Maria Skleraina

Maria Skleraina (Greek: Μαρία Σκλήραινα; died c. 1045 CE), often referred to as the Skleraina, was the political adviser, official mistress, and potentially wife of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. He controversially gave her the title of Sebastē.[1][2][3][4]

Of the prominent Skleros family, she was known for her charming appearance and character, and was possibly married to Constantine IX prior to his succession to the throne, but the marriage was not considered legal by the church. Constantine became emperor in 1042 by his marriage to empress Zoë Porphyrogenita, who - being 20 years older than him, and marrying him for purposes of securing succession rather than childbearing - accepted his continued relationship with Maria Skleraina.[5][6] Skleraina was not acknowledged as Constantine's wife but stayed at court officially as his mistress.[7]

She played an important role at court, acting as the political adviser of Constantine IX and benefitting the career of her brother Romanos Skleros. She was unpopular with the public. In March 1044, a riot broke out in Constantinople because the public feared that Constantine was planning to kill Zoe in order to marry Skleraina.

References

  1. ^ Cellarer.), Gregory (the (2000). The Life of Lazaros of Mt. Galesion: An Eleventh-century Pillar Saint. Dumbarton Oaks. ISBN 978-0-88402-272-5.
  2. ^ Harris, Jonathan (2009-05-05). Constantinople: Capital of Byzantium. A&C Black. ISBN 978-0-8264-3086-1.
  3. ^ Thomas, John Philip; Hero, Angela Constantinides; Constable, Giles (2000). Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founders' Typika and Testaments. Dumbarton Oaks. ISBN 978-0-88402-232-9.
  4. ^ Oikonomides, Nicolas; Zachariadou, Elizabeth (2023-08-18). Social and Economic Life in Byzantium. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-94664-2.
  5. ^ Kolovou, Ioulia (2020-05-13). Anna Komnene and the Alexiad: The Byzantine Princess and the First Crusade. Pen and Sword History. ISBN 978-1-5267-3302-3.
  6. ^ Speake, Graham (2021-01-31). Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-94206-9.
  7. ^ Lauxtermann, Marc D.; Whittow, Mark (2019-10-18). Byzantium in the Eleventh Century: Being in Between. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-80396-0.