Mariam – Martha

Mariam – Martha ( approx. 1050 – 1103), Queen of Byzantine Empire in 1071- 81, the daughter of Georgian King Bagrat IV and Queen Borena. In Georgia she used to bear the name of Martha. In 1056, Theodora, Queen of Byzantine Empire adopted Martha and took her to Constantinople. In 1065, Martha married Michael (who later became Emperor Michael VII), son of Emperor Constantine X Dukas. In 1078, as a result of Palace reshuffle, Nikephoros III Botaneiates ascended the throne of Byzantine Empire. Mariam married the new Emperor on condition that her son Constantine Porphyrogenitos would succeed the throne of Byzantine Empire. However, soon Nikephoros III changed his mind and Mariam joined the conspiracy against the ruling Emperor. The plot against Nikephoros III Botaneiates was hatched by brothers Alexios and Isaac Komnenos. In 1081, Emperor Alexios Komnenos declared Constantine an heir to the Byzantine throne but in 1092 he broke the promise. Mariam was compelled to retire to a monastery. However, she continued her attempts to secure the throne for her son. In 1094 she took part in the conspiracy against Alexios Komnenos.

They say that she was endowed with rare beauty. Mariam was a highly educated person; she carried on correspondence with an outstanding theologian and philosopher Theophylactus of Bulgaria, whom Mariam inspired to write a fundamental work, entitled The Gospel According To John. By her order a number of manuscripts had been scribed for various monasteries. She patronized Georgian monasteries, monks and nuns in Byzantine Empire. Mariam exempted the Iberian Monastery on Mt. Athos from taxes and donated lands to it. Together with her mother Borena, she built Capatha Monastery in Jerusalem.