Alexios

Alexios, a masculine given name of Greek origin, is derived from the verb alexein, meaning to defend or aid, with the sense of defender or protector. The name has been used since antiquity and has appeared in literature, religion, and royal houses across the Greek-speaking world.

In Byzantine history, several emperors bore the name Alexios. The most prominent is Alexios I Komnenos (d. 1118), who reigned from 1081 to 1118 and led a program of military and administrative revival known as the Komnenian restoration, while seeking Western aid against the Seljuk Turks. Later emperors named Alexios include Alexios II Komnenos (reigned 1180–1183) and Alexios III Angelos (reigned 1195–1203). During the Fourth Crusade period, Alexios IV Angelos (1179–1204) briefly co-ruled with his father Isaac II and was ousted, and his successor Alexios V Doukas (c. 1180–1205) overthrew him in 1204.

In hagiography, Saint Alexius of Rome (4th–5th century) is a revered figure associated with piety and ascetic virtue and is venerated in both Western and Eastern Christian traditions. The name Alexios continues to be used in Greece, Cyprus, and among Orthodox communities, with variants such as Alexis, Alexei, and other transliterations appearing in different languages.