Certainty: 2 Manuel's chief ministers: Ioannes of Poutze, Ioannes Hagiotheodorites & Theodoros Stypeiotes Certainty: 2
1147
Certainty: 2 Manuel sent various envoys & commanders to regulate the crusaders & check their excesses
Manuel I was well aware of he dangers presented by the huge armies which were coming and their militaristic attitudes, especially the naval problem of Roger of Sicily. He therefore made sure that the armour and weapons of the Byzantine troops were all in order. He divided his men between the garrison of Constantinople and other forces sent to stop the crusaders turning off to plunder; but all was to be done in a peaceful and friendly way. He sent Michael Branas to provide necessities for the westerners at Nis, and Basileios Tzintziloukes and Michael Palaiologos to welcome them in the same way to Serdica (Sofia). Later he sent Prosouch to shadow the German army from around Adrianople, and Andronikos Opos in a vain attempt to get them to cross to Asia at Abydos. Prosouch and Basileios Goudelios Tzikandyles were to lie in ambush at Longoi, and report on the German army. They gave a negative verdict on their discipline, behaviour and likely military effectiveness. Manuel told Prosouch and Tzikandyles in scientific detail how to defeat such an army, if necessary; the occasion arose, and his plan worked, causing heavy losses
Certainty: 2 Louis VII at Ratisbon & the Byzantine ambassadors Certainty: 2
1155
Diplomatic preliminaries to the Italian expeditionCertainty: 2
First successes in Italy: capture of BariCertainty: 2
Campaign around AndriaCertainty: 2
1156
Further successes in Italy, despite death of Michael PalaiologosCertainty: 2