Certainty: 1 Alexios I wrote to the German king proposing payments, agreements & a marriage alliance
Knowing the German king Henry IV to be more powerful than Robert Guiscard's other allies, he sent a stream of letters asking him to renounce his alliance with Robert. When he found Henry amenable to his suggestions, he sent Konstantinos Choirosphaktes to him with a further letter, emphasising their common Christian front against the evil Guiscard [text supplied]. In his letter he announced that the first part of a subvention of cash and fabrics was being sent to Henry with Choirosphaktes, in accordance with an agreement made with Henry's envoy count Burchard. He continued that the second part of the subvention would be sent to Henry with count Abelard, once Henry had reached Longibardia. He made arrangements for the oaths that Henry had to swear, based on the arrangements made with his envoy Albert. He finally confessed that the return of Burchard to Henry had been delayed because Alexios wanted him to meet his heir (Ioannes, son of his brother Isaakios), with a view to a possible marriage alliance with the Germans