Accession of Manuel I Komnenos

Summary:
When Ioannes II indicated his preference with a long speech, the assembled elite in Cilicia and the army at once accepted Manuel. Ioannes crowned him and he wept as he accepted the symbols of rule and put on imperial costume. The ceremony at Mopsuestia was stage-managed by the megas domestikos, Ioannes Axouch, to try to discourage other candidates - especially those married into the Komnenian family - and their supporters. Manuel was acclaimed and allegiance to him pledged by each aristocrat in turn, with his retainers. He was to reign for 37 years, 5 months and 23 days. He at once sent Axouch and Basileios Tzintziloukes to manage affairs in the capital 
Dates:
1143 March 31 
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • After recommending Manuel 1 for the throne, when the assembled élite accepted him, he crowned him emperor and had him put on imperial costume; the ceremony ended in pledges of allegiance from individual aristocrats and their retainers; Ioannes died some days later (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 46.41-56
Ioannes Axouch, megas domestikos (Ioannes 293)
  • He masterminded the scene in which Manuel 1 was accepted by those gathered before Ioannes 2's deathbed; he was trying to discourage the ambitious supporters of other candidates, especially of those married into the Komnenian family (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 46.50-56
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • Was proclaimed emperor at Mamistra and reigned piously for 37 years, 5 months and 23 days (Wednesday March 31 of the 6th indiction, 1143:μαρτίῳ λα´, ἡμέρᾳ δ´, ἰνδικτιῶνος ς´, ἔτους ͵ςχνα´) Kleinchroniken 146.80, 171.2
  • After Ioannes 2 recommended him as emperor, the assembly (in Cilicia) at once accepted him as if duly chosen; he was crowned by Ioannes, put on imperial costume, and was then acclaimed by each aristocrat in turn with his retainers, who pledged allegiance (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 46.41-50
  • Having been proclaimed emperor, he immediately sent to Constantinople Ioannes 293 and Basileios 242 to prepare for the new reign, his arrival in the capital and its ceremonial, and to deal with Isaakios 103, whom Manuel expected to dispute the succession (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 48.5-18
  • Was chosen by his father Ioannes 2 because of success at Neokaisareia and divine revelations, as well as counselling skills. The choice was accepted by the court; Manuel, weeping, was given symbols of rule and acclaimed by the army (:) Kinnamos 27.18-29.1
  • As Ioannes 2 died, his choice of Manuel to succeed him was enthusiastically taken up by all parts of the army and everybody else present in Cilicia; he was acclaimed loudly with a single voice (:) Italikos 291.3-292.4
  • He was made emperor, acclaimed with deference by the army and ceremonially put on the purple footwear traditional in Byzantium (:) William of Tyre bk. 15, 16.30-34