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 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: 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
Ioannes Axouch (with Basileios Tzintziloukes) travelled to Constantinople from Mamistra with great speed. There he found Manuel's brother Isaakios still ignorant of events, and imprisoned him by a trick in the Pantokrator monastery. Isaakios soon understood what was happening, and was furious, but powerless. He supported his rights, based on the principle of primogeniture, claiming to be the rightful emperor. But his advantages in age and location, being in the palace with its resources of money and vestments, had been neutralised, though he was still a threat. William of Tyre wrote of secret orders sent to a mystikos, who was able to imprison Isaakios, although in this version he had heard of Ioannes II's death and seized the palace. Manuel also sent decrees condemning some of his own closest adherents for treason, to confuse Isaakios. After dealing with him, Axouch had Manuel acclaimed by the citizens of the capital. He also gave the clergy of Hagia Sophia a chrysobull promising an annual donation of 200 pounds of silver; he was said to be carrying a second chrysobull for the clergy offering 200 pounds of gold, in case the situation was difficult. Axouch decided that silver was enough. He then prepared for Manuel's arrival
Certainty: 3 Manuel I entered Constantinople Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Later epitaph for Ioannes II recording the succession of Manuel I
An epitaph was written by Theodoros Prodromos after Manuel I was securely on the throne. Manuel is recorded as Ioannes' choice for the throne, and as having shown a son's reverence for his father's remains, natural in one who shared so many of his father's virtues
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
In a meeting of the inner circle of the Komnenian family at Metabole, Ioannes Axouch made a speech at dinner contrasting Ioannes II and Manuel I. [Axouch is not directly given a urname, but a good case has been made that it was he.] Against the usual pattern of encomia, the dead father was given preference over his living son. Manuel, who was strong in filial piety, was not at all annoyed at the preference, but did feel that some particular criticisms of himself were too biting. They were taken up by Manuel's brother Isaakios, who exaggerated them still further. Andronikos, the future emperor, at this point insulted Isaakios, who in his usual irascible way tried to decapitate Andronikos. The blow might have succeeded had not Ioannes Doukas [probably the son of Anna Komnene] diverted it with his riding-crop on to Andronikos' jaw, with the help of Manuel I himself, who was slightly wounded and left with a small scar on his wrist. As a result, Isaakios was banished from the court for some days, while Axouch lost some of the seals which gave him power over finances
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
The Turks had broken the truce by capturing Prakana and other places. Manuel therefore made a sudden raid from Lopadion, reached Pithekas where he had built a fort, but was unwell for one night; his generals, however, defeated the enemy nearby, gaining booty. It was now plain that the Turks were making a major assault on the theme of Thrakesion. To counter this, Manuel sent Theodoros Kontostephanos, but he was too late to achieve much, since he had not gathered an army before the Turks arrived. Their invasion reached as far as Kelbianon, not far from the sea.Manuel now began to plan a full-scale attack on Ikonion
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