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Branas

Branas or Vranas, was a Byzantine noble family that was active in the 12th century in Adrianople and in the 13th century in Smyrna. Among the notable members were general Alexios Branas and his son Theodore Branas.

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Branas
Βρανάς
Noble family
CountryByzantine Empire
Place of originAdrianople
Founded1047
FounderMarianos Branas
Historic seatAdrianople
MembersAlexios Branas
Connected familiesKomnenos dynasty (1166–1187)
Estates
  • Adrianople (12th century)
  • Smyrna (13th century)
Dissolution1204

Branas or Vranas (Greek: Βρανάς; feminine form Branaina), was a Byzantine noble family that was active in the 12th century in Adrianople and in the 13th century in Smyrna. Among the notable members were general Alexios Branas (d. 1187) and his son Theodore Branas (d. 1230).

Origin

According to historians the family was either of Slavic or Greek origin.1 S. Vryonis treated the family as a one of possible Slavic origin.2 Bulgarian historian Ivan Bozhilov suggested the Slavic vran (врань, "black") as the etymological origin.3

History

The first known member was Marianos Branas (1047),3 who supported Leo Tornikios against emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (r.  1042–1055) in 1047.4 The ancestral estate was likely around Adrianople, where Alexios Branas was born.3

In the 12th century, two notable members were Michael Branas, a sebastos and general under emperor Manuel I Komnenos, who married a Komnene. Michael's son Alexios was a prominent general.5

In the 13th century, the Branas family reappeared as land-holders in Smyrna.6 It was allied to the Palaiologos through Theodore Branas' granddaughter Irene marriage to Constantine, the youngest brother of Michael Palaiologos, in 1259.6

Members

  • Marianos Branas (1047),3 supported Leo Tornikios against emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (r.  1042–1055) in 1047.
  • Michael Branas, sebastos, general under emperor Manuel I Komnenos, married a Komnene.5. Father of Alexios Branas.5
  • Alexios Branas (fl. 1166–d. 1187), a prominent general, son of sebastos Michael. He decisively defeated the Normans at the Battle of Demetritzes in 1185, and revolted against Isaac II Angelos.5
  • Theodore Branas (d. c. 1230) son of Alexios, Byzantine archon, then Lord of Adrianople and Caesar in the service of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, and also the third husband of empress Anna/Agnes of Francia.
  • Georgios Branas, Byzantine general under emperor Manuel I Komnenos (12th century). Participated in the Byzantine wars against the Hungarians (1164–1168).7
  • Demetrios Branas, Byzantine admiral and army officer, brother of Georgios Vranas (12th century). He was injured and captured during the Hungarian wars (1164–1168).8
  • Nikolaos Branas, Byzantine general of the 11th century, mentioned by Anna Komnene in the Alexiad.
  • Ioannes Branas, Byzantine general under emperor Andronikos I Komnenos (12th century).

Possible descendants:

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Laurent V, V. (Aug 20, 1973). "Collection Paul Canellopoulos (V). Sceaux byzantins". Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique. 97 (1): 227–237. doi:10.3406/bch.1973.2127. Retrieved Aug 20, 2019 – via www.persee.fr.
  2. Vryonis, Speros (1981). Studies on Byzantium, Seljuks, and Ottomans: Reprinted Studies. Undena Publications. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-89003-071-4. Slavic origin were the families of Glabas , Rentacius , Branas ( ? ) , Bogdanos , and Boilas
  3. Zhekova 2021, p. 172.
  4. Guilland, R. (1971). "Contribution". Зборник радова Византолошког института. XIII. Vizantološki institut: 18.
  5. Zhekova 2021.
  6. Angold 2011, p. 55.
  7. "Johannes Kinnamos (12th century) Epitome rerum ab Joanne et Alexio Comnenis gestarum, p. 99, (in medieval Greek, searchable for Βρανάς)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  8. "Johannes Kinnamos (12th century) Epitome rerum ab Joanne et Alexio Comnenis gestarum, pp. 12, 99, (in medieval Greek, searchable for Βρανάς)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
Sources

Sources