Philanthropenos

The Philanthropenos (Greek: Φιλανθρωπηνός) family is one of the major Byzantine aristocratic families. They hold the island theme of Cyprus as hereditary governors and are a notable family among the ranks of the Byzantine navy. The feminine form of the name is Philanthropene.
==History==
The family was established in the mid thirteenth century by Byzantine admiral Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos. He was a scion of the great Doukas family, but came from an impoverished branch. His family name derives from the monastery of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople, next to which they made their home. As a Doukid cadet, the family is sometimes referred to as Doukas Philanthropenos.
The family rose to prominence through the favor of emperor Theodore II Laskaris and is therefore considered part of his New Men, in spite of their illustrious lineage. Their founder, Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos, served as a naval officer under Theodore II since before he ascended to the throne, having won his favor in his early Greek campaign during the Siege of Athens. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy, an office he occupied until his death. Following the capture of northern Cyprus, emperor Romanos V Melissenos awarded him and his lineage with rulership of the island as Grand Dukes (megas doux).
Alexios' grandson and namesake Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos married the purple-born princess Theodora Melissene Laskarina, daughter of Romanos VI Melissenos and Eudoxia Laskarina. Their marriage was motivated by Romanos VI's extensive naval expansion and renovation program, whose effectiveness was linked to Philanthropenos influence in the navy.
Category:Byzantine families