Isaac Comnenus
Isaac Comnenus (1155 – c. 1191) was the self-proclaimed Emperor of Cyprus from 1185 to 1191 and a minor member of the contemporary Byzantine imperial family. Comnenus was also secretly a member of the Knights Templar, and was tasked with safeguarding the hidden Templar Archive in Limassol from discovery.
During the Third Crusade, Comnenus began a war with King Richard I, leader of the Crusader army, though Cyprus was swiftly conquered.
With Cyprus in his claim, King Richard sold it to the Knights Templar under the rule of Grand Master Armand Bouchart. Bouchart, angered that Comnenus' actions had almost exposed the Archive and forced the Templars to prevent this by purchasing land that they already controlled, imprisoned and punished him, before ultimately ending his life.
Personality and traits
Isaac was bemoaned both by Bouchart and his former subjects for his perceived lack of foresight, incompetence, weakness of character and corruption. He was said by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to be easily swayed and susceptible to bribery, and Bouchart referred to him as "witless Emperor Comnenus", and also mentioned how his "idiocy" had almost compromised the secrecy of the Archive.
Trivia
- Historically, whilst imprisoned by the Armenian King in the 1180s, the Templars contributed to his ransom.
- Historically, he died after being poisoned in 1196.