BRYENNIUS (Nicephorus), a prince distinguished by his courage, probity, and learning, was born at Orestia in Macedonia; where his father by rebellion provoked the emperor to send his general Alexis Comnenus against him, who ordered his eyes to be pulled out; but being charmed with his son Bryennius, he married him to Anne Comnenus his daughter, so famous by her writings. When Alexis came to the throne, he gave Bryennius the title of Cæsar; but would not declare him his successor, though solicited to it by the empress Irene; and was therefore succeeded by his son John Comnenus, to whom Bryennius behaved with the utmost fidelity. Being sent, about the year 1137, to besiege Antioch, he fell sick; and, returning, died at Constantinople. This prince wrote the History of Alexis Comnenus, which he composed at the request of his mother-in-law the empress Irene.