ABSTRACT
Through the centuries Byzantine emperors had mothers, wives and daughters,and these women consistently took on significant political roles when opportunities arose. Imperial women appear more frequently however in eleventh-and twelfth-century histories, and it is on this period that I shall focus. This phenomenon has been interpreted as indicative of a greater political role for women, brought on by the “aristocratization” of Byzantine politics in the Komnenian era.1 I would argue however that at least some appearances by women in eleventh-and twelfth-century histories are due to the increased use of classical Roman models by Byzantine historians.
