebel; he was proclaimed emperor in his native city of Adrianople, where he mustered his troops and gained the backing of his kinsmen. Branas then advanced on Constantinople, where his troops gained an initial success against the defending army. However, he was baffled by the city's defences and could not gain entry by any means. The imperial forces led by Conrad of Montferrat, the emperor's brother-in-law, made a sortie. The troops of Branas began to give way under pressure from Conrad's heavily equipped infantry. In response Branas personally attacked Conrad, but his lance thrust did little harm. Conrad then unhorsed Branas, his lance striking the cheekpiece of his helmet. Once on the ground Alexios Branas was beheaded by Conrad's supporting footsoldiers. With their leader dead, the rebel army fled the field. Branas' head was taken to the imperial palace, where it was treated like a football, and was then sent to his wife Anna, who (according to the historian Niketas Choniates) reacted bravely to the shocking sight.
Children
It was probably after his death that his son, Theodore Branas, became the lover of the dowager Empress Anna (Agnes of France): they were together by 1193 according to the Western chronicler Alberic of Trois-Fontaines. Alexios Branas also had a daughter, probably named Eudokia, who married Isaac Angelos, son of the sebastocrator John Doukas.