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)
On his deathbed he called a meeting of relations, friends and office-holders, presented Manuel to them, and made a speech, first accepting that God had frustrated his ambitions in Syria, on the Euphrates, the Tigris and in Palestine. He had lost (he claimed) none of what he had inherited from Alexios I, and hoped to have ruled well - as others would decide; he had lived mainly in tents in the open air, fighting in east and west. With God's aid he had twice broken new ground in expeditions to Syria and won new conquests; his successor should serve just as unselfishly, using the great powers of the imperial office for God and his people, not for himself. Primogeniture (as in his own accession) was one way of choosing between the siblings Isaakios and Manuel; but it was not an automatic rule (see Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David). To overturn primogeniture by choosing Manuel over Isaakios he needed reasons, something more than sentiment: both had many skills and virtues, but the crucial difference was that Isaakios was irascible while Manuel had the meekness of David. Manuel had been supported by prophecies and omens, and was really the only choice, since the elders, Alexios and Andronikos, had died, and Isaakios was inadequate. The final argument was Manuel's brave charge at Neokaisareia. William of Tyre speaks of the contrary pressure of Ioannes Axouch for Isaakios: Axouch dismissed claims that Manuel's leadership was needed to get the army home. William speaks of support for Manuel among other leaders, especially the Latins
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
There was some panic in Constantinople when it was realised that the emperor had died with the army so far away. However Manuel, by the messengers he sent and the information they provided was able to calm the situation - a good augury for the coming reign. Ioannes Axouch and Basileios Tzintzikoukes played the most important roles
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)
Isaakios Komnenos, the brother of Ioannes II and Manuel's uncle, had earlier been exiled for plotting to gain the throne, and had now been imprisoned by Manuel's agents for still planning revolution. When Manuel reached the capital, he recalled and pardoned him, asking his forgiveness, The other Isaakios, Manuel's brother, was summoned from imprisonment in the Pantokrator and embraced in a brotherly way. Against all expectations, despite his unpredictable and irascible temper, he was reconciled to Manuel and they pledged fraternal good will. Manuel gave a donative to the army and dismissed it, and also offered two gold pieces to every household in the capital
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
Manuel I complained by letter to Mas'ud of Ikonion that he had captured Prakana and fought against Byzantine allies like Yaghi-Basan, the Danishmendid amir of Cappadocia. For these acts of aggression, Manuel challenged him to battle. Mas'ud accepted the challenge, specifying that the battle should take place at Philomelion, where his camp was
Certainty: 2 Manuel I made a bold attack on the sultan at Ikonion (general factoids)
This campaign is often mentioned briefly as the first, or one of the first actions in Manuel I's relations with Byzantium's neighbours. The toponym "Ikonion" is often enough to recall the campaign
Certainty: 2 Manuel routed near Akrounos a Turkish detachment sent against him: the Sultan quickly fled Certainty: 2