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
He camped in a broad ravine under the Crows' Nests mountains. From there he went hunting and killed a boar with his spear. But the impact was such that he could not stop his hand being forced against poisoned arrows in his quiver. One pierced his fingers, the poison got into his bloodstream and would affect his vital organs and eventually kill him. At the time, however, he made light of it, staunching the blood and pus with a piece of leather. That evening he ate and slept well, but the next day the wound began to swell and throb painfully. His doctors replaced the dressing and used new ointments, but to no avail; so they tried surgery. Lancing the wound brought no relief, but the swelling spread to his hand, wrist and arm, making him and the doctors desperate. He vetoed a plan to amputate his arm with no certainty of saving him. He lay in agony, ignoring disputes over treatment. On Easter Sunday after communion and on Monday the tent was left open for petitioners, at the suggestion of Ioannes Axouch, and the banquet was distributed to everyone; as it rained heavily, the emperor's bed was moved to a dry spot while he pondered the succession, finding bad omens in the Oracles of Leo the Wise. A monk from Pamphylia was asked to hold a vigil
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
When Ioannes II indicated his preference with a long speech, the assembled elite in Cilicia and the army at once accepted Manuel. Ioannes crowned him and he wept as he accepted the symbols of rule and put on imperial costume. The ceremony at Mopsuestia was stage-managed by the megas domestikos, Ioannes Axouch, to try to discourage other candidates - especially those married into the Komnenian family - and their supporters. Manuel was acclaimed and allegiance to him pledged by each aristocrat in turn, with his retainers. He was to reign for 37 years, 5 months and 23 days. He at once sent Axouch and Basileios Tzintziloukes to manage affairs in the capital
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 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) 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 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 Certainty: 2
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