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Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 →
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Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
—?—BELFASTIENS 1 S AND DEGREES IN MASONRY . I do not think that under the Constitution of Ireland any of the degrees are worked between the 18 ° and 30 ° , and very few between the 4 ° and
18 ° . The practice in Ireland and elsewhere seems to be to curtail the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted . Rite practically , because they are so numerous , and , after all , so unnecessaril y
lengthy and discursive , that to do justice to all , Freemasons would have to neglect the Craft , thus giving a preference to so-called , instead of " pure and ancient Masonry . " WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .
ANCIENT FREEMASONRY . Bro . Buchan , page 207 of THE FREEMASON , declares that the Revival of 1717 " was in reality the first establishment of Speculative Freemasonry as an institutiou : consequently said Freemasonry is
now just one hundred and fifty-two years old . I think this is too strong a way to characterise the " Revival . " Without doubt , that period witnessed the institution of the first Grand Lodge in the world , but it must be remembered that
before that date there were lodges in existence that had no connection with Operative Masonry as a means of livelihood , e . g ., the old lodges at York , & c , & c .
I cannot agree , either , with any statement which represents the Masonry before the eighteenth century to be , as respects its esoteric character , the same as other operative societies . W . J . HlIGHAN .
BELGIAN CONSTITUTIONS OF A . D . 1722 . Bro . Yarker must excuse my saying so , but I have shown him that no Belgian Constitutions were published in 1722 containing any reference to the hautes grades . The first constitutions of the Freemasons printed was in A . D . 1722 , of which
Bro . Spencer , the well-known Masoni 3 publisher , has the only copy known at the present time . The next edition of the constitutions was published by the Grand Lodge of England , A . D . 1723 . Thejormer is exclusively of an operative character , and the next issue of 1728 , by Cole , partakes of the same character .
These three are the earliest editions of the constitutions known , and certainly none other has been produced , so far as I know , by any one . Bro . Yarker speaks of the learned Mason , Dr . Leeson , having seen a copy of the constitutions , published
at Brussels AD . 1722 , at Bro . Spencers Masonic Depot , which contains an enactment respecting the Knights Kadosh , and other degrees belonging to the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and in which work it is declared such law was contained in tho
37 th clause of tho constitutions " approved by the English Graud Lodge on St . John ' s Day , " 1720 . The latter statement is decidedly an error , as no such law has ever been passed by the Grand Lodge of England . Until A . D . 1813 , no more than the three Craft degrees , including the Past
Master , have been recognised by that body , and after that date , the Royal Arch only was included within its authority . Consequently the statement that tho Grand Lodge of England A . D . 1720 , recognised or made rules for the Knights Kadosh or any other such degrees , 1 declare emphatically
to be an error . I have written to Bro . Spencer , who has kindly answered my query very readily , and states most positively that he never had such a work as Dr . Leeson mentions ; that the work the learned
brother saw was Roberts' Constitutions of A . D , 1722 , which is vj / iolly operative , and that the constitutions which he ( Bro . Spencer ) sold to an American brother ( said to contain this Belgian Conititutions among the lot ) were simply Anderson ' s , of AD . 1723 and 1738 .
Bro . Spencer also informs me that Bro . Yarker is in error respecting his selling any earlier editions of the Constitutions than 1723 , although Dr . Leeson did offer to purchase the copy referred to of 1722 ( wholly operative ) , which Bro . Speucer refused to part with , but which 1 hope he will BOOU reprint , as it is a very curious anil valuable work . W . J . HUQUAN .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
BELGIUM . In 1721 the Grand Lodge of England constituted the first Masonic lodge in Belgium at Mons , under the title of Perfect Union . In 1785 there were sixteen lodges established throughout the kingdom . At this period the
lodges were composed of the elite of the nation ; but , as the sentiments of the brotherhood had become very liberal and patriotic , in May 1786 , the Emperor Joseph II . abolished all the lodges in Belgium except three . Most of them , however , continued their meetings in secret . During
the French revolution all the lodges were interdicted , and not until 179 S did they resume operations , but with limited opportunities . In 1814 these lodges declared themselves independent of the G-. Orient of France , and in 1817 organized a Grand Lodge for Belgium and the
Netherlands . After the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands in 1830 , the latter desired to be entirely independent of the other , which was mutually agreed to . In 1 S 35 most of the lodges placed themselves under the protection of King Leopold . In 1817 the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was
established at Brussels , while the Grand Orient , located also at Brussels , has exclusive control over the symbolic degrees . The two bodies maintain towards each other brotherly intercourse , so that the members of the Grand Orient having the high degrees are considered on that account members of the Supreme Council . —Macoy ,
Knowing from a work printed in Paris during the year 1 GOO , in 8 vo „ and entitled "Histoire des Anciens Dues et autres Souverains de 1 ' Avchipel , avec une Description de 1 ' Isle de Chio , ou
CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT GEORGE .
Scio , par Son Altesse Royale * Monseigneur le Prince Francois Rhodocanaki-Justiniani , t fils du Seigneur Demetrius , 1 ' un des Seigneurs de la ditelsle , etd'Helene Palaeologue , descendantedes Empeveuvs de Constantinople , & c ., & c , " that the wife of H . R . H . Prince Francis Rhodocanakis ,
Duke , drc , & c , was a Giustiniani , I applied to the representative of the family , at present in England , with the object of getting tho wished for information for * ' Enquirer" ( page 189 ) . Our brother answers me with his usual courtesy , as follows , and beyond some other memoranda ,
previously obtained , which I append in the way of notes to this , it is all the information I can give to " Enquirer" : — " My dear Sir and Brother , —In reply to your note , I beg to say that there were , and . still are , two Houses of the name of Giustiniani—one of Venice ,
whose arms are Gules an eagle with two heads displayed , crowned , armed and niembered Or , charged on the breast with an oval shield Azure , a fesse of the Second ; and another of Genoa , whose arms are Gules a tower Proper , ona chief Or , an eagle displayed Sable Both families sprang from one and the same ancestor
but were entirely separated by the lapse of time and were related between themselves only through marriages . Princess Dorothea Giustiniani , the wife of my ancestor Francis ( b . 1560 , in . 1589 , d . 1640 ) , belonged to tho family of Genoa . I do not know to which family Sebastian us belonged ; nidging from
his christian name , most likely to that of , Venice , like theAbbo Bernardus Giustiniani , the author of the book entitled "Historic Clironologicho della vera origine di tuti gl' ordiui equestri'ereligioiii . Cavalleresche , & c , " ( Veuetia , 1 G 72 in 4 to ., and 1692 in folio , ) aud from whom , although related , we do not descend
but from the Princes Giustiniani of Genoa , and from whom also descends the Princess Maria-Cecilia Giustiniani , Countess of Newburgh , Viscountess Kinnaird , and Baroness Livingstone of Fiacraig , in the peerage of Scotland . " .... [ For likely information as to Sebastian , the Priuco
here refers my correspondent to the late Count Pompeio Litta ' s magnificent , though by no means correct , work , entitled "li ' atuiglie Celebvi , Italiane , " published at iMilano during the years 1819 to 1865 , in 9 vols , folio , of which there is a copy in the British Museum , and the library of the Athenaeum Club , London . ]
" Prince Andreas Giustiniani of the House of Genoa , married in 17-10 my greatgrandfather ' s youngest sister , the Princess Esmeralda Ilhodocanaki , and died at our island of Chio , leaving a numerous issue .
" Believe me to remain , with much esteem and re gard , Yours faithfully aud fraternally , RHODOCANAKIS . Park Bank House , Higher Broughton . "
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
The Giustiniani theory can end in nothing . The so-called "Johannes Andreas Angelus Flavius Comnenus" was a mere papal puppet set up by the Holy Father , Innocent XII . ( Antonio Pignatelli ) , with the intention of giving a colourable ; sale to his favourite , Duke Francis Farnese' of Parma . J JOHN YARKER , Jun . 43 , Chorlton-road , Manchester .
* The family of Rhodocanakis are the direct lineal male representatives of the family of Ducas , the most ancient and illustrious of the Byzantine , or Roman Empire . I may commence the pedigree with Flavius Eutropius , who married Claudia [ only daughter of Crispus , the younger brother of the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelins Claudius 11 , ( v . A . D . 2 U 8-270 ) , and of
Marcus Aurelins Claudius Quiutilius ( r . A . u . 270-270 ) , his brother , who descended from JDardauus and the ancient kings of Troy ] , by whom he had two sons , Flavius Valerius Constantius , surnamed Chlorus , the father of Constantino ) the Great ( first Christian Emperor of the Human Empire ) , and Flavius Claudius Constautinus , which latter by his wife Julia Theodora was father of Constautinus surnamed
Ducas , from the rank of Duke of Constantinople which h » received , A . D . 335 , from his first cousin , in male descent , Constantine the Great , as the following paragraph ! testifies— "Si imis enim replicareannales , etsursum niti versus origines reriun curet , sic reperiet . Ducarum Gentem e Constautini Magni Domo propagatam ; author siquidem huius nominis , qui socium se Constantino *
Jlagno admnxit e Roma Vetera in novam migrant , prosima illi consaguinitate admotus fuisso dicitur , utpote patruelis eius , cuius praetor caeteram virtutem comendatione necessitudiuis , dignitas Ducis Constantiuopoleos illi collata est , ex qua iu totam familiam Ducarum , appellatio huuc usque in diem est propagata , " & c , & c . ( Vide . Nicephori Caesaris Bryennii , Comeutarii de Rebus
Byzantims . Parisiis , 1661 , in folio ; page 8-9 ) . This Constautinus Ducas of the 1 th century was the direct ancestor of . Andronicus Ducas , the Protovestiarius , and father by his wife , Anna Dalassena , of Constantinus Ducas and his brother Nicephorus Ducas ( b . A . D . 869 , m . 890 , d . 929 ) who became the founder of the Itoyal and Imperial House of Hhodocanaki . and was Dukeor Governor
of the Island of Rhodes during the reign of the Emperor ( Leo VI . j surnamed the Philosopher , and of his brother Alexander ( r . A . D . 8 S 6-91 S ) . After tho death of the last named Emperor in 913 , the elder brother , Constantinus Ducas , who was Magnus Domesticus , and defended for many years tho Asiatic frontiers of the Empire , was invited by the principal inhabitants of
Constantinople , headed by the Patriarch Nicholas , to come to Constantinople and seize the Crown , which Constantinus VII , Porphyrogeuitus , then a child of seven years , was unable to hold . Constantinus came iu haste , accompauied by his son CSregoras , his nephew Michael , and his most distinguished olnceis , entered tho city at night by a postern gate , assembled his followers iu tho
house of his father-in-law , Nicholas . Iberitzes , and before day-break at the Uead of them , aud of an immenso populace , bearing lighted torches and proclaiming him Hmperor , presented himself at the gates of the Circus ; repulsed on this side he enforced the gate Chale , and penetrated tho interior Court of the palace . John Elladas , one of the seven tutors or guardians of
Constantine VII , ( whose only surviving descendant , Anna , married in 1008 , H . I . H . Priuco l ' anteleon Rhodocanakis ) , was here commandiugn company of household troops ; a fight takes place , the horse of Con .-tantiuus slips on the pavement , and a soldier cuts off the head of Cnustautiuus aud carries it to the Kinperor . Nicephorus DUCAS , having learned the death of his elder
brother , and of his own eldest son . Michael , with a host of his relatives ; and at ihe same time that his interests at Constantinople -were assailed by the Tutors , who plundered his estates and procured bis deprivation of the title of M . igister , he revolted , gained over the troops under his command , and assuming tho title nnd habiliments of Emperor , crossed over into liulgaria to assert
his claims . I le refused the offers of the Emperor ' s Tutors , and assisted by his friend Simeon King of Bulgaria , ( r . A . D . 8 SS-927 ) , besieged Constantinople . That capital again owed its salvation to its high walls , the numerous machines of war which defended thein , and tho bravery of the garrison . Niccphorus , despairing to take it either by assault or by famine , accepted the proposal of the
Tutors to come to terms . Ho received tho high and invidious title of Vaiitcus , or King ( 13 a 5 lAei 5 s ) of tho Island of Rhodes , for himself and his descendants , with permission to cut coin with his elligy , Sic , Sec . A few days after this , Simeon , King of liulgaria , departed , and Kicephorus left for his new kingdom , both laden with presents and honours . On his return to Rhode-,
Nicephorus Ducas , in order to distinguish hiinnelf from the other branches of his family , added after his family nana * that of Ithodocanakis ; being a composition of the words Ilhodoc and A nuka , King of lihodes . ( Hhoiloc-anaks , Jthodocanaks , Ilhodocanakis )—aud to his escutcheon , which was Azure , charged with a cross Anient , dividing the field into four quarters , added tho insignia grunted in
A . D . 538 to tho Isle of Uhodes b y the Emperor Justinianus the Croat , Azure , an inverted imperial diadem i'mpir , containing roses Argent , and surmounted by an oval circle of six mullets Or . It may be mentioned that the elder branch of the House of Ducas is now extinct , but from it descended the limperors Constautinus XI .,
Ducas ( It , 1059-1007 ) , Michael VII , A-. idionicus I ., and Constantinus XII ., Ducas ( R . 1071-1073 ) , nnd lastly Alexius V ., Ducas ( r . 120-1 , and dethroned by ths Crusaders . ) From the second branch of tho Ducas family descend tho Kings aud Emperors , who , as above , assumed tlio name of Rhodocanakis , and who are too . numerous to mention ; and from tho third aud last ( now
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
—?—BELFASTIENS 1 S AND DEGREES IN MASONRY . I do not think that under the Constitution of Ireland any of the degrees are worked between the 18 ° and 30 ° , and very few between the 4 ° and
18 ° . The practice in Ireland and elsewhere seems to be to curtail the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted . Rite practically , because they are so numerous , and , after all , so unnecessaril y
lengthy and discursive , that to do justice to all , Freemasons would have to neglect the Craft , thus giving a preference to so-called , instead of " pure and ancient Masonry . " WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .
ANCIENT FREEMASONRY . Bro . Buchan , page 207 of THE FREEMASON , declares that the Revival of 1717 " was in reality the first establishment of Speculative Freemasonry as an institutiou : consequently said Freemasonry is
now just one hundred and fifty-two years old . I think this is too strong a way to characterise the " Revival . " Without doubt , that period witnessed the institution of the first Grand Lodge in the world , but it must be remembered that
before that date there were lodges in existence that had no connection with Operative Masonry as a means of livelihood , e . g ., the old lodges at York , & c , & c .
I cannot agree , either , with any statement which represents the Masonry before the eighteenth century to be , as respects its esoteric character , the same as other operative societies . W . J . HlIGHAN .
BELGIAN CONSTITUTIONS OF A . D . 1722 . Bro . Yarker must excuse my saying so , but I have shown him that no Belgian Constitutions were published in 1722 containing any reference to the hautes grades . The first constitutions of the Freemasons printed was in A . D . 1722 , of which
Bro . Spencer , the well-known Masoni 3 publisher , has the only copy known at the present time . The next edition of the constitutions was published by the Grand Lodge of England , A . D . 1723 . Thejormer is exclusively of an operative character , and the next issue of 1728 , by Cole , partakes of the same character .
These three are the earliest editions of the constitutions known , and certainly none other has been produced , so far as I know , by any one . Bro . Yarker speaks of the learned Mason , Dr . Leeson , having seen a copy of the constitutions , published
at Brussels AD . 1722 , at Bro . Spencers Masonic Depot , which contains an enactment respecting the Knights Kadosh , and other degrees belonging to the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and in which work it is declared such law was contained in tho
37 th clause of tho constitutions " approved by the English Graud Lodge on St . John ' s Day , " 1720 . The latter statement is decidedly an error , as no such law has ever been passed by the Grand Lodge of England . Until A . D . 1813 , no more than the three Craft degrees , including the Past
Master , have been recognised by that body , and after that date , the Royal Arch only was included within its authority . Consequently the statement that tho Grand Lodge of England A . D . 1720 , recognised or made rules for the Knights Kadosh or any other such degrees , 1 declare emphatically
to be an error . I have written to Bro . Spencer , who has kindly answered my query very readily , and states most positively that he never had such a work as Dr . Leeson mentions ; that the work the learned
brother saw was Roberts' Constitutions of A . D , 1722 , which is vj / iolly operative , and that the constitutions which he ( Bro . Spencer ) sold to an American brother ( said to contain this Belgian Conititutions among the lot ) were simply Anderson ' s , of AD . 1723 and 1738 .
Bro . Spencer also informs me that Bro . Yarker is in error respecting his selling any earlier editions of the Constitutions than 1723 , although Dr . Leeson did offer to purchase the copy referred to of 1722 ( wholly operative ) , which Bro . Speucer refused to part with , but which 1 hope he will BOOU reprint , as it is a very curious anil valuable work . W . J . HUQUAN .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
BELGIUM . In 1721 the Grand Lodge of England constituted the first Masonic lodge in Belgium at Mons , under the title of Perfect Union . In 1785 there were sixteen lodges established throughout the kingdom . At this period the
lodges were composed of the elite of the nation ; but , as the sentiments of the brotherhood had become very liberal and patriotic , in May 1786 , the Emperor Joseph II . abolished all the lodges in Belgium except three . Most of them , however , continued their meetings in secret . During
the French revolution all the lodges were interdicted , and not until 179 S did they resume operations , but with limited opportunities . In 1814 these lodges declared themselves independent of the G-. Orient of France , and in 1817 organized a Grand Lodge for Belgium and the
Netherlands . After the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands in 1830 , the latter desired to be entirely independent of the other , which was mutually agreed to . In 1 S 35 most of the lodges placed themselves under the protection of King Leopold . In 1817 the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was
established at Brussels , while the Grand Orient , located also at Brussels , has exclusive control over the symbolic degrees . The two bodies maintain towards each other brotherly intercourse , so that the members of the Grand Orient having the high degrees are considered on that account members of the Supreme Council . —Macoy ,
Knowing from a work printed in Paris during the year 1 GOO , in 8 vo „ and entitled "Histoire des Anciens Dues et autres Souverains de 1 ' Avchipel , avec une Description de 1 ' Isle de Chio , ou
CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT GEORGE .
Scio , par Son Altesse Royale * Monseigneur le Prince Francois Rhodocanaki-Justiniani , t fils du Seigneur Demetrius , 1 ' un des Seigneurs de la ditelsle , etd'Helene Palaeologue , descendantedes Empeveuvs de Constantinople , & c ., & c , " that the wife of H . R . H . Prince Francis Rhodocanakis ,
Duke , drc , & c , was a Giustiniani , I applied to the representative of the family , at present in England , with the object of getting tho wished for information for * ' Enquirer" ( page 189 ) . Our brother answers me with his usual courtesy , as follows , and beyond some other memoranda ,
previously obtained , which I append in the way of notes to this , it is all the information I can give to " Enquirer" : — " My dear Sir and Brother , —In reply to your note , I beg to say that there were , and . still are , two Houses of the name of Giustiniani—one of Venice ,
whose arms are Gules an eagle with two heads displayed , crowned , armed and niembered Or , charged on the breast with an oval shield Azure , a fesse of the Second ; and another of Genoa , whose arms are Gules a tower Proper , ona chief Or , an eagle displayed Sable Both families sprang from one and the same ancestor
but were entirely separated by the lapse of time and were related between themselves only through marriages . Princess Dorothea Giustiniani , the wife of my ancestor Francis ( b . 1560 , in . 1589 , d . 1640 ) , belonged to tho family of Genoa . I do not know to which family Sebastian us belonged ; nidging from
his christian name , most likely to that of , Venice , like theAbbo Bernardus Giustiniani , the author of the book entitled "Historic Clironologicho della vera origine di tuti gl' ordiui equestri'ereligioiii . Cavalleresche , & c , " ( Veuetia , 1 G 72 in 4 to ., and 1692 in folio , ) aud from whom , although related , we do not descend
but from the Princes Giustiniani of Genoa , and from whom also descends the Princess Maria-Cecilia Giustiniani , Countess of Newburgh , Viscountess Kinnaird , and Baroness Livingstone of Fiacraig , in the peerage of Scotland . " .... [ For likely information as to Sebastian , the Priuco
here refers my correspondent to the late Count Pompeio Litta ' s magnificent , though by no means correct , work , entitled "li ' atuiglie Celebvi , Italiane , " published at iMilano during the years 1819 to 1865 , in 9 vols , folio , of which there is a copy in the British Museum , and the library of the Athenaeum Club , London . ]
" Prince Andreas Giustiniani of the House of Genoa , married in 17-10 my greatgrandfather ' s youngest sister , the Princess Esmeralda Ilhodocanaki , and died at our island of Chio , leaving a numerous issue .
" Believe me to remain , with much esteem and re gard , Yours faithfully aud fraternally , RHODOCANAKIS . Park Bank House , Higher Broughton . "
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
The Giustiniani theory can end in nothing . The so-called "Johannes Andreas Angelus Flavius Comnenus" was a mere papal puppet set up by the Holy Father , Innocent XII . ( Antonio Pignatelli ) , with the intention of giving a colourable ; sale to his favourite , Duke Francis Farnese' of Parma . J JOHN YARKER , Jun . 43 , Chorlton-road , Manchester .
* The family of Rhodocanakis are the direct lineal male representatives of the family of Ducas , the most ancient and illustrious of the Byzantine , or Roman Empire . I may commence the pedigree with Flavius Eutropius , who married Claudia [ only daughter of Crispus , the younger brother of the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelins Claudius 11 , ( v . A . D . 2 U 8-270 ) , and of
Marcus Aurelins Claudius Quiutilius ( r . A . u . 270-270 ) , his brother , who descended from JDardauus and the ancient kings of Troy ] , by whom he had two sons , Flavius Valerius Constantius , surnamed Chlorus , the father of Constantino ) the Great ( first Christian Emperor of the Human Empire ) , and Flavius Claudius Constautinus , which latter by his wife Julia Theodora was father of Constautinus surnamed
Ducas , from the rank of Duke of Constantinople which h » received , A . D . 335 , from his first cousin , in male descent , Constantine the Great , as the following paragraph ! testifies— "Si imis enim replicareannales , etsursum niti versus origines reriun curet , sic reperiet . Ducarum Gentem e Constautini Magni Domo propagatam ; author siquidem huius nominis , qui socium se Constantino *
Jlagno admnxit e Roma Vetera in novam migrant , prosima illi consaguinitate admotus fuisso dicitur , utpote patruelis eius , cuius praetor caeteram virtutem comendatione necessitudiuis , dignitas Ducis Constantiuopoleos illi collata est , ex qua iu totam familiam Ducarum , appellatio huuc usque in diem est propagata , " & c , & c . ( Vide . Nicephori Caesaris Bryennii , Comeutarii de Rebus
Byzantims . Parisiis , 1661 , in folio ; page 8-9 ) . This Constautinus Ducas of the 1 th century was the direct ancestor of . Andronicus Ducas , the Protovestiarius , and father by his wife , Anna Dalassena , of Constantinus Ducas and his brother Nicephorus Ducas ( b . A . D . 869 , m . 890 , d . 929 ) who became the founder of the Itoyal and Imperial House of Hhodocanaki . and was Dukeor Governor
of the Island of Rhodes during the reign of the Emperor ( Leo VI . j surnamed the Philosopher , and of his brother Alexander ( r . A . D . 8 S 6-91 S ) . After tho death of the last named Emperor in 913 , the elder brother , Constantinus Ducas , who was Magnus Domesticus , and defended for many years tho Asiatic frontiers of the Empire , was invited by the principal inhabitants of
Constantinople , headed by the Patriarch Nicholas , to come to Constantinople and seize the Crown , which Constantinus VII , Porphyrogeuitus , then a child of seven years , was unable to hold . Constantinus came iu haste , accompauied by his son CSregoras , his nephew Michael , and his most distinguished olnceis , entered tho city at night by a postern gate , assembled his followers iu tho
house of his father-in-law , Nicholas . Iberitzes , and before day-break at the Uead of them , aud of an immenso populace , bearing lighted torches and proclaiming him Hmperor , presented himself at the gates of the Circus ; repulsed on this side he enforced the gate Chale , and penetrated tho interior Court of the palace . John Elladas , one of the seven tutors or guardians of
Constantine VII , ( whose only surviving descendant , Anna , married in 1008 , H . I . H . Priuco l ' anteleon Rhodocanakis ) , was here commandiugn company of household troops ; a fight takes place , the horse of Con .-tantiuus slips on the pavement , and a soldier cuts off the head of Cnustautiuus aud carries it to the Kinperor . Nicephorus DUCAS , having learned the death of his elder
brother , and of his own eldest son . Michael , with a host of his relatives ; and at ihe same time that his interests at Constantinople -were assailed by the Tutors , who plundered his estates and procured bis deprivation of the title of M . igister , he revolted , gained over the troops under his command , and assuming tho title nnd habiliments of Emperor , crossed over into liulgaria to assert
his claims . I le refused the offers of the Emperor ' s Tutors , and assisted by his friend Simeon King of Bulgaria , ( r . A . D . 8 SS-927 ) , besieged Constantinople . That capital again owed its salvation to its high walls , the numerous machines of war which defended thein , and tho bravery of the garrison . Niccphorus , despairing to take it either by assault or by famine , accepted the proposal of the
Tutors to come to terms . Ho received tho high and invidious title of Vaiitcus , or King ( 13 a 5 lAei 5 s ) of tho Island of Rhodes , for himself and his descendants , with permission to cut coin with his elligy , Sic , Sec . A few days after this , Simeon , King of liulgaria , departed , and Kicephorus left for his new kingdom , both laden with presents and honours . On his return to Rhode-,
Nicephorus Ducas , in order to distinguish hiinnelf from the other branches of his family , added after his family nana * that of Ithodocanakis ; being a composition of the words Ilhodoc and A nuka , King of lihodes . ( Hhoiloc-anaks , Jthodocanaks , Ilhodocanakis )—aud to his escutcheon , which was Azure , charged with a cross Anient , dividing the field into four quarters , added tho insignia grunted in
A . D . 538 to tho Isle of Uhodes b y the Emperor Justinianus the Croat , Azure , an inverted imperial diadem i'mpir , containing roses Argent , and surmounted by an oval circle of six mullets Or . It may be mentioned that the elder branch of the House of Ducas is now extinct , but from it descended the limperors Constautinus XI .,
Ducas ( It , 1059-1007 ) , Michael VII , A-. idionicus I ., and Constantinus XII ., Ducas ( R . 1071-1073 ) , nnd lastly Alexius V ., Ducas ( r . 120-1 , and dethroned by ths Crusaders . ) From the second branch of tho Ducas family descend tho Kings aud Emperors , who , as above , assumed tlio name of Rhodocanakis , and who are too . numerous to mention ; and from tho third aud last ( now