John Rogerios Dalassenos

John Roger or Rogerios , also known as John Dalassenos (Greek: Ιωάννης Δαλασσηνός), was a Byzantine aristocrat of Norman descent, son-in-law of Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos (r. 1118–1143) and Caesar. In 1143, he unsuccessfully conspired to seize the throne.

Biography John Rogerios was the son of a certain Roger, a Norman who defected to Byzantium during the Byzantine–Norman wars and entered imperial service, and of an unnamed lady of the Dalassenos clan. His life is otherwise obscure until 1143, when, on the death of John II, he plotted to usurp the throne from Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180). He enjoyed some support within the nobility, above all among the various Normans in the imperial capital, most prominent of whom was the exiled prince of Capua, Robert II. In 1152, he is recorded as a governor at Strumica in the upper Vardar river valley.

John returned to the Empire and retired to a monastery, where he died at an unknown date (possibly after 1166).

Family By his marriage with Maria, John had four children:

Andronikos Komnenos (died 1191). Alexios Komnenos. Anna Komnene, who married the general Alexios Petraliphas. Theodora Komnene (unascertained), who married John Kontostephanos, brother of the megas doux Andronikos Kontostephanos.