http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_of_Alania

Maria of Alania

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Empress Maria (Greek: Μαρία της Αλανίας, Georgian: მართა, მარიამი) (c. 1050 – after 1103) was a daughter of the Georgian king Bagrat IV of the Bagrationi (1027–1072) and spouse of the Byzantine emperor Michael VII Ducas and later also Nicephorus III Botaniates. She is frequently known as Maria of Alania in apparent confusion with her mother Borena of Alania, the second wife of Bagrat of Georgia.

Born princess Martha (მართა) of Georgia, she was sent to Constantinople to be brought up and educated under the patronage of the empress Theodora in 1056. The latter, however, died the same year and Martha returned home. She married in 1065 Michael, a son of Constantine X Ducas, and the future emperor. In 1078, a palace coup ousted Michael and enthroned Nicephorus III Botaniates. Maria agreed to marry the new emperor provided her son, Constantine Ducas, would be declared an heir apparent. Nicephorus subsequently violated his promise, and the empress became involved in a plot organized by the general Alexius Comnenus who was rumored to be her lover. Alexius forced Nicephorus to abdicate the throne and was himself crowned the emperor in 1081. Alexius had Constantine proclaimed heir to the throne. Later Alexius betrothed his daughter, Anna Comnena, to Constantine. The situation changed, however, after John II Comnenus was born in 1087: Anna’s engagement with Constantine was dissolved, the latter was deprived of his status of heir apparent and Maria forced to retire to a monastery. Constantine died a teenager in or around 1096 and Maria’s involvement in politics was finally terminated.

Maria was renowned for her beauty and education. She had a frequent correspondence with the noted theologian and philosopher Theophylact of Bulgaria, who is said to have been inspired by the empress when writing his principal work Explanations to the Gospel according to John. Maria also patronized Georgian monasteries in the Balkans, especially the famous Iviron monastery on Mount Athos. She joined also her mother, Borena, in building the Kapata Monastery on Mount Sion at Jerusalem.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/GEORGIA.htm#GiogiIdied1027B

A. KINGS of GEORGIA 1014-1213

GIORGI I 1014-1027, BAGRAT IV 1027-1072

GIORGI, son of BAGRAT [III] King of Abkhazia & his wife --- ([995/96]-[Mqinwarni or Itaroni 16 Aug] [1025/27], bur Kothathis). ... He succeeded his father in 1014 as GIORGI I King of Abkhazia. ... m MARIAM, daughter of SENEKERIM-YOVHANNES Arcruni King of Vaspurakan & his wife Kouschkousch of Armenia (-[after Nov 1072]). ... Mistress (1): [ALDA] [of Ossetia], [daughter of --- King of Ossetia]. ... Giorgi I & his wife had one child:

• 1. BAGRAT ([1017/18]-24 Nov 1072). ... He succeeded his father in [1025/27] as BAGRAT IV King of Georgia. ... m firstly ([1032]%29 HELENA Argyre, daughter of BASILEIOS Argyros & his wife --- (-Kouthathis [1033]). ... m secondly ([1033/40]) BORENA, daughter of --- King of Ossetia & his wife ---. Bagrat IV & his second wife had three children:
  • a) GIORGI (-1112). ... He succeeded his father in 1072 as GIORGI II "Sevatosi" King of Georgia. - see below.
  • b) MARTHA (-after 1090). The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) records that Empress Theodora requested King Bagrat to send "sa fille Martha" to be brought up as her daughter, but that she returned home because by the time she arrived in Constantinople the empress had died (in 1056), and also records her subsequent marriage to "l'empereur de Grèce"[355]. She was known as MARIA in Byzantium. Nikephoros Bryennios records that Emperor Mikhael married Maria, daughter of Bagrat King of Georgia. Zonaras names "Maria Alana" as the wife of Emperor Mikhael[356]. She was repudiated by her first husband when he became a monk. The Alexeiad records that "Botaneiates had established himself on the throne immediately after the deposition of Mikhael Dukas, and…won the hand of the Empress Maria"[357]. She became a nun as MARTHA. m firstly (after 1071, repudiated) Emperor MIKHAEL VII, son of Emperor KONSTANTINOS X & his second wife Evdokia Makrembolitissa (-[1090]). m secondly (bigamously, 1 Apr 1078) as his third wife, Emperor NIKEPHOROS III, son of --- Botaneiates & his wife --- ([1020]-after 1081).
  • c) MARIAM (-after Nov 1072). The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) records that King Bagrat's daughter Mariam was present when her father died in Nov 1072[358]. Giorgi I & his [wife] had two children:
• 2. GORANDUXT . ... Mistress: (after 1044) of Emperor KONSTANTINOS IX, son of THEODOSIOS Monomachos & his wife --- (-11 Jan 1055, bur Monastery of Mangana).
• 3. KATA . ... [m SMBAT of Lorhi, son of DAWIT King of Lorhi & his wife Zoracertel of Kakhetia.]
• 4. MARTHA (-before 1027). The Georgian Chronicle (18th century) names "Martha" as the fifth child of King Giorgi who predeceased her father[369]. Giorgi I had one illegitimate child by Mistress (1):
• 5. DEMETRE (-[1052]). ...