Maria of Alania | |
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Mariam Bagrationi | |
Byzantine Empress consort | |
Tenure | 1071–1081 |
Born | 1053 Kingdom of Georgia |
Died | 1118 (aged 64–65) Byzantine Empire |
Spouse | Michael VII (1065–1078) Nicephorus III (1078–1081) |
Issue | Constantine Doukas |
Dynasty | Bagrationi (by birth) Doukas (by marriage) |
Father | Bagrat IV of Georgia |
Mother | Borena of Alania |
Religion | Georgian Orthodox Church |
Maria of Alania[1] (Greek: Μαρία Ἀλανή; born Martha;[2] Georgian: მართა; 1053–1118) was Byzantine empress by marriages to emperors Michael VII Doukas and Nikephoros III Botaneiates. Her status as empress was considered a significant success for a newly unified Kingdom of Georgia, which would achieve regional influence comparable to that of Byzantium only during the reign of Martha's nephew, King David IV, who refused to carry a Byzantine title. Maria was the only foreign Byzantine empress of the eleventh century.