COMNENUS

comnenus, the name of a byzantine family which from 1081 to 1185 occupied the throne of constantinople. it claimed a roman origin, but its earliest representatives appear as landed proprietors in the district of castamon (mod. _kastamuni_) in paphlagonia. its first member known in byzantine history is manuel eroticus comnenus, an able general who rendered great services to basil ii. (976-1025) in the east. at his death he left his two sons isaac and john in the care of basil, who gave them a careful education and advanced them to high official positions. the increasing unpopularity of the macedonian dynasty culminated in a revolt of the nobles and the soldiery of asia against its feeble representative michael vi. stratioticus, who abdicated after a brief resistance. isaac was declared emperor, and crowned in st sophia on the 2nd of september 1057. for the rulers of this dynasty see roman empire,