Comnenus, the name of a Byzantine family, which from 1081 to 1185,occupied the throne of Constantinople, originally came from Paphlagonia.The Comneni, who for a while upheld the fate of the sinking Empire,assumed the honor of a Roman origin, but the family had long since beentransported from Italy to Asia. The first of their line was theillustrious Manual, who, in the reign of Basil II, Roman Emperor,958-963, of the Macedonian Dynasty, contributed by war and treaty toappease the troubles of the East.