Certainty: 3 Birth & coronation of Ioannes (II) Komnenos Certainty: 3
1088
Certainty: 3 Theophylaktos of Ohrid delivered an encomium to Alexios I, on the Pechenegs & his family Certainty: 3
1097
Certainty: 3 Godfrey of Bouillon finally waited on Alexios I in his palace & took oaths of allegiance Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Gift to Alexios I of young Turkish prisoner Ioannes Axouch Certainty: 2
1105
Certainty: 2 Birth of twins to Ioannes, son of Alexios I, at Balabista Certainty: 2
1108
Certainty: 2 Redistribution of Byzantine commands against Bohemond Certainty: 2
1110
Certainty: 1 Typikon for Eirene Doukaina's monastery of Kecharitomene Certainty: 1
1118
Certainty: 2 Manouvres over the succession to Alexios I Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Deathbed scene of Alexios I Certainty: 3
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 Ioannes II's choice of administrators for the empire Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Dispute over paroikoi between Lavra & 3 stratiotai to whom it had granted in pronoia a property at Archontochorion Certainty: 3
1119
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II made an immediate attack in Asia, capturing Laodikeia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Plot against Ioannes II of Anna Komnene, Bryennios & other Komnenoi, & its results Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II confirmed privileges & granted exemptions & annual donation to Theologos of Patmos Certainty: 3
1120
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II captured Sozopolis & forts near Attaleia, returning to Constantinople Certainty: 2
1121
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II entered Macedonia, wintering at Beroe, seeking to divide Pecheneg invaders Certainty: 3
1122
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II destroyed the Pechenegs Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II appointed his son Alexios co-emperor, & his other three sons sebastokrators Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II refused to renew the privileges of the Venetians, who had become rich & arrogant Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Empress Eirene & Ioannes II began foundation of the Pantokrator Monastery Certainty: 1
1123
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II lost Rason to the Serbs, punished its commander, but won a great victory Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 A revenge attack by a Venetian fleet on Kerkyra, on its way to Palestine Certainty: 2
1124
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II made a sudden winter attack in Asia, converting & settling many prisoners Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Ravaging of Byzantine islands in the Aegean by the Venetians on their way home Certainty: 3
1126
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II was forced to renew the privileges of the Venetians Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Michael Italikos wrote to Ioannes II, agreeing to go as an envoy to Rome Certainty: 1
1128
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II marched to the Danube, crossed, pursued the Hungarians & defeated them Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II made a punitive raid into Hungary, then returned to Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 The Hungarians captured Branicevo: Ioannes II returned, recaptured it & punished its commander Certainty: 3
1129
Certainty: 3 Istvan II attacked the Byzantines, but Ioannes II, forewarned, escaped with few losses Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Before turning east, Ioannes II settled affairs with western neighbours, including Italy Certainty: 2
1130
Certainty: 1 Deaths in the family of Eirene Doukaina, especially that of her son Andronikos Certainty: 1
Certainty: 0 Ioannes II issued decree for Theotokos Eleousa Certainty: 0
Certainty: 1 Michael Italikos praised his own qualifications in writing to Eirene Doukaina Certainty: 1
1132
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II besieged & captured Kastamon & other nearby towns Certainty: 2
1133
Certainty: 2 In the triumph for Kastamon, only an icon of the Theotokos rode in the chariot Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The Danishmendid emir recaptured Kastamon while Ioannes II was ill in Constantinople Certainty: 2
1134
Certainty: 3 The Empress Eirene-Piroska died Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II attacked Muhammad ibn Danishmend with the aid of Mas'ud of Ikonion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Beaten off in his first attack on Gangra, Ioannes II wintered on the Ryndakos Certainty: 3
1135
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II captured Kastamon & Gangra Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Antioch was offered by principal Antiochenes to Manuel (I), but then withdrawn Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II was praised in Christmas hymns for recovering Kastamon & Gangra Certainty: 3
Certainty: 1 Death in infancy of Alexios & Ioannes, sons of Ioannes' son Isaakios Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Ioannes of Poutza persuaded John II to transfer special navy taxes to general revenue Certainty: 1
1136
Certainty: 3 Epiphany hymns (probably of this year) with polychronia for Ioannes II & his sons
Three traditional Epiphany hymns written for the demes by Theodoros Prodromos should probably be dated to 1136. Their polychronia celebrate Ioannes II, his co-emperor Alexios and the holy trinity of sebastokrators
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II completed & signed the typikon of the Pantokrator Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II listed relations & adherents to be commemorated in the Pantokrator Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 A huge Byzantine invasion of Cilicia, provoked by local attacks but maybe with wider purposes Certainty: 2
1137
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II reached Cilicia, capturing most of the coastal towns Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Defeat & capture of Lewon the Armenian ruler Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II moved inland into the Armenian area: Anazarbos fell after a fierce siege Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Further captures by Byzantines en route to Antioch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II at Antioch in 1137: siege, meeting at his camp, visit to the city? Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II at Antioch in 1137: issues of status & details of the agreement Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Michael Italikos asked Ioannes Axouch to stop his enemies blocking his career Certainty: 1
1138
Certainty: 2 Reconciliation of Ioannes II with his brother Isaakios Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael Italikos wrote to thank Ioannes Axouch for his help Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Having wintered in Cilicia, Ioannes II led his crusader allies eastwards from Antioch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II with crusader allies captured Buza'a, with much booty & many prisoners Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Booty from Buza'a was lost by Thomas on his way back to Antioch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Buza'a was again taken, by capitulation: Christians broke agreements by forcing conversions Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II captured al-Bab
On Easter day, Ioannes II besieged and captured al-Bab, taking its occupants prisoner, then left the town to a subordinate with troops to defend it while he made for Shayzar
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II's campaign between Buza'a & Shayzar Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The Christians captured a suburb of Shayzar, slaughtering its people; but not the citadel Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II, increasingly contemptuous of his crusader allies, was bought off Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Raymond of Antioch allowed Ioannes II a triumphal entry & a few days' stay in Antioch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 After some days in Antioch, Ioannes II left when Joscelin II manufactured a riot Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes stayed briefly near Antioch, & was reconciled to Raymond & Joscelin Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 On leaving Antioch, Ioannes II captured Vahka after a ferocious fight Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ascetic captured in siege of Shayzar ransomed in Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Returning from Cilicia, Ioannes II sent a detachment to punish the people of Ikonion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Return to Constantinople of Ioannes II's brother Isaakios & Isaakios' son Ioannes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Celebrations after the return of Ioannes II from Syria & Cilicia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Literary work celebrating Isaakios Porphyrogennetos after his return Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros Basilakes wrote a speech to welcome Ioannes II on his return from Syria Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Operations, building & preparations in Western Anatolia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II made an expedition to Pontos, & wintered there Certainty: 3
Certainty: 1 Theodoros Prodromos began to write poems of pure begging Certainty: 1
1140
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II attacked Neokaisareia in appalling conditions
Beyond Kinte Ioannes II faced extreme cold and an enemy much more expert than the Romans in the conditions, who inflicted heavy casualties. Horses and beasts of burden suffered terribly, and when they died they were often eaten. He collected surviving warhorses and gave them to experts in heavy cavalry (often Westerners), thus cutting through the Turks and reaching Neokaisareia
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II praised his son, Manuel (I), for bravery but thrashed him for rashness Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Defection to the Turks of the emperor's nephew Ioannes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Retreat of the Byzantine forces from Neokaisareia Certainty: 3
1141
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II reached Constantinople on his return from Pontos Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II left the capital for Lopadion Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Roger II asked Ioannes II for an imperial bride for his son - but Ioannes' death intervened Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II returned to Constantinople after the summer Certainty: 3
Certainty: 1 Fragmentary text (by Basilakes?) mentions naval activity against Sicily Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Poems of Theodoros Prodromos to Theodoros Stypeiotes Certainty: 1
1142
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II left Constantinople for Attaleia Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II went to Sozopolis, then captured islands in Lake Pousgouse, suffering losses Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II planned a "portion" in the south for his son Manuel (I) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Birth of Alexios, fifth child of the sebastokrator Andronikos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bertha von Sulzbach on arrival spoke prophetically about Alexios the co-emperor Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Death of Alexios & Andronikos, sons of Ioannes II, around Attaleia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Death of Andronikos on the boat taking Alexios' body home: Isaakios took over Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II arrived unannounced at Tell Bashir Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II approached closer to Antioch, then withdrew to winter quarters Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Determination of Ioannes II to continue his campaign to Antioch & visit Jerusalem Certainty: 2
1143
Certainty: 3 Mortal injury of Ioannes II when hunting Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Deathbed speech of Ioannes II, bequeathing the throne to Manuel (I) Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Accession of Manuel I Komnenos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Death of Ioannes II Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II's body was loaded on shipboard at Mopsuestia & buried splendidly in the Pantokrator Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Dismay at the death of Ioannes II with the army so far from the capital Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Later epitaph for Ioannes II recording the succession of Manuel I Certainty: 2
1145
Certainty: 2 Raymond was forced to supplicate Ioannes II's tomb before Manuel forgave him Certainty: 2
1146
Certainty: 2 Violent quarrel among Komnenian family members at Metabole Certainty: 2