Ioannes II appointed his son Alexios co-emperor, & his other three sons sebastokrators

Summary:
Ioannes II was the proud father of four sons. The first, Alexios, he made co-emperor in a brilliant ceremony where a poem of Theodoros Prodromos was performed, allowing him to wear imperial insignia and be joined with him in the acclamations. However a dream foretold that he would die before assuming full power. The other three (Andronikos, Isaakios and Manuel) he honoured with the title of sebastokrator 
Dates:
1122 
Alexios Komnenos, co-emperor, son of Ioannes II (Alexios 103)
  • He was appointed co-emperor by his father Ioannes 2, and allowed to wear the imperial insignia and share in the acclamations; [around the same time] his brothers, Andronikos 109, Isaakios 103 and Manuel 1 became sebastokrators (:) συνευφημεῖσθαί οἱ παρεῖχεν Niketas Choniates, Historia 16.26-29
  • He is said to have been seen by Ioannes 2 in a dream, riding a wild lion, using its ears as reins but unable otherwise to tame it; it meant that he would enjoy imperial power in name only and die young in 1142 (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 17.32-38
  • He had long ago (before his death in 1142) been presented by his father with imperial symbols (as co-emperor) (:) ἐρυθροῦ πεδίλου καὶ φοινίκιδος βασιλικῆς Niketas Choniates, Historia 38.14-15
  • He was crowned co-emperor in the Great Palace, in a splendid ceremony at which a poem of Theodoros 25001 was performed, containing encomia of himself and Ioannes 2 and prayers for their long life and military success (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte I
Andronikos Komnenos, son of Ioannes II (Andronikos 109)
  • He was appointed sebastokrator by his father Ioannes 2, like his brothers, Isaakios 103 and Manuel 1; [around the same time] the eldest brother Alexios 103 was made co-emperor (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 16.25-31
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • He fathered four sons: the first, Alexios 103, he made co-emperor, allowing him imperial insignia and a share in the acclamations; the other three (Andronikos 109, Isaakios 103 and Manuel 1) he honoured as sebastokrators (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 16.25-31
  • He is said to have seen in a dream his eldest son, Alexios 103, riding a wild lion, using its ears as reins but unable otherwise to tame it; it meant that he would enjoy imperial power in name only and die young, in 1142 (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 17.32-38
  • Had long before designated his eldest son Alexios 103 as his heir to the Byzantine throne (:) τὰ ῾Ρωμαίων ἐκ πολλοῦ μνηστευσάμενος σκῆπτρα Kinnamos 23.4-5
  • He appointed his eldest son Alexios 103 as co-emperor, in a brilliant ceremony before a large audience, where a poem of Theodoros 25001 was performed to musical accompaniment by the demes (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte I
Isaakios Komnenos, son of Ioannes II (Isaakios 103)
  • He was appointed sebastokrator by his father Ioannes 2, like his brothers, Andronikos 109 and Manuel 1; [around the same time] the eldest brother Alexios 103 was made co-emperor (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 16.25-31
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)