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
1122
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II appointed his son Alexios co-emperor, & his other three sons sebastokrators Certainty: 2
1130
Certainty: 1 Manuel (I) saw a vision of the Theotokos offering him purple buskins, & other omens Certainty: 1
1133
Certainty: 2 In the triumph for Kastamon, only an icon of the Theotokos rode in the chariot Certainty: 2
1135
Certainty: 3 Ioannes II was praised in Christmas hymns for recovering Kastamon & Gangra Certainty: 3
1136
Certainty: 3 Epiphany hymns (probably of this year) with polychronia for Ioannes II & his sons Certainty: 3
1139
Certainty: 2 Celebrations after the return of Ioannes II from Syria & Cilicia Certainty: 2
1140
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II praised his son, Manuel (I), for bravery but thrashed him for rashness Certainty: 2
1141
Certainty: 1 Fragmentary text (by Basilakes?) mentions naval activity against Sicily Certainty: 1
1142
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II planned a "portion" in the south for his son Manuel (I) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bertha von Sulzbach on arrival spoke prophetically about Alexios the co-emperor Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Determination of Ioannes II to continue his campaign to Antioch & visit Jerusalem
Despite the terrible blows of the deaths of Alexios and Andronikos, his two eldest sons, Ioannes went on from Attaleia towards the Armenian lands and Antioch with his youngest son Manuel, though he had already been away from the capital for a full year. Ostensibly his purpose was the better organisation of the Armenian cities captured earlier; however, the real motive was to join Antioch to Constantinople and then go on to Jerusalem, see the Holy Places and make gifts, and cleanse the area of barbarians. Most sources include a hint of this, and William of Tyre described an elaborate diplomatic exchange with Jerusalem, in which Ioannes proposed to visit Jerusalem. King Fulk sent a guarded response via Anselm, bishop of Bethlehem, Geoffrey, abbot of the Temple and Rohard, castellan of Jerusalem. Ioannes finally gave up the idea because he would only be able to take ten thousand troops with him on account of the lack of provisions. Manuel is even said to have planned to make Cilicia and Antioch with Attaleia and Cyprus into a "portion" for Manuel. Because of such ulterior motives, he tried every trick to have the Latins concede to him the lordship of Antioch, or if not (he knew of their bloody-mindedness), to win the loyalty of the Cilicians and Syrians
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
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
Certainty: 2 Ioannes II's body was loaded on shipboard at Mopsuestia & buried splendidly in the Pantokrator Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I discouraged the Antiochenes & marched home through Turkish territory Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Dismay at the death of Ioannes II with the army so far from the capital Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I's agents imprisoned his brother Isaakios & conciliated others Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Manuel I entered Constantinople Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Later epitaph for Ioannes II recording the succession of Manuel I Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I was conciliatory both to Isaakios (his uncle) & Isaakios (his brother) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I appointed Michael Kourkouas as patriarch, & was crowned by him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Roger II again asked for a Byzantine bride for his son, bribed the Byzantine ambassador, but failed Certainty: 2
1144
Certainty: 2 A successful expedition was sent under 4 generals to take revenge on Raymond of Antioch Certainty: 2
1145
Certainty: 3 Manuel I confirmed grants of paroikoi to Theologos of Patmos & to its other properties Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Raymond was forced to supplicate Ioannes II's tomb before Manuel forgave him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Raymond saw Manuel riding with heavy weapons & a flag, & suspected a trick Certainty: 2
1146
Certainty: 2 Despite the death of his eldest sister Maria, Manuel fortified Melangeia, to stop Turkish attacks on Bithynia
Since Mas'ud of Ikonion was ravaging to the east of Byzantine territory, Manuel marched to Melangeia against him, attacking the Turks there. He took measures to defend and rebuild Melangeia, then returned to the capital, ill with pleurisy. His eldest sister Maria had fallen mortally ill while he was away. He cut short his participation in the work, but she was dead before he reached Constantinople, leaving Ioannes Rogerios Dalassenos as a widower
Certainty: 2 Violent quarrel among Komnenian family members at Metabole Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I married Bertha von Sulzbach (Eirene) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel's successful raid from Lopadion could not prevent a major Turkish invasion of Thrakesion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Tzetzes wrote a petition to Manuel I in favour of Kosmas II
Tzetzes wrote to Osteos the protopsaltes, whom he judged to be a supporter of the patriarch Kosmas II. He enclosed with the letter a petition to Manuel I, asking Osteos to pass the petition on to Manuel and ensure that it was read to him by one of his grammatikoi who did not belong to the anti-Kosmas faction. The petition reminded Manuel that the appointment of a patriarch was a collegiate act, together with the synod and senate, not to be overturned by envious and embittered place-seekers among the ecclesiastics. It also warned him that Kosmas' opponents were gathering priests of the worst type to drive him illegally from office. Manuel was urged to intervene like a Komnenian and ensure their poisonous activities achieved no success
Certainty: 2 Angry at Turkish aggression, Manuel challenged the Sultan of Ikonion: the challenge was accepted Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I made a bold attack on the sultan at Ikonion (general factoids) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel routed near Akrounos a Turkish detachment sent against him: the Sultan quickly fled
Mas'ud, sultan of Ikonion, remained at Philomelion, sending a detachment of his forces only to meet Manuel I, who crossed Lydia and saved the cities of Phrygia and by the river Maiander from impending danger by frightening the Turks and driving them off. A larger battle took place at Mount Kalograia near Akrounos, and the Byzantines crushed the sultan's contingent, which fled back to Philomelion. The disaster overwhelmed Mas'ud, who withdrew quickly from Philomelion in disorder