Kreacja bohatera w Aleksjadzie. Zmagania Aleksego I Komnena z żupanem Raszki Wukanem w latach 1093–1094
The Creation of the Hero in Alexiad. The Struggles of Alexius I Komnenos with Vukan Župan of Rascia in the years 1093–1094

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the issue of the creation of a hero by Anna Komnene. The basis for this analysis is the description from the IXth book of Alexiad, in which she described the struggles of Alexius I Komnenus with Vukan of Rascia. In the narration Anna used the specified range of measures to present her father in the best light. She made laudation of Alexius through the comparison with Alexan-der the Great. In Alexiad the hero proved to be more prudent and bet-ter commander than son of Phillipe II, because he did not act under the influence of passions. Furthermore, the emperor of Byzantium clearly stands out on the background of John Komnenus, a governor of Dyrrhachium, who once rebelled against him. John is characterized as an unexperienced and unfortunate, truly „young” leader, whereby he is defeated by Vukan – a dangerous warrior. Moreover, soldiers of young Komnenus drown in the river, which is the way to highlight the symbolic importance of water as a punishment for sins. In this perspective Alexius I is an excellent commander, because he sur-passed Alexander the Great and John Komnenus. Furthermore, he overcomed actually without a fight dangerous Serbian ruler. Anna also used the campaign against Vukan of Rascia to emphasize the heroic image of Alexius I Komnenus.

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