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
Manuel I did all that was possible to settle matters with the people of Antioch, then astounded everybody by marching home with boldness and impunity through Turkish territory in upper Phrygia, as if it were his own. He brought the army home safely to the capital
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 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
When Raymond of Poitiers visited Constantinople, he saw the emperor Manuel I riding with a heavy spear fitted with a massive flag and a shield, and thought there was a trick involved. Manuel in fact was improving Byzantine weapons and training, with long shields, lances and mock battles on horseback with blunt weapons, in which he took part himself. Raymond approached Manuel and asked to hold his weapons, realised they were as heavy as they looked, and expressed amazement
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)
Bertha von Sulzbach, from a most aristocratic German family, had been engaged to marry Manuel Komnenos before the surprising deaths which brought him to the throne. Thus there was a pause before their marriage. After the wedding she enjoyed all the external trappings of an empress, but did not regularly share his bed. She preferred beauty of soul to beauty of body, despised cosmetics, and had a German obstinacy. His sexual activity was unrestrained, with many more fashionable partners than her, not stopping even at the acute shame of incest
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) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel routed near Akrounos a Turkish detachment sent against him: the Sultan quickly fled Certainty: 2