Anna Komnene

Anna Komnene was born in Constantinople in 1083, the eldest child of the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. She received an unusually thorough education in literature, philosophy, history, mathematics and medicine. As a child she was engaged to Constantine Doukas, who was expected to inherit the throne, but after the birth of her brother John her prospects changed, and she later married the nobleman and historian Nikephoros Bryennios. When her father died in 1118, John became emperor. Byzantine historians report that Anna was involved in a plot against him, after which she lost her property and spent the rest of her life at the Kecharitomene monastery in Constantinople. There she wrote the Alexiad, a history in Greek of her father's reign, including wars with the Normans and Turks and the arrival of the armies of the First Crusade. It is one of the main sources for the period. She died around 1153.

Anna Komnene is also an author in the library: author page and works.

Faith: Eastern Orthodox Byzantine princess who spent her later years in the Kecharitomene convent. Source: Wikipedia