John Doukas Komnenos (1128 – September 1176) was a son of Andronikos Komnenos.^[1] Through his father, he was a grandson of Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos. He was doux (military governor) of Cyprus from 1155 until his death as well as being appointed a protovestiarios in 1148.

He fought in the Byzantine–Hungarian wars in the early 1150s. In 1156, Cyprus was attacked by Raynald of Châtillon and Thoros II, Prince of Armenia; Thoros and Raynald both conducted widespread plundering of the island:^[2] the Franks and Armenians marched up and down the island robbing and pillaging every building that they saw, churches and convents as well as shops and private houses.^{[citation needed]} The crops were burnt; the herds were rounded up, together with all the population, and driven down to the coast.^[3] John opposed the attack but was captured by Raynald and Thoros and was taken prisoner to Antioch.^[4]

The nightmare lasted about three weeks; then, on the rumour of an imperial fleet in the offing, Raynald gave the order for re-embarkation.^[5] The ships were loaded up with booty; and every Cypriot was forced to ransom himself.^[6]

John was presumably released from captivity in Antioch, as he took part in the Battle of Myriokephalon under Manuel I Komnenos. The Byzantines were defeated and John Doukas died during the battle, shortly after 17 September 1176.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and children

This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2018)

John Doukas was married around 1146 to a woman later known as Maria, a Taronitissa,^[7] possibly daughter of John Taronites, pansebastos sebastos. The couple had at least two children:

1. Maria (c. 1154 – 1208/1217), married firstly to Amalric I of Jerusalem; from this marriage she had a daughter, the future Isabella I of Jerusalem and then married secondly to Balian of Ibelin, amongst the children produced from this marriage was John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut.
2. Alexios Komnenos, led a rebellion against Andronikos I Komnenos, but was captured, blinded and imprisoned,^[8] died unmarried in 1187.
3. (probably) Theodora (fl. 1140) wife of Bohemond III, prince of Antioch.