Certainty: 3 Pope Paschal II died, to be replaced by Gelasius II.
Certainty: 3 Baldwin I invaded Egypt & reached the Nile at Farama (Pelousion). Baldwin decided to invade Egypt with a small army, to retalliate for the trouble caused by Egyptian troops from Askalon. He reached the Nile delta at Farama (Pelousion), The city was abandoned by its terrified people, leaving large quantities of food, gold, silver and other precious things
Certainty: 2 Manouvres over the succession to Alexios I. Though Anna Komnene was the firstborn child of Alexios I, his favourite was Ioannes (II), his eldest son, whom he proclaimed emperor, so as to leave him as his successor. His empress Eirene Doukaina, on the other hand, fervently supported her daughter Anna, slandering her son Ioannes for his rash character and moral laxity, trying to change her husband's mind. She also regularly praised Anna's husband Nikephoros Bryennios as an educated person who was also a man of action. The sickness which affected Alexios in the last years of his life gave her great power, and it seemed likely that she would have a strong role in the succession. Ioannes was well aware that this posed dangers for his rule, perhaps even for his life itself, and lobbied the male members of the Komnenian clan to support him when the crisis came. His brother Isaakios was favourable to him. Nikephoros Bryennios, as husband of the firstborn, the favoured candidate of the empress and a man of considerable personal authority, seemed likely to play an important role, but showed little ambition for the throne. Alexios himself usually ignored his wife's pleas, but sometimes replied that he would be crazy to replace an able son and legitimate successor by his son-in-law, especially as his own rise to power had been unorthodox. Much of the time he hid his real feelings
Certainty: 2 Baldwin of Bourcq from Edessa decided to visit Jerusalem at Easter. As Edessa was at peace, Baldwin of Bourcq decided to visit Jerusalem for Easter to consult with Baldwin I and pray. Hearing on the way that Baldwin had died in Egypt, he hurried on, arriving at one side of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, as Baldwin's body arrived at the other
Certainty: 3 While destroying Farama, Baldwin fell mortally ill, & the army set off for home. It was decided to destroy Farama and move on, apparently to Cairo. Baldwin worked very hard on the destruction, but then fell seriously ill, despairing of survival. He told his companions to defend Jerusalem, and spoke of the disposal of his corpse
Certainty: 3 Death of Baldwin I & pickling of his body in salt. As Baldwin was dying, he forced Ado, his cook, to promise to cut out his intestines and pickle him in salt, to preserve his body for burial in Jerusalem. As for the succession, that should go to his brother Eustace, if he came out to Jerusalem, or, if not, to Baldwin of Bourcq or a similar warrior. He died, and the requisite butchery was completed
Certainty: 3 Palm Sunday service in Jerusalem followed by funeral of Baldwin I. The service for Palm Sunday conducted by the patriarch, Arnulf of Choques was hardly completed, when the funeral service for Baldwin I had to follow at once, despite the pickling in salt he had demanded. Arnulf buried Baldwin next to his brother Godfrey in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Certainty: 3 Choice of Baldwin of Bourcq to succeed Baldwin I, rather than the latter's brother Eustace. Baldwin of Bourcq had come to Jerusalem for the Easter ceremonies, only to see the body of Baldwin I brought back from Egypt on Palm Sunday. Then, although he was only his predecessor's second choice as successor, the people supported him because he was present. Major roles were also played by the dying patriarch Arnulf and by Joscelin of Courtenay. The latter's support was credible, because of the violent quarrel he had had with Baldwin (II): he claimed that the kingdom needed an immediate ruler to deal with emergencies. He really hoped to succeed Baldwin in Edessa (as in fact occurred). Eustace's choice by Baldwin I had been somewhat qualified, since he was unsure whether his brother was not too old to come to the Holy Land. Eustace did receive a summons from an uncertain number of barons in Jerusalem, and set out, reaching Apulia. But when he heard of the coronation of Baldwin II, he turned back, since the Holy City should not be polluted by strife
Certainty: 3 Consecration of Baldwin of Le Bourcq, count of Edessa, as Baldwin II. Baldwin of Le Bourcq was unanimously consecrated king on April 14 [not crowned, presumably because of the issue of Eustace]. He appointed Joscelin of Courtenay in his place in Edessa and sent for his wife Morphia from there
Certainty: 3 Death of the patriarch Arnulf, to be replaced by Gormond of Picquigny. Arnulf of Choques had burtied Baldwin I and supported and crowned Baldwin II, impressed by his popularity. But he had been sickening throughout the period, and died some three weeks after the coronation. He was succeeded by Gormond of Picquigny
Certainty: 2 Invasion by Caliph of Egypt & Tughtakin of Damascus: three months' stalemate at Askalon. As Baldwin II succeeded to the throne, he had to face an invasion by troops of the Egyptian ruler reinforced by Tughtakin. A large fleet also came to Askalon, but that went on to Tyre. Baldwin summoned contingents from Antioch and Tripoli and marched to camp within sight the invaders near Askalon. After three months of stalemate the Egyptians were exhausted and withdrew without fighting. The Antiochenes went home, but for 300 men detailed to Baldwin to defend Jerusalem if the Egyptians returned
Certainty: 2 Onset of mortal illness of Alexios I. Less than six months after his previous illness he was attacked by another, probably caused by exhaustion and anxiety. The main symptom was an extreme difficulty in breathing. Eirene Doukaina summoned the best doctors and demanded that they examine him closely and report in detail. They could not agree on anything but the obvious seriousness of the situation. His inability to breathe in any position meant that he could not sleep, while eating, even taking medicine, became increasingly difficult. No medicine brought relief for long. Eirene tried constantly and desperately to make him comfortable, without success. He was moved to the south-facing part of the palace and then to the Mangana, for movement brought some relief. Eirene was driven to rely on divine aid, praying fervently herself, and enlisting by her alms the supplications of thousands of others. His stomach and feet swelled up, as did his throat, raising the spectre of starvation. Anna, responsible for food, had to provide it in an easily digestible form. This awful situation lasted eleven days, completely dominating the lives of all involved. As they reached the fateful August 15, all were trying to make sure that Eirene herself got some food and sleep, for she had been totally absorbed in her nursing. They were supported by Alexios himself, who with his last speech to her told her to think of herself, and he was assisted by their daughter Eudokia
Certainty: 2 Authentification of the document containing the delimitation of the proasteion of Docheiariou at Rouseou.
Certainty: 3 Deathbed scene of Alexios I. There were three principal doctors, Nikolaos Kallikles, Michael Pantechnes and Michael the eunuch. Alexios' daughter Maria was seated by his head, giving him water and sprinkling rosewater over him. Anna herself was consumed by her sorrow, but trying to play a medical role. Alexios was moving in and out of consciousness, and Eirene was little better. Ioannes at this stage realised that a crisis had come, and had left to pursue his ambitions. The doctors would not exclude the possibility of recovery, and the family were unsure what to believe. Eirene and Anna decided to begin the funeral dirge, but Anna felt some pulse. Then she realised that Alexios was finally dying and she turned away. Eirene let out a shriek, removed her empress' veil and cut off her hair. She had appropriate black shoes, but no black dress: her daughter Theodora could easily supply one. At this point Alexios had clearly died, and all were overcome with wild grief. Anna and her mother were both distraught with mourning, yet each pretended to be recovering so as to encourage the other, thus reaching a kind of consolation. Anna at the end of her book wondered why she had been spared while her father had died. She was also forced to remember the other sufferings she had to bear later, the deaths of her mother Eirene and her husband Nikephoros
Certainty: 3 Death of Alexios I, accession of Ioannes II Komnenos. When Alexios lay dying in the Mangana monastery, Ioannes, who knew of his mother's hostility, entered his father's chamber when she was not looking and (with or without his connivance) took the signet ring from his finger. He then gathered supporters and moved towards the Great Palace. Ioannes Axouch was the chief of his supporters. Eirene was amazed, but could not persuade Bryennios to make a bid for power, or make Alexios stop Ioannes taking over before his father's death. Alexios smiled, as ever a dissembler. Anna first bullied the doctors, then took a full part in the mourning. Ioannes removed the palace gates to get in, then collected supporters, with some looters shut in when the gates were replaced. Alexios died and was buried at his own monastery of Christos Philanthropos, Ioannes refusing to come to the funeral because his power was not yet secure. This was the first of many family losses for Eirene. Ioannes was later to stress that his accession was in accordance with his father's last wish
Certainty: 2 Birth of Manuel (I). Manuel's birth, at approximately (or exactly?) the moment when his father was succeeding to the throne, was regarded as a good omen for his own succession
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II's choice of administrators for the empire. A few days after his father's death, Ioannes II could allow anyone in and out of the palace, feeling secure. He divided offices fairly among his relatives: his brother Isaakios, already sebastokrator, was allowed to share power almost equally. Ioannes Komnenos became parakoimomenos and Gregorios Taronites protovestiarios: Ioannes behaved overbearingly and was replaced, Gregorios governed well and remained longer. He was joined by a namesake, Gregorios Kamateros, able though not of good family. He became rich by assessing taxes, married an imperial relative and was promoted logothetes of the sekreta. But the most influential administrator was Ioannes Axouch, a Turkish prisoner from Nicaea brought up with Ioannes II. He was made Megas Domestikos, and was both respected and popular
Certainty: 3 Dispute over paroikoi between Lavra & 3 stratiotai to whom it had granted in pronoia a property at Archontochorion. Three stratiotai had held in pronoia a property of Lavra at Archontochorion, near Thessalonike, on condition that their paroikoi would only cultivate the land and not dwell on it. They were Leon Loukites, Romanos Andreas Rentenos and Theotimos Loukites. They had been in dispute with Lavra, but the problem was settled by Konstantinos Doukas, the doux and praktor of Boleron, Strymon and Thessalonike, at the orders of the emperor (probably Ioannes II). Through the logariastes Xiphilinos, Doukas granted the stratiotai land from the fisc for their paroikoi to live on while they exercised the right of cultivation given by Lavra
Certainty: 1 Foundation of the knights Templar by Hugh of Payns & Geoffrey of St Omer.