Being a
descendant
of Alexis I.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
v.
) mentioned by Pliny (xxxiv.
8.
6.
19) as one of
He was the uncle and instructor of Menander. the pupils of Polycletus. Pausanias (vi. 3. & 3)
(Suidas s. o. Alegis; Proleg. Aristoph. p. xxx. ) mentions an artist of the same name, a native of
When he was born we are not expressly told, but Sicyon, and father of the sculptor Cantharus. It
he lived to the age of 106 (Plut. Defect. Orac. cannot be satisfactorily settled whether these are
P. 420, e. ), and was living at least as late as the same, or different persons. Pliny's account
B. C. 288. Now the town of Thurii was de- implies that he had the elder Polycletus in view,
stroyed by the Lucanians about B. C. 390. It is in which case Alexis could not have flourished
therefore not at all unlikely that the parents of later than Ol. 95 (B. C. 400), whereas Eutychides,
Alexis, in order to escape froin the threatened de- under whom Cantharus studied, flourished about
struction of their city, removed shortly before with | 01. 120, B. C. 300. (Pliny, H. N. xxxiv. 8. 6.
their little son to Athens. Perhaps therefore we | 19. ) If the two were identical, as Thiersch
may assign about B. C. 394 as the date of the (Epochen der bild. Kunst. p. 276) thinks, we must
birth of Alexis. He had a son Stephanus, who suppose either that Pliny made a mistake, and that
also wrote comedies. (Suidas l. c. ) 'He appears Alexis studied under the younger Polycletus, or
to have been rather addicted to the pleasures of else that the Eutychides, whose date is given by
the table. (Athen. viii. p. 344. ) According to Pliny, was not the artist under whom Cantharus
Plutarch (De Senis Administ. Reipubl. p. 785, b. ), studied.
(C. P. M. ]
he expired upon the stage while being crowned as ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS I. COMNE'NUS
victor. By the old grammarians he is commonly | ("Adeğis , or 'Aréžios Kournros), emperor of Con-
called a writer of the middle comedy, and frag- stantinople, was most probably born in A. D. 1048.
ments and the titles of many of his plays confirm He was the son of John Comnenus, and the
this statement. Still, for more than 30 years he nephew of the emperor Isaac Comnenus, and re-
was contemporary with Philippides, Philemon, Meceived a careful education from his mother Anna.
nander, and Diphilus, and several fragments shew He accompanied the emperor Romanus Diogenes
that be also wrote pieces which would be classed in the war against Alp-Arslán, sultan of the Turks-
with those of the new comedy. He was a re- Seljuks, and was present at the battle of Malaz-
markably prolific writer. Suidas says he wrote kerd, where this einperor was made a prisoner by
245 plays, and the titles of 113 have come down the sultan. After the deposition of Romanus Dio-
to us. The Meporis, 'Aykuniwr, 'OA uutudowpos, genes in 1071, Alexis Comnenus and his elder
and Mapdortos, in which he ridiculed Plato, were brother Isaac joined the party of the new emperor,
probably exhibited as early as the 104th Olym- Michael VII. Ducas, who employed Alexis against
piad. The 'Ay@vis, in which he ridiculed Mis the rebels who had produced great disturbances in
golas, was no doubt written while he was alive, Asia Minor. In this war Alexis distinguished him-
and Aeschines (c. Timarch. pp. 6–8) in B. C. 345, self as a successful general, and shewed that extra-
speaks of him as then living. The 'Adenpol and ordinary shrewdness which afterwards became the
ŠToatins, in which he satirized Demosthenes, principal feature of his character. He defended
were acted shortly after B. C. 343. The "ITTOS, Michael VII. against the rebel Nicephorus Bota-
in which he alluded to the decree of Sophocles niates, but the cause of Michael having become hope-
against the philosophers, in B. C. 316. The less, be readily joined the victorious rebel, who be-
Núpavvos in B. C. 312. The papuakorúan and came emperor under the title of Nicephorus III. in
Υοβολιμαίος in Β. C. 306. As might have been 1077. The authority of Nicephorus III. was disobey.
expected in a person who wrote so much, the same ed by several rebels, among whom Nicephorus
passage frequently occurred in several plays ; nor Bryennius in Epeirus was the most dangerous ; but
did he scruple sometimes to borrow from other Alexis defeated them one after the other, and tho
poets, as, for example, from Eubulus. (Athen. i. grateful emperor conferred upon him the title of
p. 25, f. ) Carystius of Pergamus (ap. Athen. vi. “Sebastos. " Alexis was then considered as the first
p. 235, e. ) says he was the first who invented the general of the Byzantine empire, but his military re-
part of the parasite. This is not quite correct, as nown made him suspected in the eyes of the emperor,
it had been introduced before him by Epicharmus; who kept him at Constantinople and tried to get
but he appears to have been the first who gave it rid of him by base intrigues. But Alexis opposed in.
the form in which it afterwards appeared upon the trigues to intrigues, and as he was not only the most
stage, and to have been very happy in his exhibi- gallant, but also the most artful among his shrewd
tion of it. His wit and elegance are praised by countrymen, he outdid the emperor, who at last
Athenaeus (ii. p. 59, f. ), whose testimony is con- gave orders, that his eyes should be put out.
firmed by the extant fragments. A considerable Alexis now fled to the army on the Danube, and
list of peculiar words and forms used by him is was proclaimed emperor by the troops. Assisted
given by Meineke. His plays were frequently by his brother Isaac, who acted with great gene.
translated by the Roman comic writers. (Gell. ii. rosity, Alexis marched to Constantinople, obtained
23. ) The fragments we possess of his plays have possession of the city by a stratagem, deposed the
been preserved chiefly by Athenaeus and Stobaeus. emperor, and ascended the throne in 1081.
(Meineke, Fragm. Com. vol. i. pp. 374-403 ; The Byzantine empire was then at the point of
Clinton, Fusti Hellenici, under the years above ruin. While Alexis carried on the war against
given; Fabricius, Bill. Gr. vol. ii. p. 406, &c. ) the rebel Nicephorus Bryennius, and atterwards
2. A writer mentioned by Athenaeus (x. p. 418) during his forced sojourn at Constantinople, and
as the author of a treatise περί Αυταρκείας. the time of his differences with Nicephorus III. ,
3. A Samian, the author of an historical work Melek-Shah, the son of Alp-Arslan, and the
called Σάμιοι Οροι or “Ωροι Σαμιακοί (Sanian Αη- greatest prince of the Seljuks, had conquered the
nals), which Athenaeus quotes. (xiii. p. 572, f. , Byzantine part of Asia Minor, which he ceded to
xii. p. 540, d. )
(C. P. M. ) his cousin Solimán. The Bulgarians threatened to
3
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130
ALEXIS.
ALEXIS.
а
invade Thrace, and Robert Guiscard, duke of The life of Alexis has been carefully, though
Apulia, with a mighty host of Norman knights, had very partially, described by his daughter, Anna
crossed the Adriatic and laid siege to Durazzo, the Comnena, in her Alerias, which the principal
ancient Dyrrachium. In this critical position source concerning this emperor. (Comp. Glycas, p.
Alexis evinced extraordinary activity. He con- | 4; Albertus Aquensis, ii. 9-19; Wilhelmus Tyrensis,
cluded peace with the Seljuks, ceding Asia to ii. 5, 23 ; comp. S. F. Wilken, “ Rerum ab Alexio
them; he made an alliance with Venice and Henry 1. , Joanne, Manuele et Alexio II. Comnenis gesta-
IV. , emperor of Germany; and he sold the sacred rum libri quatuor," Heidelberg, 1811. ) (W. P. )
vessels of the churches to pay his troops. His ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS II. COMNENUS
struggle with the Normans was long and bloody, ("Aretus or 'allégios Kournvós), emperor of Con-
but famine, diseases, civil troubles, and a powerful stantinople, the son of the emperor Manuel Com-
diversion of Henry IV. , compelled the Normans to nenus, was born in 1167, according to Nicetas.
leave Epeirus in 1084. During this time the Sel In 1179, he married Agnes or Anna, the daughter
juks bad recommenced hostilities, and threatened of king Louis VII. of France, and succeeded his
to block up Constantinople with a fleet constructed father in 1180, under the guardianship of his ma
by Greek captives. In this extremity Alexis ther Maria, the daughter of Raymond, prince of
implored the assistance of the European princes. Antioch. They both became victims of the ambi-
The conquest of Jerusalem by the Seljuks, the tion of Andronicus Comnenus, who first compelled
interruption of the pious pilgrimages to the holy the young emperor to sign the death of his mother,
grave, and the vexations which the Christians in and then put Alexis to death in 1183; whereupon
the East had to endure from the infidels, had pro he succeeded him on the throne. (Nicetas, Aleris
duced an extraordinary excitement among the Manuel. Comn. fil. ; comp. Ducange, Familiae By
nations in Europe. The idea of rescuing the town zantinae, p. 188. )
(W. P. )
of our Saviour became popular ; the pope and the ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS III. ANGELUS
princes shewed themselves favourable to such an ("Aležis or 'Aréžios "Aggedos), the brother of the
expedition, and they resolved upon it after the emperor Isaac Il. Angelus, whom he deposed and
ambassadors of Alexis had related to them at blinded in 1195.
Being a descendant of Alexis I.
Piacenza in 1095 the hopeless state of the Chris- Comnenus by Theodora, the youngest daughter of
tians in Asia. The first Crusaders appeared in the latter, he assumed the family-name of his
Constantinople in 1096. They were commanded great ancestor, and is therefore commonly called
by Peter the Hermit and Walter the Pennyless, | Alexis Angelus-Comnenus. In 1197 and 1 198, he
and were rather a band of vagabonds than an carried on war with Persia and the Seljuks of
army. Alexis hastened to send them over to Koniah, but his armies were defeated. Being
Asia, where they were massacred by the Turks. base, rapacious, and cruel, he incurred the batred
Soon after them came a powerful army, command and contempt of his subjects, and prepared his
ed by Godfrey of Bouillon, and their continued ruin. He lost the crown through his nephew,
stay in the neighbourhood of Constantinople gare Alexis, the son of Isaac II. Angelus, who, having
occasion to serious differences between the Latins escaped from Constantinople, succeeded in per-
and the Greeks. However Alexis, by the alternate suading the Crusaders assembled in Venice to
use of threats and persuasions, not only succeeded make an expedition against the usurper. Amount-
in getting rid of the dangerous foreigners by carry- ing to 20,000 men, and commanded by Dandolo,
ing them over to Asia, but also managed the pride doge of Venice, they attacked Constantinople in
of Godfrey of Bouillon and his turbulent barons the month of July, 1203; but before they had
with so much dexterity, that they consented to taken this city, Alexis 111. abandoned his palace
take the oath of vassalage for those provinces and fled to Italy, carrying with him 10,000 pounds
which they might conquer in Asia, and promised of gold. After his flight, Constantinople was oc-
to restore to the emperor the Byzantine territories, cupied by the Crusaders, who recognised as em-
which had been taken by the Seljuks. In his perors the blinded Isaac and his son Alexis.
turn he promised to assist them in their enterprise (ALEXIS IV. ) He afterwards returned to Greece,
with a strong army, but the dangerous state of the and treacherously blinded the emperor Alexis
empire prevented him from keeping his word. V. Murzuphlus, who after his deposition in
However, in proportion as the Crusaders, in 1097, 1204, had fled to Alexis III. , whose daughter
advanced into Asia, Alexis followed them with a he had married. Meanwhile, Theodore Lascaris
chosen body, and thus gradually reunited with his succeeded in making himself independent at Nicaea,
empire Nicaea, Chios, Rhodes, Smyrna, Ephesus, but was involved in a war with Ghayath-ed-din,
Sardes, and finally all Asia Minor. The descend-sultan of Koniah. In 1210, Alexis III, fied to
ants of Bohemond, prince of Antioch, did homage this sultan, and persuaded him to support his
to Alexis, to whom they restored Tarsus and claims to the throne of Byzantium, and to declare
Malmistra. During the latter years of his reign, war against Theodore Lascaris. The war proved
Alexis was occupied with consolidating the do fatal for the sultan, who was killed in the battle of
mestic peace of his empire, which was then often Antioch, and Alexis III. was made prisoner.
disturbed by religious troubles. He died in 1118, Theodore Lascaris had married Anna Angela-Com-
at the age of seventy, and his successor was his nena, the second daughter of Alexis III. , but this
son John, generally called Calo-Joannes.
circumstance did not prevent him from confining
Alexis was the author of a work entitled his father-in-law to a monastery at Nicaea. (1210. )
Royapınt, which was published in the 4th volume There Alexis III. died some years after at an
of the Analecta Graeca, Par. 1688, and also from advanced age ; the exact year of his birth is
a later manuscript by Gronovius at the end of his not known. (Nicetas, Alexis Angelus, Isaacius
work De Sestertiis, Lugd. Bat. 1691. Respecting Angelus, iii. 8, &c. ; Isaacius et Alex. fil. c. l;
the ecclesiastical edicts of Alexius, several of which Villehardouin, De la Conqueste de Constantinoble,
are extant, see Fabric. Bill. Graec. vii. p. 729. Paris, 1838, c. 51, 56, dic. )
[W. P. )
## p. 131 (#151) ############################################
ALEXIUS
131
ALIMENTUS.
ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS IV. A'NGELUS | triarch A. D. 1025. In d. D. 1034 he crowned
(Adegis or 'Aléčios Aprenos), was the son of the Michael IV. the favourite of Zoë, who, to make
emperor Isaac 11. Angelus. It is mentioned under way for him, procured the death of her husband,
ALEXIS III. that, after the deposition of this em- the Emperor Romanus. He thwarted the attempts
peror, he and his father were placed on the throne of John (the emperor's brother) to gain the patri-
by the Crusaders. Alexis IV. was crowned toge- archal see (A. D. 1036), and died A. D. 1043. De-
ther with Isaac II. on the 29th of July, 1203, crees of his are extant, ap. Jus Gr. Rom. vol. i.
and, to secure himself on the throne, engaged the lib. iv. p. 250, Lcunclav. Francof. 1596. See
Crusaders to continue at Constantinople. He had Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. xi. p. 558. (A. J. C. ]
promised them to put an end to the schism of the ALE'XIUS('Aréžios), Metr olitan of NICAEA,
Greck Church, but did not do anything for that composed a Canon or Hymn on St. Demetrius the
purpose, nor did he fulfil his other engagements Martyr. It is uncertain when he lived. The
towards the Crusaders. At the same time, he did canon is in manuscript. See Lambecius, Biblioth.
not understand how to maintain his dignity among Vindobon. vol. v. p. 599, ed. Kollar. (A. J. C. )
the turbulent and haughty barons of Italy, France, ALEXON ('Aré[wv), an Achaean who served in
and Flanders, who were assembled in his capital. the Carthaginian garrison at Lily baeum while it
Serious differences consequently arose between him was besieged by the Romans in B. C. 250. During
and his deliverers. Alexis Ducas, surnamed Mur- this siege some of the Gallic mercenaries engaged
zuphlus, an ambitious and enterprising man, took in the service of the Carthaginians formed the plan
advantage of these troubles, and suddenly seized of betraying the fortress into the hands of the Ro
the crown. By his order Alexis IV. was put to mans. But Alexon, who had on a former occasion
death on the 28th of January, 1204; Isaac II. saved the town of Agrigentum from a similar
died of grief. (Nicetas, Isaacius Angelus, iii. c. 8, attempt of treacherous mercenaries, now acted in
&c. ; Isaacius et Aleris fil. ; Villehardouin, Ibid. c. the same faithful spirit, and gave information of the
51, 56, 60, &c. , 102-107. )
[W. P. ) plot to the Carthaginian commander Himilco. He
ALEXIS or ALEXIUS V. DUCAS ('Areğis also assisted him in inducing the mercenaries to
or 'Arégios Acúka), surnamed “MURZUPALUS," on remain faithful and resist the temptations offered by
account of the close junction of his shaggy eye their comrades. (Polyb. i. 43, ii. 7. ) (L. S. )
brows, was crowned emperor of Constantinople on ALEXON MYNDIUS. (ALEXANDER MYN-
the 8th of February, 1204, after having been pre- DIUS. )
sent at the murder of Alexis IV. , who was put to ALFE'NUS VARUS. [VARUS. ]
death by his order. His earlier life is almost un- A'LFIUS FLAVUS. [Flavus. )
known. Nicetas, however, states, that he had ALGOS ("Anyos), is used by Hesiod (Theog.
always been rapacions and roluptuous ; on the 227) in the plural, as the personification of sorrows
other hand, he was a man of great courage and and griefs, which are there represented as the
energy. Immediately after he had usurped the daughters of Eris.
(L. S. ]
throne, the Crusaders, who were still assembled ALIACMON. [PALAESTINUS. ]
under the walls of Constantinople, laid siege to this L. ALIENUS, plebeian aedile e c. 454, ac-
city. Alexis V. disdained to conclude peace with cused Veturius, the consul of the former year, on
them on dishonourable conditions, and prepared account of selling the booty which had been gained
for resistance, in which he was vigorously assisted in war, and placing the amount in the aerarium.
by Theodore Lascaris. However, courage suddenly (Liv. ii. 31. )
abandoned him, and he fled to the deposed em- ALIENUS CAECI'NA. (CAECINA. )
peror Alexis III. , whose daughter Eudoxia Angela- ALIMENTUS, L. CI'NCIUS, a celebrated
Comnena be had just married. Constantinople Roman annalist, antiquary, and jurist, who was
was taken by storm by the Crisaders (12th of praetor in Sicily, B. C. 209, with the command
April, 1204), who, after having committed those of two legions. He wrote an account of his im-
horrors, of which Nicetas, an eye-witness, gives prisonment in the second Punic war, and a history
such an emphatical description, chose Baldwin, of Gorgias Leontinus ; but these works probably
count of Flanders, emperor of Constantinople, but formed part of his Annales. (Liv. xxi. 38. ) He is
Icaving him only the fourth part of the empire. frequently cited by Festus, and the fragments which
After being deprived of sight by his father-in-law, have been thus preserved were collected by Wasse,
Alexis V. fied to the Morea, but was arrested and and may be found appended to Cortes Sallust.
carried to Constantinople, where the Crusaders put Niebuhr (i. p. 272) praises Alimentus as a
him to death by casting him from the top of the really critical investigator of antiquity, who threw
Theodosian column. (1204. ) (Nicetas, Murzuphlus; light on the history of his country by researches
Isaucius Angelus et Aler. fil. c. 4, 5; Gesta Fran- | among its ancient monuments. That he possessed
corum, c. 94 ; Villehardouin, Ivid. c. 51, 56, 60, eminent personal qualities, such as strike a great
&c. 98, 106, 113–115, 127, &c. ) (W. P. ) man, is clear, inasmuch as Hannibal, who used to
ALEXIUS ARISTE'NUS ('Aréžios 'Aplotn treat his Roman prisoners very roughly, made a
vós), Oeconomus of the Great Church at Constan- distinction in his behalf, and gave him an account
tinople, flourished A. D. 1166, in which year he of his passage through Gaul and over the Alps,
was present at the Council of Constantinople. He which Alimentus afterwards incorporated in his
edited a Synopsis Canonum with scholia, which is history. It is only in his fragments that we find
given by Bishop Beveridge in his Pandectae Cano a distinct statement of the earlier relation between
nuin, Oxon. 1672, fol. vol.
He was the uncle and instructor of Menander. the pupils of Polycletus. Pausanias (vi. 3. & 3)
(Suidas s. o. Alegis; Proleg. Aristoph. p. xxx. ) mentions an artist of the same name, a native of
When he was born we are not expressly told, but Sicyon, and father of the sculptor Cantharus. It
he lived to the age of 106 (Plut. Defect. Orac. cannot be satisfactorily settled whether these are
P. 420, e. ), and was living at least as late as the same, or different persons. Pliny's account
B. C. 288. Now the town of Thurii was de- implies that he had the elder Polycletus in view,
stroyed by the Lucanians about B. C. 390. It is in which case Alexis could not have flourished
therefore not at all unlikely that the parents of later than Ol. 95 (B. C. 400), whereas Eutychides,
Alexis, in order to escape froin the threatened de- under whom Cantharus studied, flourished about
struction of their city, removed shortly before with | 01. 120, B. C. 300. (Pliny, H. N. xxxiv. 8. 6.
their little son to Athens. Perhaps therefore we | 19. ) If the two were identical, as Thiersch
may assign about B. C. 394 as the date of the (Epochen der bild. Kunst. p. 276) thinks, we must
birth of Alexis. He had a son Stephanus, who suppose either that Pliny made a mistake, and that
also wrote comedies. (Suidas l. c. ) 'He appears Alexis studied under the younger Polycletus, or
to have been rather addicted to the pleasures of else that the Eutychides, whose date is given by
the table. (Athen. viii. p. 344. ) According to Pliny, was not the artist under whom Cantharus
Plutarch (De Senis Administ. Reipubl. p. 785, b. ), studied.
(C. P. M. ]
he expired upon the stage while being crowned as ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS I. COMNE'NUS
victor. By the old grammarians he is commonly | ("Adeğis , or 'Aréžios Kournros), emperor of Con-
called a writer of the middle comedy, and frag- stantinople, was most probably born in A. D. 1048.
ments and the titles of many of his plays confirm He was the son of John Comnenus, and the
this statement. Still, for more than 30 years he nephew of the emperor Isaac Comnenus, and re-
was contemporary with Philippides, Philemon, Meceived a careful education from his mother Anna.
nander, and Diphilus, and several fragments shew He accompanied the emperor Romanus Diogenes
that be also wrote pieces which would be classed in the war against Alp-Arslán, sultan of the Turks-
with those of the new comedy. He was a re- Seljuks, and was present at the battle of Malaz-
markably prolific writer. Suidas says he wrote kerd, where this einperor was made a prisoner by
245 plays, and the titles of 113 have come down the sultan. After the deposition of Romanus Dio-
to us. The Meporis, 'Aykuniwr, 'OA uutudowpos, genes in 1071, Alexis Comnenus and his elder
and Mapdortos, in which he ridiculed Plato, were brother Isaac joined the party of the new emperor,
probably exhibited as early as the 104th Olym- Michael VII. Ducas, who employed Alexis against
piad. The 'Ay@vis, in which he ridiculed Mis the rebels who had produced great disturbances in
golas, was no doubt written while he was alive, Asia Minor. In this war Alexis distinguished him-
and Aeschines (c. Timarch. pp. 6–8) in B. C. 345, self as a successful general, and shewed that extra-
speaks of him as then living. The 'Adenpol and ordinary shrewdness which afterwards became the
ŠToatins, in which he satirized Demosthenes, principal feature of his character. He defended
were acted shortly after B. C. 343. The "ITTOS, Michael VII. against the rebel Nicephorus Bota-
in which he alluded to the decree of Sophocles niates, but the cause of Michael having become hope-
against the philosophers, in B. C. 316. The less, be readily joined the victorious rebel, who be-
Núpavvos in B. C. 312. The papuakorúan and came emperor under the title of Nicephorus III. in
Υοβολιμαίος in Β. C. 306. As might have been 1077. The authority of Nicephorus III. was disobey.
expected in a person who wrote so much, the same ed by several rebels, among whom Nicephorus
passage frequently occurred in several plays ; nor Bryennius in Epeirus was the most dangerous ; but
did he scruple sometimes to borrow from other Alexis defeated them one after the other, and tho
poets, as, for example, from Eubulus. (Athen. i. grateful emperor conferred upon him the title of
p. 25, f. ) Carystius of Pergamus (ap. Athen. vi. “Sebastos. " Alexis was then considered as the first
p. 235, e. ) says he was the first who invented the general of the Byzantine empire, but his military re-
part of the parasite. This is not quite correct, as nown made him suspected in the eyes of the emperor,
it had been introduced before him by Epicharmus; who kept him at Constantinople and tried to get
but he appears to have been the first who gave it rid of him by base intrigues. But Alexis opposed in.
the form in which it afterwards appeared upon the trigues to intrigues, and as he was not only the most
stage, and to have been very happy in his exhibi- gallant, but also the most artful among his shrewd
tion of it. His wit and elegance are praised by countrymen, he outdid the emperor, who at last
Athenaeus (ii. p. 59, f. ), whose testimony is con- gave orders, that his eyes should be put out.
firmed by the extant fragments. A considerable Alexis now fled to the army on the Danube, and
list of peculiar words and forms used by him is was proclaimed emperor by the troops. Assisted
given by Meineke. His plays were frequently by his brother Isaac, who acted with great gene.
translated by the Roman comic writers. (Gell. ii. rosity, Alexis marched to Constantinople, obtained
23. ) The fragments we possess of his plays have possession of the city by a stratagem, deposed the
been preserved chiefly by Athenaeus and Stobaeus. emperor, and ascended the throne in 1081.
(Meineke, Fragm. Com. vol. i. pp. 374-403 ; The Byzantine empire was then at the point of
Clinton, Fusti Hellenici, under the years above ruin. While Alexis carried on the war against
given; Fabricius, Bill. Gr. vol. ii. p. 406, &c. ) the rebel Nicephorus Bryennius, and atterwards
2. A writer mentioned by Athenaeus (x. p. 418) during his forced sojourn at Constantinople, and
as the author of a treatise περί Αυταρκείας. the time of his differences with Nicephorus III. ,
3. A Samian, the author of an historical work Melek-Shah, the son of Alp-Arslan, and the
called Σάμιοι Οροι or “Ωροι Σαμιακοί (Sanian Αη- greatest prince of the Seljuks, had conquered the
nals), which Athenaeus quotes. (xiii. p. 572, f. , Byzantine part of Asia Minor, which he ceded to
xii. p. 540, d. )
(C. P. M. ) his cousin Solimán. The Bulgarians threatened to
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130
ALEXIS.
ALEXIS.
а
invade Thrace, and Robert Guiscard, duke of The life of Alexis has been carefully, though
Apulia, with a mighty host of Norman knights, had very partially, described by his daughter, Anna
crossed the Adriatic and laid siege to Durazzo, the Comnena, in her Alerias, which the principal
ancient Dyrrachium. In this critical position source concerning this emperor. (Comp. Glycas, p.
Alexis evinced extraordinary activity. He con- | 4; Albertus Aquensis, ii. 9-19; Wilhelmus Tyrensis,
cluded peace with the Seljuks, ceding Asia to ii. 5, 23 ; comp. S. F. Wilken, “ Rerum ab Alexio
them; he made an alliance with Venice and Henry 1. , Joanne, Manuele et Alexio II. Comnenis gesta-
IV. , emperor of Germany; and he sold the sacred rum libri quatuor," Heidelberg, 1811. ) (W. P. )
vessels of the churches to pay his troops. His ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS II. COMNENUS
struggle with the Normans was long and bloody, ("Aretus or 'allégios Kournvós), emperor of Con-
but famine, diseases, civil troubles, and a powerful stantinople, the son of the emperor Manuel Com-
diversion of Henry IV. , compelled the Normans to nenus, was born in 1167, according to Nicetas.
leave Epeirus in 1084. During this time the Sel In 1179, he married Agnes or Anna, the daughter
juks bad recommenced hostilities, and threatened of king Louis VII. of France, and succeeded his
to block up Constantinople with a fleet constructed father in 1180, under the guardianship of his ma
by Greek captives. In this extremity Alexis ther Maria, the daughter of Raymond, prince of
implored the assistance of the European princes. Antioch. They both became victims of the ambi-
The conquest of Jerusalem by the Seljuks, the tion of Andronicus Comnenus, who first compelled
interruption of the pious pilgrimages to the holy the young emperor to sign the death of his mother,
grave, and the vexations which the Christians in and then put Alexis to death in 1183; whereupon
the East had to endure from the infidels, had pro he succeeded him on the throne. (Nicetas, Aleris
duced an extraordinary excitement among the Manuel. Comn. fil. ; comp. Ducange, Familiae By
nations in Europe. The idea of rescuing the town zantinae, p. 188. )
(W. P. )
of our Saviour became popular ; the pope and the ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS III. ANGELUS
princes shewed themselves favourable to such an ("Aležis or 'Aréžios "Aggedos), the brother of the
expedition, and they resolved upon it after the emperor Isaac Il. Angelus, whom he deposed and
ambassadors of Alexis had related to them at blinded in 1195.
Being a descendant of Alexis I.
Piacenza in 1095 the hopeless state of the Chris- Comnenus by Theodora, the youngest daughter of
tians in Asia. The first Crusaders appeared in the latter, he assumed the family-name of his
Constantinople in 1096. They were commanded great ancestor, and is therefore commonly called
by Peter the Hermit and Walter the Pennyless, | Alexis Angelus-Comnenus. In 1197 and 1 198, he
and were rather a band of vagabonds than an carried on war with Persia and the Seljuks of
army. Alexis hastened to send them over to Koniah, but his armies were defeated. Being
Asia, where they were massacred by the Turks. base, rapacious, and cruel, he incurred the batred
Soon after them came a powerful army, command and contempt of his subjects, and prepared his
ed by Godfrey of Bouillon, and their continued ruin. He lost the crown through his nephew,
stay in the neighbourhood of Constantinople gare Alexis, the son of Isaac II. Angelus, who, having
occasion to serious differences between the Latins escaped from Constantinople, succeeded in per-
and the Greeks. However Alexis, by the alternate suading the Crusaders assembled in Venice to
use of threats and persuasions, not only succeeded make an expedition against the usurper. Amount-
in getting rid of the dangerous foreigners by carry- ing to 20,000 men, and commanded by Dandolo,
ing them over to Asia, but also managed the pride doge of Venice, they attacked Constantinople in
of Godfrey of Bouillon and his turbulent barons the month of July, 1203; but before they had
with so much dexterity, that they consented to taken this city, Alexis 111. abandoned his palace
take the oath of vassalage for those provinces and fled to Italy, carrying with him 10,000 pounds
which they might conquer in Asia, and promised of gold. After his flight, Constantinople was oc-
to restore to the emperor the Byzantine territories, cupied by the Crusaders, who recognised as em-
which had been taken by the Seljuks. In his perors the blinded Isaac and his son Alexis.
turn he promised to assist them in their enterprise (ALEXIS IV. ) He afterwards returned to Greece,
with a strong army, but the dangerous state of the and treacherously blinded the emperor Alexis
empire prevented him from keeping his word. V. Murzuphlus, who after his deposition in
However, in proportion as the Crusaders, in 1097, 1204, had fled to Alexis III. , whose daughter
advanced into Asia, Alexis followed them with a he had married. Meanwhile, Theodore Lascaris
chosen body, and thus gradually reunited with his succeeded in making himself independent at Nicaea,
empire Nicaea, Chios, Rhodes, Smyrna, Ephesus, but was involved in a war with Ghayath-ed-din,
Sardes, and finally all Asia Minor. The descend-sultan of Koniah. In 1210, Alexis III, fied to
ants of Bohemond, prince of Antioch, did homage this sultan, and persuaded him to support his
to Alexis, to whom they restored Tarsus and claims to the throne of Byzantium, and to declare
Malmistra. During the latter years of his reign, war against Theodore Lascaris. The war proved
Alexis was occupied with consolidating the do fatal for the sultan, who was killed in the battle of
mestic peace of his empire, which was then often Antioch, and Alexis III. was made prisoner.
disturbed by religious troubles. He died in 1118, Theodore Lascaris had married Anna Angela-Com-
at the age of seventy, and his successor was his nena, the second daughter of Alexis III. , but this
son John, generally called Calo-Joannes.
circumstance did not prevent him from confining
Alexis was the author of a work entitled his father-in-law to a monastery at Nicaea. (1210. )
Royapınt, which was published in the 4th volume There Alexis III. died some years after at an
of the Analecta Graeca, Par. 1688, and also from advanced age ; the exact year of his birth is
a later manuscript by Gronovius at the end of his not known. (Nicetas, Alexis Angelus, Isaacius
work De Sestertiis, Lugd. Bat. 1691. Respecting Angelus, iii. 8, &c. ; Isaacius et Alex. fil. c. l;
the ecclesiastical edicts of Alexius, several of which Villehardouin, De la Conqueste de Constantinoble,
are extant, see Fabric. Bill. Graec. vii. p. 729. Paris, 1838, c. 51, 56, dic. )
[W. P. )
## p. 131 (#151) ############################################
ALEXIUS
131
ALIMENTUS.
ALEXIS or ALE'XIUS IV. A'NGELUS | triarch A. D. 1025. In d. D. 1034 he crowned
(Adegis or 'Aléčios Aprenos), was the son of the Michael IV. the favourite of Zoë, who, to make
emperor Isaac 11. Angelus. It is mentioned under way for him, procured the death of her husband,
ALEXIS III. that, after the deposition of this em- the Emperor Romanus. He thwarted the attempts
peror, he and his father were placed on the throne of John (the emperor's brother) to gain the patri-
by the Crusaders. Alexis IV. was crowned toge- archal see (A. D. 1036), and died A. D. 1043. De-
ther with Isaac II. on the 29th of July, 1203, crees of his are extant, ap. Jus Gr. Rom. vol. i.
and, to secure himself on the throne, engaged the lib. iv. p. 250, Lcunclav. Francof. 1596. See
Crusaders to continue at Constantinople. He had Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. xi. p. 558. (A. J. C. ]
promised them to put an end to the schism of the ALE'XIUS('Aréžios), Metr olitan of NICAEA,
Greck Church, but did not do anything for that composed a Canon or Hymn on St. Demetrius the
purpose, nor did he fulfil his other engagements Martyr. It is uncertain when he lived. The
towards the Crusaders. At the same time, he did canon is in manuscript. See Lambecius, Biblioth.
not understand how to maintain his dignity among Vindobon. vol. v. p. 599, ed. Kollar. (A. J. C. )
the turbulent and haughty barons of Italy, France, ALEXON ('Aré[wv), an Achaean who served in
and Flanders, who were assembled in his capital. the Carthaginian garrison at Lily baeum while it
Serious differences consequently arose between him was besieged by the Romans in B. C. 250. During
and his deliverers. Alexis Ducas, surnamed Mur- this siege some of the Gallic mercenaries engaged
zuphlus, an ambitious and enterprising man, took in the service of the Carthaginians formed the plan
advantage of these troubles, and suddenly seized of betraying the fortress into the hands of the Ro
the crown. By his order Alexis IV. was put to mans. But Alexon, who had on a former occasion
death on the 28th of January, 1204; Isaac II. saved the town of Agrigentum from a similar
died of grief. (Nicetas, Isaacius Angelus, iii. c. 8, attempt of treacherous mercenaries, now acted in
&c. ; Isaacius et Aleris fil. ; Villehardouin, Ibid. c. the same faithful spirit, and gave information of the
51, 56, 60, &c. , 102-107. )
[W. P. ) plot to the Carthaginian commander Himilco. He
ALEXIS or ALEXIUS V. DUCAS ('Areğis also assisted him in inducing the mercenaries to
or 'Arégios Acúka), surnamed “MURZUPALUS," on remain faithful and resist the temptations offered by
account of the close junction of his shaggy eye their comrades. (Polyb. i. 43, ii. 7. ) (L. S. )
brows, was crowned emperor of Constantinople on ALEXON MYNDIUS. (ALEXANDER MYN-
the 8th of February, 1204, after having been pre- DIUS. )
sent at the murder of Alexis IV. , who was put to ALFE'NUS VARUS. [VARUS. ]
death by his order. His earlier life is almost un- A'LFIUS FLAVUS. [Flavus. )
known. Nicetas, however, states, that he had ALGOS ("Anyos), is used by Hesiod (Theog.
always been rapacions and roluptuous ; on the 227) in the plural, as the personification of sorrows
other hand, he was a man of great courage and and griefs, which are there represented as the
energy. Immediately after he had usurped the daughters of Eris.
(L. S. ]
throne, the Crusaders, who were still assembled ALIACMON. [PALAESTINUS. ]
under the walls of Constantinople, laid siege to this L. ALIENUS, plebeian aedile e c. 454, ac-
city. Alexis V. disdained to conclude peace with cused Veturius, the consul of the former year, on
them on dishonourable conditions, and prepared account of selling the booty which had been gained
for resistance, in which he was vigorously assisted in war, and placing the amount in the aerarium.
by Theodore Lascaris. However, courage suddenly (Liv. ii. 31. )
abandoned him, and he fled to the deposed em- ALIENUS CAECI'NA. (CAECINA. )
peror Alexis III. , whose daughter Eudoxia Angela- ALIMENTUS, L. CI'NCIUS, a celebrated
Comnena be had just married. Constantinople Roman annalist, antiquary, and jurist, who was
was taken by storm by the Crisaders (12th of praetor in Sicily, B. C. 209, with the command
April, 1204), who, after having committed those of two legions. He wrote an account of his im-
horrors, of which Nicetas, an eye-witness, gives prisonment in the second Punic war, and a history
such an emphatical description, chose Baldwin, of Gorgias Leontinus ; but these works probably
count of Flanders, emperor of Constantinople, but formed part of his Annales. (Liv. xxi. 38. ) He is
Icaving him only the fourth part of the empire. frequently cited by Festus, and the fragments which
After being deprived of sight by his father-in-law, have been thus preserved were collected by Wasse,
Alexis V. fied to the Morea, but was arrested and and may be found appended to Cortes Sallust.
carried to Constantinople, where the Crusaders put Niebuhr (i. p. 272) praises Alimentus as a
him to death by casting him from the top of the really critical investigator of antiquity, who threw
Theodosian column. (1204. ) (Nicetas, Murzuphlus; light on the history of his country by researches
Isaucius Angelus et Aler. fil. c. 4, 5; Gesta Fran- | among its ancient monuments. That he possessed
corum, c. 94 ; Villehardouin, Ivid. c. 51, 56, 60, eminent personal qualities, such as strike a great
&c. 98, 106, 113–115, 127, &c. ) (W. P. ) man, is clear, inasmuch as Hannibal, who used to
ALEXIUS ARISTE'NUS ('Aréžios 'Aplotn treat his Roman prisoners very roughly, made a
vós), Oeconomus of the Great Church at Constan- distinction in his behalf, and gave him an account
tinople, flourished A. D. 1166, in which year he of his passage through Gaul and over the Alps,
was present at the Council of Constantinople. He which Alimentus afterwards incorporated in his
edited a Synopsis Canonum with scholia, which is history. It is only in his fragments that we find
given by Bishop Beveridge in his Pandectae Cano a distinct statement of the earlier relation between
nuin, Oxon. 1672, fol. vol.
