Nikephoros Bryennios was a Byzantine general, statesman and historian.
Background
He was born at Orestias (Orestiada, Adrianople) in the theme of Macedonia. His father (or possibly grandfather), of the same name, the governor of the theme of Dyrrhachium, had revolted against the feeble Michael VII, but had been defeated by the future Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and was blinded.
Career
He was on very friendly terms with the new emperor John II, whom he accompanied on his Syrian campaign (1137), but was forced by illness to return to Constantinople, where he died in the same year. Alexios Bryennios Komnenos, megas doux, c. 1102–c. 1161/1167 John Doukas, c.
1103–after 1173 Eirene Doukaina, c.
1105–? Maria Bryennaina Komnene, c. 1107–? Editio princeps published by Petrus Possinus in 1661.
Migne, Patrologia Graeca, cxxvii. A. Meineke (with du Cange"s commentary), Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn, 1836.
(available online) P. Gautier (with French translation), Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 9, Brussels, 1975.
Views
Bryennios successfully defended the walls of Constantinople against the attacks of Godfrey of Bouillon during the First Crusade (1097). Conducted the peace negotiations between Alexios and Prince Bohemond I of Antioch (the Treaty of Devol, 1108). And played an important part in the defeat of Melikshah, the Seljuq sultan of Rûm, at the Battle of Philomelion (1117).