Preface and Book I Summary and Analysis

Anna is the daughter of two royal persons, Alexius and Irene. She knows how to read and studied Greek. She studied Aristotle and Plato, and so on. The book is written to record her father's deeds which she believes shouldn't be lost, particularly his service to previous Emperors and his own time as emperor.

Alexius knew how to command and obey and Anna assures the reader that she will not distort her account in her father's favor. She decided to write the book because her husband, Caesar Nicephorus had thought it good for him to do it but he did not finish the job. Anna regrets the loss of her father; she believes that he was a great man. She notes that despite her noble birth, fortune has not been kind to her, particularly the...