Anna Dalassene

Anna Dalassene (Greek: Ἄννα Δαλασσηνή; c. 1025/30 – 1 November 1100/02) was a Byzantine noblewoman who was the mother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and the wife of John Komnenos. Playing a role in Komnenian coup d'état of 1081, she helped the Komnenoi rise to power in the 11th century. She exercised great influence over her son, Alexios I Komnenos, who gave her the title of empress. She administered the empire as regent during his many absences from Constantinople on long military campaigns during the early part of his reign. As empress-mother, she exerted more influence and power than the empress-consort, Irene Doukaina, a woman whom she hated because of past intrigues with the Doukai.