Certainty: 3 Bohemond captured several towns, then began the siege of Larissa, defended by Leon Kephalas. While Alexios was away gathering troops, Bohemond took the opportunity to send a contingent of armoured knights who succeeded in taking Pelagonia, Trikala and Kastoria. He and his main army reached Trikala, whilst a detachment succeeded in taking Tzibiskos; from Trikala he went to besiege Larissa, which was successfully defended by Leon Kephalas for six whole months. Alexios was still gathering mercenaries, and so could not intervene immediately
Certainty: 3 Alexios I, his army based on Turks from Nicaea, tried to raise the siege of Larissa, following pleas from Kephalas. Having returned to Constantinople, Alexios asked Sulayman ibn Kutulmush to provide forces for the campaign of 1083. He was sent 7,000 men with experienced commanders, including Kamyres. He heard in a bold letter from Leon Kephalas that food, eatable and not, had run out at Larissa, with a grim description of the efforts Leon had made and the current situation. Alexios was told that if he did not help at once, he would condemn the town to capture. He thus left the capital to raise the siege and drive Bohemond away. As he approached Larissa he went over Mount Kellion, bypassing Mount Kissabos, through the Vlach village of Exebas near Andronias, making camp at Plabitza and visiting the gardens of Delphinas and Trikala. In planning his tactics he asked an elderly local man details about the lie of the land, intending to win by ambush rather than a pitched battle, in which he had so often failed. He dreamed of a prophecy of victory from an icon of Hagios Demetrios in his church in Thessalonike; Alexios promised, if it proved true, to make a pilgrimage to the church, slowly walking the last miles on foot
Certainty: 3 Alexios planned an ambush which allowed him to devastate Bohemond's camp & defeat half his army. At a council of war he put Nikephoros Melissenos and Basileios Kourtikios in charge of the main army, with all the imperial standards and accoutrements, then laid an ambush elsewhere. He ordered Nikephoros and Basileios to pretend to fight and lose a conventional battle, exposing the enemy to his ambush. As he gave the order, all the army's horses neighed at the same time - a good omen. At sunset Alexios went with picked men through the gorge of Libotanion, went round Rebenikon, passed Allage, arrived on the other side of Larissa and hid on lower ground. His movement was hidden by an attack by the main army. Bohemond was taken in by the play-acting of the Byzantine forces and divided his army, making Bryennios commander of the second division. The Normans made a successful charge and thought they had won a victory, riding in pursuit too far from their camp. Alexios attacked it from ambush, causing many casualties and winning rich booty. Seeing Bohemond and Bryennios pursuing heedlessly, he sent Georgios Pyrros and other brave archers after them, with orders to shoot their horses. The archers attacked the cavalry of Bryennios, killing his horses; as they fell, the remaining horsemen raised great clouds of dust, which added to the confusion and ended in their defeat. Bohemond was on an island in the river Salabrias eating grapes and making puns in Greek when messengers from Bryennios came to tell him that half his army had been defeated by Alexios's ruse and his camp destroyed. Zonaras and Glykas give a similar story, but make Adrianos, Alexios' brother, the fake emperor
Certainty: 3 Bohemond gained secondary successes, largely through Byzantine disorganisation. After defeating Bryennios, Alexios failed to stop his infantrymen attacking some Norman cavalry on a hilltop, and they suffered the loss of 500 men. He sent Migidenos with Turkish troops, but they were driven back by Bohemond. The day after their defeat Bohemond and Bryennios went along the river Salabrias to a marshy area which led to a ravine called the Palace of Domenikos, in which they camped. When Michael Doukas, the emperor's brother-in-law, found Bohemond and Bryennios camped in the ravine, he was told by Alexios to allow only archers to fire arrows within the ravine. In fact the rest of the army, itching for battle, gradually entered, followed by Michael himself. Bohemond saw with delight more and more of Michael's troops entering the ravine, including their commander. He then charged them in a furious assault and they fled. Ouzas, the mercenary leader, as he fled with Michael Doukas, pursued by Bohemond, turned and killed his nearest pursuer. Afterwards he speared Bohemond's standard-bearer, waved the standard, then pointed it downwards, puzzling the Normans, who turned off to Trikala. Bohemond pursued the army down to the river Salabrias
Certainty: 2 Episcopal see of Lakedaimon elevated to metropolitan status. Alexios I elevated the bishop of Lakedaimon to metropolitan status during the patriarchate of Eustratios Garidas
Certainty: 3 Alexios used varied tactics to test the loyalty of Bohemond's counts. From Thessalonike Alexios sent messengers to the counts in the army of Bohemond, with many promises. His purpose was to have them demand from their commander their promised pay for the last four years. If Bohemond did not have it, he should cross to Robert Guiscard and demand it. If (Alexios conrtinued) the counts succeeded in making Bohemond return to Italy for money to pay them, he promised them a choice: either they could take service at good pay in the Byzantine army, or they could return home by the safe route via Hungary. When Bohemond's counts (inspired by Alexios) made the demand for four years of back pay, he was at a loss what to do, as he did not have the money, and played for time. When the counts insisted, he withdrew to Avlon
Certainty: 3 Alexios went to Thessalonike, then to the capital triumphantly; Bohemond left garrisons & withdrew to Avlon. Alexios withdrew from Larissa to Thessalonike, from where he tried with some success to test the loyalty of Bohemond's counts. He then returned triumphantly to Constantinople. Meanwhile Bohemond left Bryennios in charge of Larissa and Petros Aliphas at the Pologoi; he himself, facing financial demands from other counts which he could not satisfy, withdrew to Avlon
Certainty: 3 Alexios I at Blachernai defended his limited appropriation of church property in an emergency, & made compensation. Hearing of the muttered opposition against him over his use of church goods, he was wounded in spirit; he convened a meeting of major officials of church and state at Blachernai, where he presided but also made a speech of self-justification. His defence to the council showed from inventories of shrines that he had taken nothing but ornaments from the empress Zoe's tomb and objects no longer used in the liturgy. As restitution for goods taken, he ordered a payment to the Antiphonetes in connection with Zoe's tomb and a grant from the treasury for the Chalkoprateia [should this not be dated after events at Mosynopolis, said to have happened in November?]
Certainty: 2 Niketas of Ankyra spoke before church leaders in favour of regular synods in the capital. Niketas, metropolitan of Ankyra, was earlier ordered by the patriarch Eustratios Garidas to remind his fellow bishops of their duty to hold regular synods; and some synods had started again. But later he was reproached by Alexios I, before a gathering of bishops in the imperial palace, for failing in his task of re-establishing synods in Constantinople on a regular basis. He accused his fellow bishops of submitting to Alexios' will in the matter, but then backtracking and going against what they had sworn before emperor, senate and patriarch. He also spoke in defence of the bishops against patriarchal encroachment: he insisted that, save for Constantinopleâs right to ordain metropolitans, all authority within a diocese remained with the bishop. He explained that the see of Constantinople was known as 'ecumenical' only because appeal could be made there in case of dispute; and that 'patriarch' was a title which was widely applicable. He mentioned that he had been ordained (?) by Alexios X Stoudites
Certainty: 3 Alexios I gathered an army & attacked Bryennios at Kastoria, building a base from which to use siege engines. He decided to attack Bryennios in Kastoria, and gathered his army with a full range of siege weapons; he made a kind of wooden fort, so as to have a secure basis from which to launch his missiles. Using his siege-engines day and night, he shook and breached the circuit of the walls; but the morale of the defenders was high, and the shattering of the walls did not lead to surrender
Certainty: 3 Kastoria was attacked on land & by Palaiologos in boats; Bryennios' counts rebelled & went home with safe-conduct. When siege machines proved ineffective, Alexios decided (cleverly) on combined operations, attacking by ships on the lake as well as by land; the ships were small boats carried on wagons from Moliskos, under the command of Georgios Palaiologos; a second front would increase pressure on the defence. By observing the movements of the garrison, he discovered a quick way for Palaiologos to land from the boats and capture an important summit. This movement was concerted with a major assault from the landward side. Even this combined attack did not make Bryennios surrender; indeed he encouraged the counts to resist harder. But they responded badly, suggesting a choice between desertion to Alexios or repatriation. They arranged for those who wished to desert to the Byzantines to gather at the church of Hagios Georgios, while those wanting to go home should meet on the road to Avlon. Those who made the response promptly deserted. Bryennios, who would never desert, did swear not to fight against Alexios again
Certainty: 3 Basil son of Abukab died; Smbat was doux of Edessa for six months, then deposed by Philaretos.
Certainty: 3 Alexios tricked the Manichaeans to come to Mosynopolis in groups, arrested them & distributed property to his comrades. Alexios decided to crown his victories in the west by dealing with the Manichaeans, wishing to punish their leaders, but incorporate the others into his army. He did not want to fight them directly because of their courage and violence to their enemies, as they loved danger and were impetuous in war and battle. He summoned them by letter, with large promises. When he reached Mosynopolis he pretended to want to enrol them and so had them presented in groups of ten, who were then arrested by specially posted officials and taken to gaol. Even women were treated in this way. He gave the private possessions of the arrested Manichaeans to brave soldiers who had shared the dangers of the battlefield with him: some claimed this as his motive for the operation. He treated the arrested Manichaeans with clemency, allowing those who accepted baptism to go free and return to their homeland, but exiling the leaders to islands, where they remained in captivity [should this not be dated before the council at Blachernai, said to have happened in August?]
Certainty: 1 Periorismos for Lavra property at Archontochorion (near Thessalonike?). Alexios I ordered Konstantinos, vestarches and logariastes, to prepare a document containing the periorismos of the property of Lavra at Archontochorion. Konstantinos then signed it, attaching his lead seal
Certainty: 3 Chrysobull of Alexios I granting Mesolimna (near Thessalonike) to Leon Kephalas. The proasteion of Mesolimna near Thessalonike was granted by chrysobull to Leon Kephalas by Alexios I. The emperor ordered the logariastes Konstantinos to proceed with the transfer, and Konstantinos established a praktikon before sending his subordinate Bardas to execute the order. Kephalas was handed a copy of the praktikon
Certainty: 3 Alexios I returned victorious from Kastoria; Pakourianos & the patriach of Jerusalem made the peace. Alexios returned to the capital after operations around Kastoria as a glorious victor. He brought with him the counts who had deserted to the Byzantine side, and Bryennios, who was on his way home with a safe-conduct. Around the same time, Pakourianos and Euthymios I, patriarch of Jerusalem, were sent by the emperor to Thessalonike to discuss peace with the Franks. After that the two went together to Pakourianos' estates near Philippopolis
Certainty: 3 Birth of Anna Komnene. Alexios I arrived home after the Kastoria campaign to find Eirene Doukaina in labour in the porphyra, having told the unborn baby to wait for him. He arrived two days after this instruction was issued, and Anna Komnene the historian was born on a Saturday at dawn. She was named after her grandmother Anna Dalassena, while her maternal grandmother, Maria of Bulgaria, had protested against the instruction given to the unborn child: what if Alexios did not return for a month? This delay in her birth was the first of many acts of filial piety shown by Anna. After her birth, the normal ceremonies took place: acclamations, gifts and honours presented to civil and military leaders, and popular outpourings of joy: the empress' Doukai relatives were specially pleased
Certainty: 3 Bohemond & Guiscard at Salerno discussed collapse of invasion; Guiscard began trying to revive it. Bohemond heard how the counts he had left to guard his newly conquered territories were behaving: they were either defecting to Alexios I, or dispersing to their homes. He therefore left Avlon and returned to his father Robert Guiscard at Salerno. He bore in the expression of his face the news of the defeat he had suffered. Robert read failure in his son's face, and his high hopes of conquest across the Adriatic were dashed. He was struck dumb and plunged into despair. But his despair did not last long; he began a massive general mobilisation, including the hiring of foreigners, providing Bohemond with the military force to avenge the Norman defeat
Certainty: 3 Typikon of Theotokos Petritziotissa (Backovo) by Gregorios Pakourianos. Gregorios Pakourianos established the typikon of his monastery of the Theotokos Petritziotissa in three copies (Greek, Armenian and Georgian), and deposited a copy at Panagiou in Constantinople. It contained a large number of stipulations about the way of life of the monks who were to live there, and financial and administrative matters for the future
Certainty: 3 Plot against Alexios I by leading senators & generals; ringleaders merely deprived of their property & exiled. On his return to the capital, a plot against Alexios I was revealed, in which the participants were members of the senate and military commanders. There were witnesses who came forward and convicted the guilty. Despite the convincing evidence and the heavy penalties set down, Alexios did not wish to apply the rigour of the law: the ringleaders were condemned only to the conifscation of their property and exile
Certainty: 2 Pechenegs made agreements with Tatous, Sesthlabos & Satzas, chiefs around Dristra & Bitzina. Tatous (Chales), Sesthlabos and Satzas were chiefs from south of the Danube with whom agreements were made by Pechenegs from the north. The latter, pressed by the Uzes behind them, were to cross and ravage Byzantine land at will, and even capture a few fortresses
Certainty: 3 Traulos, a servant of Alexios I, heard his Manichaean family was imprisoned, & began raids from Beliatoba. When Alexios moved against the Manichaeans, Traulos learned that his four sisters had been arrested and lost their possessions like the rest. He was angry and left his job serving Alexios. His wife learned of his plans and revealed all to the official in charge of Manichaean affairs. This spurred on Traulos to rebel. He gathered those who knew of his resentment and his family members, seized a deserted mountain fort called Beliatoba and began regular raids as far as Philippoupolis, gaining much booty. He made a treaty with the Scyths (probably Pechenegs) of Paristrion, winning over the leaders of the areas round Dristra and Glabenitza. He married the daughter of a Pecheneg chieftain
Certainty: 2 Traulos refused all compromises, even a chrysobull guaranteeing amnesty, & continued raids till 1085. Alexios received regular reports of Traulos' activities, and foresaw the problems which would result from his actions. He attempted to win him over with letters and promises, but in vain. He even drew up a chrysobull granting Traulos unrestricted liberty and freedom from punishment, and sent it to him as a means of convincing him; but the leopard did not change its spots, and continued raiding. Alexios did not regard his problems with the Manichaeans as of great importance, and eventually brought them under his control with treaties
Certainty: 1 Under Turkish pressure Philaretos Brachamios planned to become a Muslim; his son fled to Sulayman of Nicaea. Philaretos Brachamios at Antioch was surrounded by areas constantly being devastated by the Turks, with no remission. He decided therefore to go over to the Turkish side, be circumcised, and become a Muslim. His son vigorously opposed his decision, but without success. Thus the young man rode for eight days from Antioch to Nicaea, where he arrived in a state of distress, and urged Sulayman, now sultan, to attack Philaretos in Antioch
Certainty: 1 Philaretos went to Malik-Shah & apostasized.
Certainty: 1 Alexios I wrote to the German king proposing payments, agreements & a marriage alliance. Knowing the German king Henry IV to be more powerful than Robert Guiscard's other allies, he sent a stream of letters asking him to renounce his alliance with Robert. When he found Henry amenable to his suggestions, he sent Konstantinos Choirosphaktes to him with a further letter, emphasising their common Christian front against the evil Guiscard [text supplied]. In his letter he announced that the first part of a subvention of cash and fabrics was being sent to Henry with Choirosphaktes, in accordance with an agreement made with Henry's envoy count Burchard. He continued that the second part of the subvention would be sent to Henry with count Abelard, once Henry had reached Longibardia. He made arrangements for the oaths that Henry had to swear, based on the arrangements made with his envoy Albert. He finally confessed that the return of Burchard to Henry had been delayed because Alexios wanted him to meet his heir (Ioannes, son of his brother Isaakios), with a view to a possible marriage alliance with the Germans
Certainty: 1 Betrothal of Adrianos, brother of Alexios I, to Zoe, daughter of Konstantinos X. At this date Zoe Doukaina, daughter of Konstantinos X, was already betrothed to Adrianos, brother of Alexios I