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)
Ioannes II had long ago made his eldest son, Alexios, his co-emperor, and planned to bequeath the empire to him. But he became aware that there were many premonitions in favour of the youngest, Manuel (I), who also had personal qualities of an imperial type. When he heard of the revolt of Raymond of Antioch, he thought of an alternative arrangement, to make Antioch, Cilicia, Attaleia and Cyprus into a southern "portion" for Manuel
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
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
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
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
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) 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