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The Byzantine Empire c1071 (The impact of defeat at the Battle of…
The Byzantine Empire c1071
The internal problems of the Byzantine Empire
Under threefold threat
Normans taking advantage of rivalries in southern Italy + challenging control for the area
took Sicily and parts of southern Italy = power base used to harass empire
Robert Guiscard (father of Bohemond) took Southern Italy May 1081
Pecheneg tribe raiding inland from Black Sea (around Balkans)
Used bribery to fend them off
Seljuk Turks from East, through Anatiolia
by 1090 almost all of Asia Minor in Turkish hands
took advantage of weakness after battle of Manzikert
By 1050, army in decline
Emperor Constantine IX dismantled static defences
Meant that there was less standing defence in interior + fewer reserves in time of crisis
Had to rely on mercenaries
Also sold of land in Themata (peasants held land in return for military service)
Gave gifts to Venetian allies
gave them trading privileges (didn't have to pay Kommerkion)
Negatively affected economy b/c Greek merchants lost trade b/c had higher prices b/c had to pay Kommerkion
Meant he didn't have enough Kommerkion to pay mercenaries
The impact of defeat at the Battle of Manzikert 1071
Romanos IV Diogenes wanted to take action against Turks to rode ahead of army to battle w/ them near fort of Manzikert
Underestimated size of Turk army = humiliating defeat
Mass migration of Byzantines to Constantinople out of fear
This and conscription into army to fight battles against Turks/Pechenegs --> lack of manpower in fields --> reduction of tax revenue
Debased coinage to curb inflation failed
Constantinople in economic crisis and civil war
civil war = Civil servant Michael Psellos + allies proclaimed new emperor while Romanos was in captivity (Michael VII Doukas)
Romanos returned from captivity - civil war + Doukas won
Alexios Komnenos
Took military action that was successful against the Normans
1091 against Pechenegs at Battle of Lebounion Hill = victory
Pechenegs completely wiped out = no longer would pose threat
negotiated w/ Turkish chieftan, Sulayman to protect emperor's Anatolian holdings
Sulayman gained riches + prestige
Sulayman able to put down any Turkish raids on Byzantine land
When Sulayman died successor attacked Byzantine land north of Nicaea
Turkish threat returned
Solved financial crisis in 1095 by melting all imperial treasure