Certainty: 2 Ioannes II appointed his son Alexios co-emperor, & his other three sons sebastokrators
Ioannes II was the proud father of four sons. The first, Alexios, he made co-emperor in a brilliant ceremony where a poem of Theodoros Prodromos was performed, allowing him to wear imperial insignia and be joined with him in the acclamations. However a dream foretold that he would die before assuming full power. The other three (Andronikos, Isaakios and Manuel) he honoured with the title of sebastokrator
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
Battles around Neokaisareia were intense. In one, Manuel (I), unrecognised by his father, led an inspirational charge, making the rest of the army fight beyond their strength. When Ioannes discovered his identity, he praised him fulsomely in public for bravery, but thrashed him hard in private for rashness
1141
Certainty: 1 Fragmentary text (by Basilakes?) mentions naval activity against Sicily
A fragment attributed to Nikephoros Basilakes described a revival of the Byzantine navy against Roger II, rather like that undertaken by Manuel I. However the description of the emperor's career would fit better with that of Ioannes II (though the differences are not conclusive). Roger was warned of the consequences of any attack. There is a reference to a close male colleague, who is probably Ioannes Axouch
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 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 Capture of Andronikos (I) Komnenos & Theodoros Dasiotes
During the swift journey home with Manuel I to claim the throne, Manuel's cousin Andronikos (I) and his niece's husband Theodoros Dasiotes were captured whilst hunting, and taken to Mas'ud of Ikonion. At the time Manuel was too obsessed with speed of arrival to take steps to recover them. Soon after, however, he had Andronikos (at least) freed without a ransom. However Dasiotes' wife, Maria, daughter of Manuel's deceased brother Andronikos, was soon to be called a widow
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 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
Roger II had earlier asked Ioannes II for a Byzantine bride for one of his sons, but Ioannes' death had intervened. He now repeated the request to Manuel I, and Manuel sent Basileios Xeros as an envoy to discuss the question. Roger bribed Xeros to make concessions, inclusing framing a proposed pact in a form that gave equal status to the two rulers. This apparent success was turned to failure when Manuel ignored the pact. Xeros died on the way home to Constantinople before he could be punished. Roger built a fleet to exact revenge
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