Alypia Gavras was the daughter of Mavrikios Gavras and niece of his brother, Thorisin. Alypia was known for her intelligence and introvertedness. Both Mavrikios and Thorisin valued her intelligence, allowing her to sit in their meetings and even heed her advice on occasion. She despised the position she was in as princess: a pawn in politics. During the reign of Ortaias Sphrantzes she was forced to marry him and was sexually abused by his uncle, Vardanes Sphrantzes, until she was rescued by Marcus Scaurus and his legionaries.