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
Ioannes held hippodrome races to celebrate his return from the long expedition, again stressing that he had reached Mesopotamia rather than mentioning Antioch. He also held two (probably more) marriages for unidentifiable members of the imperial family: both brides were imperial granddaughters, one the daughter of a daughter, the other was marrying a Doukas. He probably also on this occasion dedicated a holy grave in a church with its own golden candlesticks
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) 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 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
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) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel's successful raid from Lopadion could not prevent a major Turkish invasion of Thrakesion
The Turks had broken the truce by capturing Prakana and other places. Manuel therefore made a sudden raid from Lopadion, reached Pithekas where he had built a fort, but was unwell for one night; his generals, however, defeated the enemy nearby, gaining booty. It was now plain that the Turks were making a major assault on the theme of Thrakesion. To counter this, Manuel sent Theodoros Kontostephanos, but he was too late to achieve much, since he had not gathered an army before the Turks arrived. Their invasion reached as far as Kelbianon, not far from the sea.Manuel now began to plan a full-scale attack on Ikonion
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