Description:
(Byzantine Empress) Maria of Alania was a Byzantine empress whose marriages to emperors Michael VII Doukas and Nikephoros III Botaneiates granted her significant influence. Her role as empress was a major achievement for the Kingdom of Georgia and contributed to its regional influence. Maria was the only foreign Byzantine empress of the eleventh century, symbolizing the strong ties between Byzantium and Georgia. Her political maneuvering and diplomatic skills helped strengthen alliances and advance the interests of the Byzantine Empire.