About Briseis
The daughter of Briseus, Briseis was originally married to King Mynes of Lyrnessus (an ally of Troy). However, when the warrior Achillês killed her husband and brothers he took her as a concubine. His friend, Patroclos, comforted her and promised that after the war ended he would arrange a wedding feast and she would become Achillês wedded wife. But when King Agamemnon was forced to return his war prize, Chryseis, he was angry and took Briseis from Achillês. This angered Achillês, and he refused to fight. He sat sulking around his ship until his friend died in battle and Briseis was returned, then he fought for vengeance and lost his own life.
Though Briseis was never actually married to him, she did love him, and she filled the position of wife and mourned his death. It is not known what happened to her following the death of Achillês.
Why has he gathered and led here his host, this son of Atreus? Was it not for Helen's sake?
Do they then alone of mortal men love their wives, these sons of Atreus? No, for he who is a
true man loves his own and cherishes her, as I too loved Briseis with all my heart.
[Achilles to Agamemnon's envoys. Homer's The Iliad]
... will you bring the lady out and hand her over to these men? I shall count on them to be
my witnesses before the happy gods, before mankind, before the brutal king himself, if the
Achaeans ever need me again to save them from disaster.
[Achilles to Patroclos. Homer, The Iliad 1.335]
Never on me came anguish like to this—not when my brethren died, my fatherland was wasted—like this anguish for your death! You were my day, my sunlight, my sweet life, my hope of good, my strong defence from harm, dearer than all my beauty—yes, more dear than my lost parents! You were all in all to me, you only, captive though I be. You took from me every bondmaid's task and like a wife you hold me.
[Briseis to the dead Achilles. Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy 3.560]