Certainty: 2 Bertha von Sulzbach on arrival spoke prophetically about Alexios the co-emperor Certainty: 2
1146
Certainty: 2 Louis VII's diplomatic preparations for the Crusade Certainty: 2
1147
Certainty: 3 Louis VII consulted an assembly at Etampes to discuss details of the Crusade Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Departure of Conrad III from Ratisbon at Easter & passage through Hungary Certainty: 3
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 The clash of the Germans with the governor & people of Philippopolis Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Signs of German indiscipline (apart from Philippopolis, Adrianople, Philopation, Nikomedeia) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Frederick of Swabia avenged an attack by Byzantine robbers at Adrianople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Secret desires & plans of Conrad III Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad suffered major losses in a flood at Choirobakchoi, but remained intransigent Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad damaged the Philopation, but realised the City was impregnable & crossed to Pikridion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Second Crusade travelled to Constantinople & was well managed by Manuel I (general factoids) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 After a Byzantine victory in a skirmish, Conrad was induced to cross to Asia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Conrad refused Manuel's offer of alliance, but accepted gifts & guides & left (Kinnamos) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Division in the army of Conrad III: Otto of Freisingen took the coast road Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Byzantine trickery made Louis VII cross the straits to Asia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Near Dorylaion German indiscipline led to defeat by a small Turkish force (Kinnamos) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The disastrous defeat of Conrad III (Odo of Deuil) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The disastrous defeat of Conrad III (William of Tyre) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Significance of the treaty - & of an eclipse of the sun
Manuel I, in making the treaty with Louis VII, tried to recruit him as an ally against Roger II of Sicily, who was attacking the area of Greece. Manuel failed, perhaps because of the anti-Byzantine faction in the French army, which wanted an alliance with Roger to attack the capital. Manuel stopped the market for the French after a few days and did not send guides promised in the treaty. As Louis was still catching up with his army (on October 26), after signing the treaty, there was a partial eclipse of the sun, which some in the French army interpreted as harm done to their king. In fact it signified another misdeed of Manuel's, since he had allegedly removed guides from Conrad III at a crucial moment, leading to a terrible massacre of his men. The eclipse was partial since it referred only to half of the Crusade, as Louis was still boldly advancing
Certainty: 2 The French army reached Nikomedeia, Nicaea & Lopadion, meeting German survivors Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Prompted by Odo of Deuil, Louis VII reminded Conrad III of problems in Germany Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Louis VII & Conrad III advanced down the coast, spending Christmas near Ephesos
A discussion arose whether the combined army should go directly to Philadelphia (a brief journey but with few supplies), or should follow a more coastal route, where food would be more plentiful. Conrad spoke of the enervating effect of hunger, and supported the latter. Louis was persuaded by his plea to choose the longer coast road, with more food. The first coastal section (to Adramyttion) involved climbing, fording streams and the loss of baggage animals, enriching the local people. It continued to cross mountains and swift torrents in deep, dangerous channels. There were ruined cities and others with new fortifications, from which they obtained food, but not enough, because of crusader insolence and profiteering Byzantines who could almost charge what they liked. His military strength was little help against walled cities on the coast with ships. Many pilgrims left the crusade on shipboard or stayed to serve local Byzantines. Louis was told that he was fortunate, despite his troubles, because more rain might have made the route totally impassable. They reached Pergamon, Smyrna and Ephesos, with the tomb of Hagios Ioannes; he there received letters from Manuel I, warning of a great mobilisation of Turks, and advising him to take refuge in Byzantine castles. He refused, and received other letters listing French crimes and threatening reprisals. He did not deign to reply, but went to spend Christmas in the valley of Decervion near Ephesos. There, on Christmas Eve, they repelled a surprise attack on their horses by Turks guided by Byzantines. they spent a pleasant Christmas, but under heavy rain. Guy, count of Ponthieu, died of disease and was buried in the porch of the church
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 An assembly at Palmarea (Acre) decided to direct the Second Crusade against Damascus Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Final attempts to find a role for the crusaders were unsuccessful; departure of Conrad III
After retreat from Damascus, the Christians returned to the kingdom, leaving the people of Damascus to rejoice. The Christian rulers met again to discuss other plans for co-operation, like th capture of Askalon, which would involve much shorter distances. However each proposal was rejected as soon as it was made. Conrad III soon decided that he had no further role to play, and so he prepared his ships and left for Byzantium. He may have left in the same ships of Nikephoros Dasiotes in which he had come
Certainty: 2 Conrad III met Manuel I again on his return, confirming promise of a dowry for his wife Bertha-Eirene Certainty: 2
1152
Certainty: 2 Conrad III died at Bamberg without fulfilling promises made to Manuel I; Frederick I succeeded Certainty: 2
1153
Conrad's successor, Frederick I, asked to marry Maria, Manuel's niece, renewing Conrad's promisesCertainty: 2