Manuel I Komnenos
The last flowering of the Komnenian restoration
He inspired intense loyalty in those who served him and was portrayed as a hero by his secretary John Kinnamos.[1] Some historians argue his power came from the Komnenos dynasty rather than his own achievements.[1] Manuel I Komnenos, who was also called Porphyrogenitus due to his birth in the Purple Chamber of the Great Palace of Constantinople, came into the world on 28 November 1118.[2]
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Manuel Komnenos; Μανουήλ Κομνηνός
- Reign
- 8 April 1143 – 24 September 1180
- Predecessor
- John II Komnenos
- Successor
- Alexios II Komnenos
- Spouses
- Bertha of Sulzbach; Maria of Antioch
- House
- Komnenian dynasty
- Issue
- Maria Komnene; Alexios II Komnenos
- Mother
- Irene of Hungary
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
On his deathbed in 1143, John II chose Manuel as successor over his elder brother Isaac, citing Manuel's courage and readiness to take advice.[3] Manuel was acclaimed emperor by the armies on 8 April 1143 and crowned in Constantinople in mid-August.[3] Manuel enlisted the alliance of Conrad III of Germany and Venetian help to defeat Roger.[1] He later sent expeditions into Italy, achieving rapid progress with the help of disaffected local barons.[4]
The turning point came at the Battle of Brindisi, where mercenaries deserted and the Byzantine position collapsed.[5] He was educated for a military career rather than receiving formal schooling, and went on campaigns with his father against the Anatolian Turks.[6] Roger II of Sicily initiated a war against Manuel in 1147, and his navy seized Corfu while also looting Thebes and Corinth.[1]
What the cited sources add
Manuel actively supported the Lombard League with money subsidies and troops, and restored Milan's walls with his aid.[7][8] Obolensky's "The Byzantine Commonwealth" describes how Manuel attempted to draw Russian principalities into his diplomacy against Hungary.[9][10] A mission to Kiev resulted in a favourable treaty and a pledge of auxiliary troops to the Empire.[9][10] This situation split the Russian princes into factions supporting or opposing Byzantium; for instance, Prince Yuri Dolgoruki of Suzdal sided with Manuel as an ally.[9][10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Lau 2023, p. 64; Magdalino 2002, p. 434 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Magdalino 2002, p. 434; Norwich 1995, p. 94 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Magdalino 2002, p. 434; Magdalino 2002, p. 434; Magdalino 2002, p. 434 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Open Library record, ISBN 9780195334036 ("The Oxford encyclopedia of medieval warfare and military technology"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Rogers, "The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology: Vol. 1", Oxford University Press, 2010; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Open Library record, ISBN 1842120190 ("The Byzantine commonwealth"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
- Wikipedia, "Manuel I Komnenos" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Obolensky, "The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe 500–1453", Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1971 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Manuel I Komnenos (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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