Book II Summary and Analysis

Anna must discuss lineages. Manuel was the older brother of Isaac and Alexius, the eldest of all of John Comnenus's children, Anna's paternal grandfather. John was general over all of Asia under Emperor Romanus Diogenes. Isaac was Duke of Antioch. After them, Alexius was made General-in-Chief by Emperor Michael Ducas. Later Emperor Nicephorus saw Alexius's skill in war and began to prefer him to Issac but liked them both. Alexius was appointed General of the West.

Isaac and Alexius knew that the Queen favored them and so they suggested that the Queen adopt Alexius as a son. She obliged. The brothers had to find means of protecting themselves. At this time, the Emperor was too old for a son and thought of leaving the Empire to a man named Synadenus from the East. However, this would have been a...