The Alexiad, written in the twelfth century by a Byzantine princess, Anna Komnene, tells the story of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of her father, offering accounts of its political and military history, including its involvement with the First Crusade. Structure and Features of Anna Komnene's Alexiad: Emergence of a Personal History introduces new methods of research for studying the Alexiad, aiming primarily at analysing Anna Komnene's literary expression. The book's approach focuses mainly on the author, the subject, the structure and the inner stylistic features, as well as the genre itself. The result is a substantially new outlook on the main Byzantine historiographical work of the twelfth century.
This book introduces new methods of research for studying the Alexiad, aiming primarily at analysing Anna Komnene's literary expression.
Preface, Introduction, Behind the narrative poetics of Anna Komnenes
Alexiad
1. Techne historike Discursive frame of the Alexiad Political debate
Anna Komnene and John Zonaras
2. IMAGE OF THE IDEAL RULER Refuting the
invective Shaping the new Iliad In search of a paradigm between a legendary
hero and a legendary emperor
3. ANNA KOMNENES 'Preponderance of the Origin
The story of the Imperial Birth essence of Annas political agenda Sprout
from the Porphyra Likeness to her father Connection to the imperial branch of
the Doukai Connection with the parents
4. THE PAIN OF NIOBE AND CRY OF
ELECTRA Annas Iliad of woes Beloved husband Setting of the Sun Allegories of
the emperors illness
5. DOUKAI CONSTRUCTION OF AN ALTERNATIVE DISCOURSE
The rise of the Komnenoi and the problem of apostasia The Doukai in the
Alexiad DRAMATIS PERSONAE Caesar John Doukas George Palaiologos John and
Michael Doukas Constantine Doukas Maria of Alania Eirene Doukaina
6.
KOMNENIAN PHILIA Mother of the Komnenoi How a hero is made Where two Annas
meet DOULOS and DESPOTES A story without an ending Orestes and Pylades ISAAC
KOMNENOS 'The abstruse story of Adrian Komnenos Conspiracy of John Komnenos
A thrice-beloved son Timeframe of the Alexiad Behind Annas psogos John in
the episode of the birth of the Porphyrogennetoi The Birth of the Emperors
Twins In search of a lost hero
7. CONCLUSION, BIBLIOGRAPHY, PRIMARY SOURCES,
SECONDARY SOURCES, INDEX.
Larisa Orlov Vilimonovic is Research Associate in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy, at the University of Belgrade. She has taught courses in Byzantine cultural and social history. Her main interests are Byzantine literature, rhetoric and gender studies.
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