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
Ioannes II returned to the capital in triumph with many prisoners, and Theodoros Prodromos wrote a hexameter poem summing up all his successes against the Turks. Ioannes ordered the building of a silver-plated chariot with semi-precious stones, drawn by four white horses: it is carefully described. The people attended with great enthusiasm and in large numbers. There were purple cloths and fabric icons in the streets, with wooden platforms for spectators along the route. There were many encomia spoken in prose and verse, by Theodoros Prodromos among others. Ioannes walked in front with a cross to Hagia Sophia, his ministers holding the reins and his sons and close relations behind tending the chariot, in which there rode the icon of the Theotokos, to whom (and God) he ascribed his victories and gave thanks, before entering the palace
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 Certainty: 2
1143
Certainty: 3 Mortal injury of Ioannes II when hunting
He camped in a broad ravine under the Crows' Nests mountains. From there he went hunting and killed a boar with his spear. But the impact was such that he could not stop his hand being forced against poisoned arrows in his quiver. One pierced his fingers, the poison got into his bloodstream and would affect his vital organs and eventually kill him. At the time, however, he made light of it, staunching the blood and pus with a piece of leather. That evening he ate and slept well, but the next day the wound began to swell and throb painfully. His doctors replaced the dressing and used new ointments, but to no avail; so they tried surgery. Lancing the wound brought no relief, but the swelling spread to his hand, wrist and arm, making him and the doctors desperate. He vetoed a plan to amputate his arm with no certainty of saving him. He lay in agony, ignoring disputes over treatment. On Easter Sunday after communion and on Monday the tent was left open for petitioners, at the suggestion of Ioannes Axouch, and the banquet was distributed to everyone; as it rained heavily, the emperor's bed was moved to a dry spot while he pondered the succession, finding bad omens in the Oracles of Leo the Wise. A monk from Pamphylia was asked to hold a vigil
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: 2 Ioannes II's body was loaded on shipboard at Mopsuestia & buried splendidly in the Pantokrator
After his accession Manuel I showed filial piety in carrying out in full all the appropriate rites for his father, the deceased emperor, despite the threat posed by his brother Isaakios in Constantinople and the demands of the Antiochenes that he leave. He mourned deeply, loaded Ioannes' body on a ship at Mopsuestia and founded a monastery. When the body arrived in the capital, it would be splendidly buried by the senate in the Pantokrator. After a month Manuel left Cilicia
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
As Manuel I reached the Asiatic shore opposite the capital, Axouch and the husbands of Manuel's sisters took a solemn oath at Chrysopolis, then conveyed him with the army across to the capital, where he dawned like the incarnation of Emmanuel on earth. He was enthusiastically welcomed, both as Ioannes II's heir but also as a young man wise beyond his years, a good and venturesome fighter, tall and handsome with an attractive smile, if slightly stooping and rather swarthy. As he reached the palace, his horse neighed, made elaborate circlings and then passed unhesitatingly through the gate only open to emperors - seen as a good omen by those interested in such things. Leon Stypes, the patriarch, had died before Manuel reached Constantinople, so he had to be replaced before the new emperor could be crowned
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 Certainty: 2
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 Certainty: 2
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 Certainty: 2