George Palaiologos

George Palaiologos or Palaeologus was a Byzantine aristocrat and general. One of the earliest known ancestors of the Palaiologos dynasty, he was a capable military commander who played a critical role in helping his brother-in-law Alexios I Komnenos seize the throne in 1081. In subsequent year he played an important role in Alexios' campaigns, especially the Battle of Dyrrhachium against the Italo-Normans or the Battle of Levounion against the Pechenegs, and was a major source used by Anna Komnene in her Alexiad. Life Early life and career George Palaiologos was the son of the first known member of the Palaiologos family, Nikephoros Palaiologos. He was also linked to the Kourtikes family, as the general Basil Kourtikes was his cousin. Sometime before 1081, he married Anna Doukaina, the sister of Irene Doukaina, the wife of Alexios I Komnenos, making him the brother-in-law to the future emperor. George Palaiologos is first mentioned in 1078, alongside his father, who was serving as the governor of the Theme of Mesopotamia at the time; the two supported the rise to the throne of Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, although his father had been a Doukas loyalist. In 1080, Palaiologos participated in a campaign against the rebel general Nikephoros Melissenos. Along with his cousin, Basil Kourtikes, he was placed under the command of the incompetent court eunuch John, who refused to follow Palaiologos' advice. Soon, however, John became frightened of the constant attacks of the Turks, and left the army in Palaiologos' hands. Although the latter managed to save the army from disaster, John complained about him at court, and on his return to Constantinople Palaiologos was prohibited from entering the imperial palace.