the core of the social structure. At the end of the 11th century and the 12th century, the institution of the family was reinforced, beginning with the emperor himself, who concentrated power around his family. There were codes of family honour and virtue and being a member of the Komnenian family called for specific moral values. Within the imperial family itself, the relatives were no longer seen as rivals and claimants of the throne, as had been the case in previous years, but rather constituted an important support for the emperor's power. Offices were granted according to the degree of kinship with the imperial family. The title of sebastokrator, for example, was bestowed to the sons of the emperor, whereas the title of sebast to his nephews. The Komnenoi managed to concentrate power within their family.
Nevertheless, Manuel Komnenos, unlike his predecessors, failed to preserve the cohesion of the family intact. Many of his trusted officers came from outside the close imperial environment; although it has to be said they came from aristocratic families. In this way, a new order started to establish itself, and new groups, beyond the narrow limits of the family of the first Komnenoi.
In the same period the role of women was reinforced, mainly in the upper classes. Although families remained patriarchal, women assumed a more dynamic role, as many of them seem to have obtained a meaningful education and appeared active even in political life. Important women of the Komnenean period include Anna Dalassene, (Alexios I's mother), Anna Komnene, (Alexios I's daughter) and Maria Komnene (Manuel I's daughter).