The Byzantine Empire
Long Term Problems 1025-81
Thirteen Emperors in this time- eight in power for less than 3 years- three rival main families- Diogenes, Ducas and Comneni.
Tension between Emperor and aristocracy- Emperors neglected army to curb power of rival families- military resources were inadequate.
Faced threats on all sides. Normans in west, Pagans north and Seljuks south.
Army made of peasants- had to use mercenaries.
1054- Great Schism- western church claimed papal primacy over eastern church- disagreements with western church over some practices.
Battle of Manzikert
Emperors:
Romanus IV Diogenes (1067-71),
Michael VII Ducas (1071-78),
Nicephorus III Botaneitas (1078-81),
Alexius I Comnenus (1081-1118)
RD devoted time to producing new equipment and recruiting new forces. Laid careful plans for campaign against Alp Arslan.
March 1071- Tried to take Khelat and Manzikert. At Khelat, Tarchaniotes and half of army ambushed and ran.
RD captured Manzikert but was harassed by Seljuks. Formed up army and chased Seljuks, who kept up assault. Byzantine camp left unattended. Turned back and Alp Arslan attacked
Rearguard separated, Ducas spread rumour that RD was dead. Ducas and co. ran. RD survived and was captured.
Alp Arslan treated RD as guest to stop RD thinking of revenge and would owe him.
Sultan asked for Manzikert, Edessa, Antioch, Hieropolis, one of RD daughters for Alp's son and some money. RD released.
Consequences of Manzikert
Reign of Alexius I: 1081- 1095
Michael VII Ducas replaced RD- RD wife exiled- RD gave himself up but was killed
Byzantium humiliated- Michael VII refused Seljuk demands- Seljuks entered Anatolia in 1073- Sultanate of Rum created by Malik Shah in 1080.
Empire lost most of source of grain and manpower. Gold nomisma lost quarter of its value.
Two coup attacked Michael- Nicephorus Botaneitas became Emperor
He knew nothing of politics and was old- he did nothing but watch disintegration of empire- abdicated after a coup by Alexius Comnenus.
Alexius becomes Emperor Alexius I.
1081- Excommunicated by Pope- crowned as Emperor- Turns to Turkic chieftain Sulyman for help- Sulyman gets Nicaea back for Alexius.
1082- Gives German Emperor Henry IV 360,000 gold coins to attack Rome.
1083- Sulyman sends 7000 Turks to help Byzantines against Norman Siege near Larissa, so Alexius can deal with Pecheneg Pagans.
1085- Italian Norman attack on Byzantium stopped- civil war caused by death of Robert Guiscard- Sulyman gets Antioch for Alexius- Antioch lost again to Tutush.
1086- Death of Sulyman
1087- Pecheneg army invades Byzantine Empire
1088- Urban II becomes Pope and begins reconciliation with Alexius.
1089- Met Robert of Flanders who gave military aid against Pechenegs- excommunication lifted by Urban II.
1090- Sent delegation to Urban II to ask for help against Pagans.
1091- Alexius enlists Cuman mercenaries to help defeat Pagans.
1092- Crowned eldest son John as co-emperor. Seljuk civil war started by death of Malik Shah.
1094- Discovered plot against him by Nikephorus Diogenes- Exiled plotters and blinded ND- Received embassy from Rome and legates carried invitation to great council.
1095- External threats to Byzantium so severe that Alexius needed help from elsewhere- Nicaea taken by Kilij Arslan.