A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

514 BRYENNIUS.
BRYE'NNIUS, JOSE'PHUS ('Iwoa) BpvevVios), a Greek priest and eloquent preacher, died
between A. D. 1431 and 1438. He is the author
of a great number of treatises on religious subjects,
as well as of several letters to distinguished persons
of his time respecting theological and ecclesiastical
matters. His works were first published under the
title "'Icannh grovaXoi 70rTO BpveVvio'v Tu e6pesE-I7VT
8i' Ei7rIeAXia Evyeviov, AinaKcoOU r7e s BovXyapeias,,
7f7j3 T'o 7rpcwTov Triros EKsco'e6ETa," three volumes,
8vo. Leipzig, 1768-1784. This edition contains
only the Greek text. Eugenius, diaconus in Bulgaria, was in possession of a fine manuscript of the
works of Bryennius, and he is the author of a life
of Bryennius contained in the preface to the Leipzig edition. The works of Bryennius were known
and published in extracts long before the complete
edition of them appeared. Leo Allatius refers to,
and gives extracts from, several of his treatises,
such as " Orationes II de Futuro Judicio et Sempiterna Beatitudine," in which the author maintained peculiar views respecting purgatory; " Oratio de Sancta Trinitate;" " Oratio de Transfiguratione Domini;" " Oratio de Domini Crucifixione;"
&c. The style of Bryennius is remarkably pure
for his time. (Leo Allat. De Libris et Rebus Eccles.
Graec. pars i. pp. 136,141,143, 237, &c., 311, 339 -343, De Consenst Utriusque Ecclesiae, pp. 529, 837,
863, &c.; Cave, Hist. Liter. Appendix, p. 121; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. xi. p. 659, &c.) [W. P.]
BRYE'NNIUS, MA'NUEL (MavovAs\ Bpv'vvios), a Greek writer on music, is probably identical with one Manuel Bryennius, the contemporary
of the emperor Andronicus I., who reigned from
1282 till 1328. Bryennius wrote 'ApJAovUcd, or a
commentary on the theory of music, which is divided into three books, in the first of which he
frequently dwells upon the theory of Euclid, while
in the second and third books he has chiefly in
view that of Ptolemy the musician. The learned
Meibomius intended to publish this work, and to
add it to his "Antiquae Musicae Autores Septem,"
Amsterdam, 1652; but he was prevented from accomplishing his purpose. The "Harmonica" having attracted the attention of John Wallis, who
perused the Oxford MSS., he published it in 1680
together with the "Harmonica" of Ptolemy and
some other ancient musicians; he also added a Latin
translation. The "Harmonica" of both Bryennius and Ptolemy are contained in the third volume
of Wallis's works, Oxford, 1699. (Fabric. Bibl.
Graec. iii. pp. 648, 649; Labbe, Biblioth. Nov.
MSS. p. 118.) [W. P.]
BRYE'NNIUS, NICE'PHORUS (Npspo'pos
Bpvievios), the accomplished husband of Anna
Comnena, was born at Orestias in Macedonia in
the middle of the eleventh century of the Christian
aera. He was the son, or more probably the nephew, of another Nicephorus Bryennius, who is renowned in Byzantine history as one of the first
generals of his time, and who, having revolted
against the emperor Michael VII. Ducas Parapinaces, assumed the imperial title at Dyrrhachium
in 1071. Popular opinion was in favour of the
usurper, but he had to contend with a third rival,
Nicephorus Botaniates, who was supported by the
aristocracy and clergy, and who succeeded in deposing Michael and in becoming recognized as emperor under the name of Nicephorus III. The
contest then lay between Nicephorus Botaniates
and Nicephorus Bryennius, against whom the for

BRYENNIUS.
mer sent an army commanded by Alexis Comnenns.
who afterwards became emperor. Bryennius was
defeated and made prisoner by Alexis near Calabrya in Thrace: he was treated by the victor with
kindness; but Basil, the emperor's minister, ordered his eyes to be put out. His son, or nephew,
the subject of this article, escaped the fate of his
relative; and no sooner had Alexis Comnenus ascended the throne (1081), than the name of Bryennius became conspicuous as the emperor's most
faithful friend.
Bryennius was not only distinguished by bodily
beauty and military talents, but also by his learning, the affability of his manners, and the wisdom
he shewed in the privy council of the emperor.
During the first differences with the crusaders, he
was one of the chief supports of the throne; and,
in order to reward him for his eminent services,
Alexis created for him the dignity of panhypersebastos-a title until then unknown in the code of
Byzantine ceremonies, and which gave the bearer
the rank of Caesar. But Bryennius is also called
Caesar, and we must therefore suppose that this
title was formally conferred upon him. The greatest
mark of confidence, however, which Alexis bestowed upon him was the hand of his daughter, Anna
Comnena, with whom Bryennius lived in happiness
during forty years. Bryennius distinguished himself in the war between Alexis and Bohemond,
prince of Antioch, and negotiated the peace of 1108
to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign.
Anna Comnena and the empress Irene tried to
persuade the emperor to name Bryennius his
successor; but Alexis would not deprive his son
John of his natural rights. After the death of
Alexis in 1118, and the accession of John, Anna
and.Bryennius conspired against the young emperor, but the conspiracy failed. [ANNA COMNENA.]
The cause of its failure was the refusal of Bryennius to act in the decisive moment, for which ho
was severely blamed by his haughty wife. They
were punished with confiscation of their estates
and banishment to Oenoe, now Unieh, on the Black
Sea, where they led a retired life during several
years. Bryennius afterwards recovered the favour
of the emperor. In 1137 he went to Cilicia and
Syria with the intention of relieving the siege of
Antioch by the crusaders; but ill health compelled
him to return to Constantinople, where he died
soon afterwards.
Bryennius is the author of a work entitled "TAn
ioropias, which is a history of the reign of the emperors Isaac I. Comnenus, Constantine XI. Ducas,
Romanus III. Diogenes, and Michael VII. Ducas
Parapinaces; his intention was to write also the
history of the following emperors, but death prevented him from carrying his design into execution.
This work, which is divided into four books, is one
of the most valuable of the Byzantine histories, and
is distinguished by the clearness of the narrative.
Its principal value arises from its author I eing not
only a witness but also one of the chief laders in
the events which he relates, and from his being
accustomed to, and having the power of forming a
judgment upon, important affairs. The editio princeps forms part of the Paris collection of the Byzantines, and was published by Pierre Poussines at the
end of Procopius, Paris, 1661, fol., with notes and
a Latin translation. The editor, who dedicated the
work to Christina, queen of Sweden, perused two
MSS., one of Cujas, and the other of Favre de St.