Alexios III Angelos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexios III Angelos |
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| Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans | |
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Miniature portrait of Alexios III (from a 15th-century codex containing a copy of the Extracts of History by Joannes Zonaras)
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| Byzantine emperor | |
| Reign | 8 April 1195 – 18 July 1203 |
| Predecessor | Isaac II Angelos |
| Successor | Isaac II Angelos Alexios IV Angelos |
| Born | c. 1153 |
| Died | 1211 (Aged 58) |
| Spouse | Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamatera |
| Issue | Eirine Angelina Anna Komnene Angelina Eudokia Angelina |
| Dynasty | Angelos |
| Father | Andronikos Doukas Angelos |
| Mother | Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
Alexios III Angelos (born around 1153, died 1211) was a Byzantine Emperor. He ruled the Byzantine Empire from March 1195 to July 1203. Alexios became emperor by taking the throne from his younger brother, Isaac II Angelos. He even had his brother blinded and put in prison.
During his rule, the most important event was the attack on Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1203. This attack happened because Alexios IV Angelos, Isaac II's son, wanted to become emperor. Alexios III tried to defend the city but did not do a good job. He then secretly left the city at night with one of his daughters. After fleeing, he tried to gather support but was captured. He eventually died while held in a monastery in Nicaea.
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Early Life and Rise to Power
Alexios III was the second son of Andronikos Doukas Angelos and Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa. His family was connected to the imperial family through his grandmother, Theodora Komnene. This meant he was part of the larger royal family.
Alexios and his family had once plotted against Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos. Because of this, Alexios spent some years living away from home in other countries.
His younger brother, Isaac II Angelos, was almost executed in 1185. Isaac fought back against the emperor's agents and then sought safety in the Hagia Sophia church. He asked the people for help, which led to a revolt. This revolt removed Andronikos I from power and made Isaac the new emperor. This event brought Alexios much closer to the imperial throne.
Alexios III's Reign
By 1190, Alexios had returned to his brother's court. His brother, Emperor Isaac II, gave him an important title called sebastokrator. In March 1195, while Isaac II was away hunting, Alexios was declared emperor by the army. His wife, Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamatera, secretly helped him gain power.
To make sure he stayed emperor, Alexios spent a lot of money from the government's treasury. He also allowed army officers to do as they pleased. These actions weakened the empire's defenses and led to financial problems.
In 1196, the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI demanded a large payment of gold from Alexios. Alexios got this money by taking treasures from royal graves and heavily taxing his people. However, Henry VI died in 1197, so the gold was never sent.
The empress, Euphrosyne, tried to fix the empire's money problems. But her efforts were often stopped.
In the east, the empire was attacked by the Seljuk Turks. From the north, groups from Hungary and rebellious Bulgarians raided the empire's lands. Alexios often tried to solve these problems through talks instead of fighting. He spent public money on his palaces and gardens. His attempts to strengthen the empire's defenses by giving special rights to local lords also failed. These lords became more independent.
Relations between the Byzantine Empire and Serbia were good at first. Alexios's daughter, Eudokia Angelina, married the Serbian prince Stefan Nemanjić II. But by 1200, their relationship worsened. The marriage ended, and the alliance between Serbia and Byzantium broke apart.
The Fourth Crusade Attacks
A new and bigger threat soon appeared for Alexios. In 1202, soldiers gathered in Venice for the Fourth Crusade. Alexios IV Angelos, the son of the emperor Alexios III had overthrown, had escaped from Constantinople. He asked the crusaders for help. He promised to pay them and give them military support if they helped him become emperor.
The crusaders, who originally planned to go to Egypt, were convinced to go to Constantinople instead. They arrived in June 1203. They announced Alexios IV as the rightful emperor and asked the people of Constantinople to remove Alexios III.
Alexios III did not prepare well to fight them. His attempts to pay off the crusaders also failed. His son-in-law, Theodore I Laskaris, was the only one who tried to fight back, but he was defeated. The siege of Constantinople then began. Alexios III's poor leadership meant the Byzantine navy had only a few old ships left.
In July, the crusaders, led by the old Doge Enrico Dandolo, climbed the city walls. They took control of a large part of the city. During the fighting, the crusaders set parts of the city on fire, leaving many people without homes.
On July 17, Alexios III finally led his army out to fight. His army was much larger than the crusaders'. But he lost his courage, and the Byzantine army returned to the city without fighting. His advisors demanded action, and Alexios III promised to fight. Instead, that night (July 17/18), Alexios III hid in the palace. He then secretly escaped by boat with one of his daughters and a lot of treasure. He left his wife and other daughters behind. His brother, Isaac II, was released from prison and became emperor again with his son, Alexios IV.
Life After Losing the Throne
Alexios III tried to organize a fight against the new rulers from different cities. In April 1204, after Constantinople fell to the crusaders, he was joined by another leader, Alexios V Doukas. At first, Alexios III welcomed Alexios V and even let him marry his daughter Eudokia Angelina. But later, Alexios III had Alexios V blinded and left him. Alexios III then fled from the crusaders.
Alexios III eventually surrendered to Marquis Boniface of Montferrat. Boniface was becoming the ruler of the Kingdom of Thessalonica. Alexios III tried to escape Boniface's control in 1205. He sought help from Michael I Komnenos Doukas, the ruler of Epirus. But Boniface captured Alexios again.
Alexios was later sent to Asia Minor. There, his son-in-law Theodore, who was now the emperor of Nicaea, was fighting against the Latins. Alexios plotted against Theodore because Theodore would not recognize Alexios's authority. Alexios got help from Kaykhusraw I, the sultan of Rûm.
In a battle in 1211, the sultan was defeated and killed. Alexios was captured by Theodore. Alexios was then sent to live in a monastery in Nicaea, where he died later that year.
Family
Alexios III and his wife, Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamatera, had three daughters:
- Eirene Angelina: She married two times. Her second marriage was to Alexios Palaiologos. She was the grandmother of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
- Anna Komnene Angelina: She also married two times. Her second marriage was to Theodore I Laskaris, who became emperor of Nicaea.
- Eudokia Angelina: She married three times. Her first marriage was to Serbian King Stefan Nemanjić II. Her second was to Emperor Alexios V Doukas. Her third was to Leo Sgouros, a ruler in Corinth.
See Also
In Spanish: Alejo III Ángelo para niños
