by Don C Stone and Charles R Owens

Winner of the 2010 Charles F H Evans award

In most printed histories and reference works the first wife of Byzantine Emperor Isaakios II Angelos is described as unknown. She had married Isaakios, borne him several children, and died, all before Isaakios became emperor. In Section 1 we review evidence relating to the name of this first wife and some relationships that might involve her, concluding that she is very likely the daughter of Demetrios Tornikes, logothetes of the dromos (foreign minister) of emperors Isaakios II and Alexios III. In Section 2 we present a genealogical sketch of the Tornikes family, noting biographical details that further support this parentage.