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)
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 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
Certainty: 2 Another Byzantine victory opened the road to Ikonion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel won by guile a hard-fought battle near Ikonion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Inspection of Ikonion showed a long siege would be needed: knowing of the crusade, Manuel withdrew Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel sent a challenge to the sultan for the next year & a letter to his wife Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The major battle of Tzibrelitzemani: Manuel's first moves Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Tzibrelitzemani: the battle becomes chaotic Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Tzibrelitzemani: second & third days Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel communicated again with Mas'ud Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 To reach safety, Manuel still had to fight a Turcoman tribe in the Maiander valley Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel was wounded in the heel by a Turkish archer, whom he heroically captured Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel settled prisoners from Philomelion in a fort at Pylai, then returned to Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Louis VII's diplomatic preparations for the Crusade Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I received ambassadors making requests for the Second Crusade, which he granted Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Congratulations for Manuel I on his first campaign against the Turks Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel's chief ministers: Ioannes of Poutze, Ioannes Hagiotheodorites & Theodoros Stypeiotes Certainty: 2
1147
Certainty: 2 Condemnation of the preacher Niphon led to accusations against the patriarch Kosmas II Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 A council in the Blachernai palace deposed the patriarch Kosmas II Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Manuel's preparations against Ikonion were diverted by Mas'ud's concessions Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel sent ambassadors to Conrad III & his army as they passed the Hungarian border Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel sent various envoys & commanders to regulate the crusaders & check their excesses Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Louis VII at Ratisbon & the Byzantine ambassadors Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Defensive preparations made at Constantinople in advance of the arrival of the crusaders Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The French met the Byzantines: Odo of Deuil documented Greek treachery Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad suffered major losses in a flood at Choirobakchoi, but remained intransigent Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Roger II of Sicily raided Central Greece during the Second Crusade Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 After a Byzantine victory in a skirmish, Conrad was induced to cross to Asia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Refusal of French advance party to follow the Germans Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Other early French arrivals fought Byzantine troops, so as to stay near the capital Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad refused Manuel's offer of alliance, but accepted gifts & guides & left (Kinnamos) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Louis was royally entertained by the Byzantines & his men well fed Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Byzantine trickery made Louis VII cross the straits to Asia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The French & the Byzantine money-changers Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The disastrous defeat of Conrad III (William of Tyre) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Louis VII accepted a Byzantine alliance & departed Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Significance of the treaty - & of an eclipse of the sun Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Praise of Manuel for defeating leaders of the Second Crusade Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Nikolaos Mouzalon was promoted patriarch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Louis VII & Conrad III advanced down the coast, spending Christmas near Ephesos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad III decided to return from Ephesos to Constantinople Certainty: 2
1148
Certainty: 3 Victory of Louis VII at the Maiander Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Conrad III met Manuel I in Thrace & wintered in Constantinople Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Leaders of the Second Crusade reassembled in Jerusalem Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel sent a large punitive fleet to Sicily & marched himself: but he had to face a Cuman invasion
When Manuel I heard of the raid on Greece by the admiral of Roger II, he was deeply troubled. After consulting widely, he decided to start a major war with Roger, which was likely to last many years like those of the emperors of the past. He prepared a gigantic fleet of up to a thousand ships and a large army numbered in the tens of thousands; the fleet was put under the command of the megas doux Stephanos Kontostephanos, while the chief of the army commanders was Ioannes Axouch, the megas domestikos. The Cumans had crossed the Danube and were ravaging the area of Haimos
Certainty: 2 Manuel ordered ships for the Danube & went hunting: but criticism from a ferryman stung him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel crossed rivers on pontoons, caught the Cumans & defeated them, recovering the booty Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Death of Manuel Anemas; consolation for his grieving widow Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad III met Manuel I again on his return, confirming promise of a dowry for his wife Bertha-Eirene Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Manuel marched on towards Italy, but the fleet arrived too late for crossing, so he wintered in Veroia Certainty: 3
1149
Stephanos Kontostephanos besieged Kerkyra but was mortally wounded by a stoneCertainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ioannes Axouch at Kerkyra faced Byzantine-Venetian quarrels, so Manuel took charge Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Chouroup repelled a Sicilian raid: 40 ships reached the Bosphoros but were beaten off Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The King of France successfully petitioned Manuel for the return of captured men & baggage Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 After clever tactics & heroic deeds by Manuel, Kerkyra eventually surrendered Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Total failure in attempted invasion of Italy Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The Sicilian coalition against Manuel included Germans, Serbs, Hungarians, Seljuks & Danishmends Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The Serbian zupan had rebelled: Manuel twice ravaged Serbia, but the zupan fled before him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Manuel returned in triumph to Constantinople for the winter Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Manuel I was praised in two sets of Christmas hymns for his Serbian campaign Certainty: 3
1150
Certainty: 2 Manuel was praised in a set of 1150 Epiphany hymns for the successes of 1149 Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Reactions to the disappearance of Joscelin II of Edessa Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Tzetzes sent greetings to the imperial doctor Basileios Megistos, discrediting an embassy to Sicily Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Negotiations to save the remains of the county of Edessa Certainty: 2
Manuel advanced from Nis against Hungarian-Serbian alliesCertainty: 3
Manuel showed great personal bravery in winning a confused battle on the TaraCertainty: 2
Manuel accepted submission of zupan of Serbia then returned to ConstantinopleCertainty: 2
Manuel attacked & pillaged Hungary, crossing the Sava in a hollowed canoe & towing his horseCertainty: 2
Manuel's numerous prisoners depopulated the "island" between Danube & Sava: he captured ZeugminonCertainty: 2
Manuel crossed the Sava against the army of the ban Belus, who soon withdrewCertainty: 2
Boris was successful & crossed the Danube at night laden with booty, lit by Manuel's torchesCertainty: 2
Manuel stayed by the Danube to strengthen cities there against Geza IICertainty: 2
Geza feared another defeat & sued for peace; Manuel returned to Constantinople to celebrate a triumphCertainty: 2
1151
Manuel heard that Geza planned an attack, & rushed to the Danube: a time of inactivity followedCertainty: 2
Manuel built light boats; Geza exchanged peace & submission for some of the prisoners lost in 1150Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Theodotos II appointed patriarch to replace Nikolaos Mouzalon Certainty: 2
1152
Manuel I granted tax exemptions & ordered praktikon for Theotokos EleousaCertainty: 3
Manuel I & Eirene produced their first child, Maria KomneneCertainty: 2
1153
Geza II revolted briefly, but was immediately overawed by Manuel's approach & sued for peaceCertainty: 2
Andronikos (I), after failure in Cilicia, was appointed doux of Nis & Branicevo, with Kastoria alsoCertainty: 2
From Nis, Andronikos (I) began to conspire with Frederick Barbarossa & Geza IICertainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Christmas Gospel teaching given by Georgios Tornikes when his successor was away Certainty: 3
1154
Ioannes the protosebastos, gored by a boar, was treated by Manuel but obsessively hated by AndronikosCertainty: 2
Andronikos (I) was sent back to Constantinople & imprisoned in the palaceCertainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Death of Roger II of Sicily: friendly overtures to Manuel from his successor, William I, were rejected Certainty: 2
Manuel, asked to adjudicate, chose Ouresis over Dese to rule SerbiaCertainty: 2
Geza II, before hearing of Andronikos' imprisonment, attacked Branicevo with many alliesCertainty: 2
Tzinziloukes & Istvan, by mistake, attacked the main Hungarian army & were nearly wiped outCertainty: 2
Ioannes Kantakouzenos rallied the remnants of the Byzantine army & restored order in BelgradeCertainty: 2
1155
Manuel led large forces against Hungary, making Geza sue for peace; Manuel eventually agreedCertainty: 2
Diplomatic preliminaries to the Italian expeditionCertainty: 2
1156
Further successes in Italy, despite death of Michael PalaiologosCertainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Georgios Tornikes wrote to Alexios Aristenos, despairing of his diocese but just as worried over heresy Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Manuel I told the pope, via Tornikes, that he supported church union but stressed the importance of Constantinople Certainty: 2
Demands from Byzantine commanders for more forces. Siege of BrindisiCertainty: 2
Kilic Arslan II, Toros & Yaghi-Basan captured many cities in the eastCertainty: 2
1157
Alexios Axouchos, sent with money to recover affairs in Italy, achieved considerable successCertainty: 2
Manuel complained of attitudes of Byzantine prisoners in Sicily, then made a treaty with William ICertainty: 2
Certainty: 3 A council in the Blachernai palace deposed Soterichos Panteugenos Certainty: 3
1158
Certainty: 2 Manuel issued a chrysobull in favour of monasteries Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Manuel I confirmed privileges & granted protection to Theologos of Patmos Certainty: 3
Manuel I set out to Cilicia to punish Toros & Reynaud of ChatillonCertainty: 3
Manuel tried unsuccessfully to capture Toros by surpriseCertainty: 2
Manuel captured Cilicia, including Tarsos & Anabarzos, without a battleCertainty: 2
1159
Manuel eventually agreed to public humiliation of Reynaud before a wide range of ambassadorsCertainty: 2
Elaborate (maybe imaginary) description of the humiliation of Reynaud & Toros in Manuel's campCertainty: 2
Manuel received Baldwin III of Jerusalem coolly, then let him intercede for the Antiochenes & TorosCertainty: 2
Manuel received Toros, blinded Theodoros Stypeiotes & was reconciled to Georgios PyrrogeorgiosCertainty: 2
Manuel insisted on triumphal entry to Antioch, supported by Latins, & stayed in the palace for 8 daysCertainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Manuel's attack on Nur al-Din was halted by an offer of alliance & a massive release of prisoners Certainty: 2
Manuel I confirmed earlier chrysobulls of Theotokos EleousaCertainty: 3
Manuel was attacked by Turks when hunting, but he kept the alliance because of bad news from homeCertainty: 2
Baldwin suffered a broken arm following Manuel in the hunt, then was impressed by his medical skillCertainty: 2
Manuel took the direct route home, despite opposition from Kilic Arslan, & celebrated a triumphCertainty: 2
For revenge, Manuel arranged for a concerted attack by each Byzantine commander on his nearby TurksCertainty: 2
He moved from Thrace to pillage Dorylaion, then used imperial trumpets from hilltops to strike terrorCertainty: 3
He defeated the Turks showing great personal heroism, then returned to ConstantinopleCertainty: 3
1160
Manuel met Kilic Arslan's envoys at Pylai, dismissed them & attacked immediatelyCertainty: 2
Manuel achieved further surprise by marching at night with cressets, & pillaged widelyCertainty: 2
Turks sent a spy to check Manuel's identity: he called this cowardiceCertainty: 2
Manuel made his way home through a narrow defile with great courageCertainty: 2
Annual donation to Theotokos Eleousa established by Manuel ICertainty: 3
Turkish retaliation at Phileta & Laodikeia was damaging, driving Manuel to extreme measuresCertainty: 2
Manuel mobilised fully against Kilic Arslan, summoning all those who had sworn military helpCertainty: 2
1161
Peace made with the Turks, who promised troops, cessation of raids & restitution of all conquestsCertainty: 2
Manuel crossed to Thrace to meet a Cuman invasion, but they immediately withdrewCertainty: 2
Manuel was forced by a false alarm from the West to leave his dead wife & dying second daughterCertainty: 2
Manuel at Sardike faced complex problems of succession at Geza II's deathCertainty: 2
Manuel went to Philippopolis to settle Serbian leadership, deposing Primislav in favour of BelousesCertainty: 2
Manuel entertained Kilic Arslan in Constantinople for 80 days, a triumph for ByzantiumCertainty: 2
Manuel I married Maria of Antioch in Hagia Sophia with great splendourCertainty: 3
Grant of 30 paroikoi at Chostiane (Moglena) to Lavra by Manuel ICertainty: 1
1162
Certainty: 3 Manuel I ordered investigation of a dispute over Lavra's property at Archontochorion Certainty: 3
Hungarians deposed Istvan IV: Manuel twice sent Alexios Kontostephanos to reinstate himCertainty: 2
Manuel had to intervene again in Serbia, since Dese proved unsatisfactoryCertainty: 2
Dese, adding to his sins, was first imprisoned in Nis, then in the palace in ConstantinopleCertainty: 2
Manuel, seeing the Hungarians had reinstalled Istvan III for the unpopular Istvan IV, turned to BelaCertainty: 2
Manuel brought Bela of Hungary to Constantinople, to affiance him to his daughter MariaCertainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Solution by Ioannes Kontostephanos of the dispute over Lavra's property of Archontochorion Certainty: 3
1163
Amalric wrote to Manuel, seeking, among other things, a Byzantine bride: a girl was later providedCertainty: 2
1164
Konstantinos Kalamanos, attacked by Nur al-Din, defeated him but lost the victory by rashnessCertainty: 2
Manuel, distressed at successes of Nur al-Din, was stopped from personal intervention by Hungarian crisisCertainty: 2
Manuel wrote to Istvan III, complaining of seizure of Bela's lands & treatment of Istvan IVCertainty: 2
Manuel was welcomed to Hungary by the Hungarian populace, & saved a boat in crossing the DanubeCertainty: 2
Manuel prepared for battle with Istvan III, while testing the resolve of his Czech allyCertainty: 2
Manuel accepted Istvan III's terms, restoring land to Bela but sidelining Istvan IVCertainty: 2
First Nikephoros Chalouphes, then Michael Gabras were left to protect Sirmion & Istvan IVCertainty: 2
Manuel restored the arm of the martyr Prokopios from Sirmion to NisCertainty: 2
1165
Certainty: 2 Istvan III again took Sirmion & attacked Zeugminon, having Istvan IV murdered Certainty: 2
Manuel sent another Manuel Komnenos as ambassador to Russian princesCertainty: 2
Manuel sent an army under prominent commanders with a Danube fleet to relieve ZeugminonCertainty: 2
Despite illness of empress, Manuel reached the Danube, crossing by a ruse & personal exampleCertainty: 2
Careful siege of Zeugminon by Manuel, balancing maintenance of siege with defence against relief forceCertainty: 2
Manuel refused surrender of Zeugminon by zupans - though later they were imprisoned, not executedCertainty: 2
Andronikos (I) returned from Russia & was accepted in time to fight in the siegeCertainty: 2
Manuel resettled Hungarians from Zeugminon, eventually made peace & returned homeCertainty: 2
Manuel celebrated a triumph from the Akropolis to Hagia Sophia, not using the solid gold chariotCertainty: 2
Manuel bound the birth of a male child to his theological rectitude: Alexios (II) was born soon afterCertainty: 2
Demetrios of Lampe stirred up the controversy over John 14.28Certainty: 2
Stone from the ruins of Zeugminon used to fortify Belgrade (a kind of revenge)Certainty: 1
Soon after, an anticipatory march from Manuel forestalled another Hungarian outbreakCertainty: 1
1166
After the death of William I of Sicily, Manuel kept the peace, refusing aid to help his brother usurpCertainty: 2
Manuel introduced a system to avoid delays to the courts caused by saints' days & holidaysCertainty: 3
Andronikos (I) was sent to solve problems in Cilicia, with extra revenue from Cypriot taxesCertainty: 2
Church council on Christ's words, "My father is greater than I": sessions in early MarchCertainty: 3
Council of 1166: sessions from mid-March till MayCertainty: 3
Manuel made a complex, three-pronged attack to teach the Hungarians a lessonCertainty: 2
Further evidence on the Danube of the treachery of Alexios AxouchosCertainty: 2
Heinrich of Austria's peace mission to Sardike & marriage diplomacy in HungaryCertainty: 2
Manuel used varied diplomacy against Frederick Barbarossa, especially Nikephoros Chalouphes in VeniceCertainty: 1
1167
Manuel's polo accident & convalescenceCertainty: 2
Arrest, interrogation & punishment of Alexios AxouchosCertainty: 2
Preparations for Hungarian campaign, under Manuel's instructionsCertainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Synod at Ephesos to publicise the results of the Council of 1166 Certainty: 3
1169
Transport from Ephesos to Constantinople of the stone of Christ's Deposition: ceremonial receptionCertainty: 2
Andronikos Kontostephanos' unsuccessful Egyptian expedition, with poor collaboration from Amalric ICertainty: 3
1170
Certainty: 3 Manuel held a second council on John 14.28, to solve problems remaining from 1166
The Council of 1166 ended in unanimity and the church was quiet. Manuel I thought that problems over John 14.28 had ended, but they began again at the death of the patriarch Loukas Chrysoberges. Konstantinos, metropolitan of Kerkyra, who had publicly retracted his heretical views, now proclaimed them again, and even spoke of Loukas as a heretic. Manuel therefore, with the new patriarch Michael III of Anchialos, called another council in the Great Palace, first in the new throne room as before, then in the pronaos of the church in the Great Palace. The emperor presided over the two main sessions, but this time he left most of the business of the council to Michael III and the other clerics. On January 30 the heretic Konstantinos made an address, but was unanimously condemned. Another suspect, Ioannes Eirenikos, had been disappointed by the conclusions of the council of 1166 and began to spread opposing views in his monastery; he told his neighbouring hegoumenos Paulos of Hagia Triada that those who had imposed these conclusions would regret it - obvious treachery. He was brought to the capital by the emperor and interviewed by the patriarch, then confronted by the evidence of Paulos the hegoumenos. A heretical tract he had written was found by enquiry in his cell and read (in part) before the council on February 18. As concealment was impossible, Ioannes defended himself boldly. But under questioning by the patriarch, the emperor and the other churchmen he became confused and spoke obvious heresy. Michael of Anchialos postponed punishment, hoping for repentance. Besides the emperor, sixteen distinguished laymen and 55 senior churchmen are recorded as having taken part in at least one session of the council
Certainty: 2 Venetians in Constantinople destroyed Genoese property & refused to make restitution Certainty: 2
1171
Manuel by concerted action arrested all Venetians in the empireCertainty: 3
Amalric I of Jerusalem visited Constantinople, made petitions, & left having sworn subjectionCertainty: 3
1172
Venetian reprisals in Euboea, Chios & Lesbos did not go well: Manuel mocked themCertainty: 2
Aaron the akolouthos revealed Manuel's plan for counter-reprisals, which thus also failedCertainty: 2
Visit to Constantinople of Henry the Lion, Duke of SaxonyCertainty: 2
Manuel stopped rebellion of Serb zupan Dese; Dese's theatrical repentance was eventually acceptedCertainty: 2
1173
German attack on Ancona beaten off with the aid of Manuel's ally Aldruda FrangipaneCertainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Common front of eastern enemies brought Manuel from the west to Philadelphia: his threats worked Certainty: 2
Manuel himself (not the asekretis) composed the speech for the silentionCertainty: 0
1174
Kilic Arslan refused to hand over conquered cities while Manuel was busy in the WestCertainty: 2
Manuel turned east, sending garrisons for cities to be handed back; but there were still noneCertainty: 2
1175
Manuel postponed punitive action against Kilic Arslan, in favour of building & of acquiring AmaseiaCertainty: 2
Treason & punishment of Manuel KantakouzenosCertainty: 2
Rebuilding of DorylaionCertainty: 2
Failed mission of Shahan-Shah to areas east of IkonionCertainty: 2
Brutality of Ishaq-MichaelCertainty: 2
Trial & punishment of Michael GabrasCertainty: 2
Fruitless mission to Manuel of Kilic Arslan's nobleman GabrasCertainty: 2
1176
Before leaving Constantinople, Manuel sent 150 ships against Egypt, manning them with difficultyCertainty: 2
As Neokaisareia wanted to defect to Manuel, he sent Andronikos Batatzes thereCertainty: 2
Manuel assembled his forces at Ryndakos - but late, delayed by late arrival of Hungarians & SerbsCertainty: 2
Manuel marched through Laodikeia & Maiander valley to settle down to siege of IkonionCertainty: 2
Foreshadowing of MyriokephalonCertainty: 2
Defeat of Manuel I at Tziblimane (battle of Myriokephalon)Certainty: 3