Manuel sent ambassadors to Conrad III & his army as they passed the Hungarian border

Summary:
The huge armies of crusaders were using Palestine, Kinnamos said, as a pretext to attack Byzantium. When Conrad III approached the Hungarian border of Byzantine lands , Manuel I sent Demetrios Makrembolites and Alexander of Gravina to ask them if their plans were peaceful: if so, they should confirm this on oath. His envoys met the crusader leaders in the tent of their doyen, Conrad III, and they confirmed with an oath their good intentions towards Byzantium, and their desire to go to Palestine against the Turks. Makrembolites spoke of the importance of keeping their oaths, and undertook, if they did so, to provide reasonable hospitality. When the envoys returned, Manuel continued to prepare stores of food on the roads, while readying his forces in case the crusade was not as peaceful as hoped 
Dates:
1147 
Alexander of Gravina (Conversano) (Alexandros 17001)
  • Went as ambassador to the Crusader leaders and delivered them a speech about peace, oaths and hospitality, and when this was done he returned to Constantinople: in association with Demetrios 17001 (:) Kinnamos 67.13-69.8
Conrad III Hohenstaufen, king of Germany (Conrad 53)
  • In his tent, as doyen of the Crusaders, their leaders met Demetrios 17002 (Makrembolites) and Alexandros 17001 (of Gravina), confirming with oaths their good intentions in going to Palestine against the Turks (:) ἐπὶ κακῷ μὲν τῷ ῾Ρωμαίων ἥκειν οὐδαμῇ ἔφασκον Kinnamos 68.11-17
Demetrios Makrembolites, envoy to westerners (Demetrios 17002)
  • Went as ambassador to the Crusader leaders and delivered them a speech about peace, oaths and hospitality, and when this was done he returned to Constantinople: in association with Alexandros 17001 (:) Kinnamos 67.13-69.8
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • When the Crusaders (using Palestine as a pretext to attack Byzantium) reached the Hungarian border, he sent Demetrios 17002 and Alexandros 17001 to see if their plans were peaceful: if so, they should confirm this on oath (:) Kinnamos 67.3-18
  • Having agreed to allow the crusaders through and provide markets for them, he put the plan into action: he sent men to prepare stores on the roads the foreigners would follow, while warning Byzantine forces to be ready if the crusade was not as peaceful as was hoped (:) Niketas Choniates, Historia 61.78-62.84