Rusudan of Georgia, Empress of Trebizond (Georgian: რუსუდანი) was a consort of Manuel I of Trebizond, and the mother of Empress Theodora. Very little is known for certain about her.
FamilyEdit
Rusudan is commonly considered a member of the Bagrationi dynasty.[1]Szabolcs de Vajay has argued that Rusudan was probably an illegitimate daughter of Giorgi IV Lasha.[2] However, Michel Kuršanskis argues that Rusudan could have been no more than a commoner and mistress of Emperor Manuel. First, Kuršanskis notes that it was not Georgian custom to name their children after their parents. "That alone should be enough to indicate that Rusudan couldn't be a daughter of the homonymous Queen," he writes. He points out that in the chronicle of Michael Panaretos she is the only one of the three women who gave him children who is not referred to as kyra, or "lady". Lastly, Rusudan is described simply as "from Iberia" and nothing is said about her ancestry.[3]
EmpressEdit
Rusudan is mentioned briefly in the chronicle of Michael Panaretos. "Lady Theodora Komnene, the first daughter of lord Manuel the Grand Komnenos by Russadan from Iberia."[4] Drawing on Georgian sources, Kuršanskis suggests that Rusudan died in 1247.[5]
Manuel had at least two daughters whose mother is not mentioned, and they could be children by Rusudan. One of the daughters, married Demetre II of Georgia, the other married one of his Didebul.[6] Though mentioned in modern genealogies as a name, "Didebul" was actually a title. According to "The Bagrationi (Bagration) Dynasty" by Christopher Buyers, the Didebul were "non-hereditary noblemen of high rank, senior to aznaur, usually enjoyed by one in state service".[citation needed]
ReferencesEdit
^See, for example, George Finlay, The History of Greece and the Empire of Trebizond, (1204-1461) (Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1851), p. 404
^De Vajay, "Essai Chronologique a propos de la Famille du Grand-Comnène Manuel, 1238-1263", Byzantinische Forschungen6 (1979), pp. 281-291 cited in Kelsey Jackson Williams, "A Genealogy of the Grand Komnenoi of Trebizond", Foundations, 2 (2006), p. 174
^Kuršanskis, "L'usurpation de Théodora Grande Comnène", Revue des études byzantines, 33 (1975), pp. 198f
^"The Chronicle of Michael Panaretos Part One", translated by Basileos Nestor 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine
rusudan, georgia, empress, trebizond, georgian, რუსუდანი, consort, manuel, trebizond, mother, empress, theodora, very, little, known, certain, about, family, editrusudan, commonly, considered, member, bagrationi, dynasty, szabolcs, vajay, argued, that, rusudan. Rusudan of Georgia Empress of Trebizond Georgian რუსუდანი was a consort of Manuel I of Trebizond and the mother of Empress Theodora Very little is known for certain about her Family EditRusudan is commonly considered a member of the Bagrationi dynasty 1 Szabolcs de Vajay has argued that Rusudan was probably an illegitimate daughter of Giorgi IV Lasha 2 However Michel Kursanskis argues that Rusudan could have been no more than a commoner and mistress of Emperor Manuel First Kursanskis notes that it was not Georgian custom to name their children after their parents That alone should be enough to indicate that Rusudan couldn t be a daughter of the homonymous Queen he writes He points out that in the chronicle of Michael Panaretos she is the only one of the three women who gave him children who is not referred to as kyra or lady Lastly Rusudan is described simply as from Iberia and nothing is said about her ancestry 3 Empress EditRusudan is mentioned briefly in the chronicle of Michael Panaretos Lady Theodora Komnene the first daughter of lord Manuel the Grand Komnenos by Russadan from Iberia 4 Drawing on Georgian sources Kursanskis suggests that Rusudan died in 1247 5 Manuel had at least two daughters whose mother is not mentioned and they could be children by Rusudan One of the daughters married Demetre II of Georgia the other married one of his Didebul 6 Though mentioned in modern genealogies as a name Didebul was actually a title According to The Bagrationi Bagration Dynasty by Christopher Buyers the Didebul were non hereditary noblemen of high rank senior to aznaur usually enjoyed by one in state service citation needed References Edit See for example George Finlay The History of Greece and the Empire of Trebizond 1204 1461 Edinburgh William Blackwood 1851 p 404 De Vajay Essai Chronologique a propos de la Famille du Grand Comnene Manuel 1238 1263 Byzantinische Forschungen 6 1979 pp 281 291 cited in Kelsey Jackson Williams A Genealogy of the Grand Komnenoi of Trebizond Foundations 2 2006 p 174 Kursanskis L usurpation de Theodora Grande Comnene Revue des etudes byzantines 33 1975 pp 198f The Chronicle of Michael Panaretos Part One translated by Basileos Nestor Archived 2011 06 14 at the Wayback Machine Kursanskis L usurpation de Theodora p 204 Kursanskis L usurpation de Theodora pp 200f Royal titlesPreceded byAnna Xylaloe Empress consort of Trebizondc 1240s 1250s Succeeded byIrene Syrikaina Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rusudan of Georgia Empress of Trebizond amp oldid 1159957998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
