Paul Matisz at 03:12, 23 July 2008

2008-07-23T03:12:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:12, 23 July 2008
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	Alexius himself did not travel on the Crusade, but sent representatives along with the army. These representatives were distrusted by the Crusader lords, especially after they secretly negotiated the surrender of the valuable city of [[Nicaea]], denying the Franks the opportunity to [[sack]] the city. As the Crusaders crossed Anatolia into the Levant relations with the Byzantines further deteriorated, and by the time of the siege at [[Antioch]] his representatives had all but abandoned the Franks. Worse, when the Crusaders were trapped inside the walls of Antioch by a Turkish army sent to relieve the city, Alexius failed to come to their aid; he had been misinformed by [[Stephen of Blois]] that the Crusaders had been destroyed, not trapped, and turned his relieving force around.		Alexius himself did not travel on the Crusade, but sent representatives along with the army. These representatives were distrusted by the Crusader lords, especially after they secretly negotiated the surrender of the valuable city of [[Nicaea]], denying the Franks the opportunity to [[sack]] the city. As the Crusaders crossed Anatolia into the Levant relations with the Byzantines further deteriorated, and by the time of the siege at [[Antioch]] his representatives had all but abandoned the Franks. Worse, when the Crusaders were trapped inside the walls of Antioch by a Turkish army sent to relieve the city, Alexius failed to come to their aid; he had been misinformed by [[Stephen of Blois]] that the Crusaders had been destroyed, not trapped, and turned his relieving force around.

	~~Also~~ the victories in Asia Minor were a boon to [[Byzantium]], Alexius never again enjoyed the trust of the Franks. After the fall of [[Jerusalem]] the western, and more to the point [[Roman Catholic]], Crusaders snubbed the [[Eastern Orthodox]] Byzantines by establishing a Latin [[Patriarch]] in Jerusalem and generally distrusting Byzantines (whom they regarded as untrustworthy "[[Greek]]s") in general and Alexius in particular. ~~Several~~ crusader lords even ended up going to war against Byzantium from their new [[domain]]s in [[Outremer]], and rulers of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] preferred to send back to Europe for spouses rather than marry into Byzantine royalty.		Although the victories in Asia Minor were a boon to [[Byzantium]], Alexius never again enjoyed the trust of the Franks. After the fall of [[Jerusalem]] the western, and more to the point [[Roman Catholic]], Crusaders snubbed the [[Eastern Orthodox]] Byzantines by establishing a Latin [[Patriarch]] in Jerusalem and generally distrusting Byzantines (whom they regarded as untrustworthy "[[Greek]]s") in general and Alexius in particular. During the [[Crusade of the Faint-Hearted]] two of three Crusader armies would ravage Byzantine territory, and within the decade several crusader lords even ended up going to war against Byzantium from their new [[domain]]s in [[Outremer]], and rulers of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] preferred to send back to Europe for spouses rather than marry into Byzantine royalty.

	The final years of Alexius' long reign were troubled by issues of dynastic succession as his large family vied for control over the Empire. At his death in 1118, however, his wishes were respected and his son [[John II Comnenus\|John]] succeeded him as Emperor of Byzantium.		The final years of Alexius' long reign were troubled by issues of dynastic succession as his large family vied for control over the Empire. At his death in 1118, however, his wishes were respected and his son [[John II Comnenus\|John]] succeeded him as Emperor of Byzantium.

Paul Matisz at 19:49, 17 July 2008

2008-07-17T19:49:15Z

New page

'''Alexius I Comnenus''' was Emperor of [[Byzantium]] from 1081–1118CE, most important ruler of the Comneni Dynasty and one of the chief instigators of and major players in the [[First Crusade]]

His was a life of almost constant conflict: In his youth he fought with distinction against the [[Seljuk]] [[Turk]]s. After taking the throne he was involved in the [[Byzantine-Norman Wars]], losing many of the Empire's [[Mediterranean]] holdings, particularly those in [[Italy]]. This upheaval was followed by rebellions throughout [[Greece]] and the [[Balkan Peninsula|Balkans]], which in turn was followed by an invasion of Byzantine holdings in Asia Minor by the Seljuk Turks in 1090CE.

In response to the Turkish threat, particularly to the lucrative overland [[pilgrim]] route to the [[Holy Land]], Alexius I sent a plea for assistance to [[Pope]] [[Urban II]]. Urban responded by exhorting the noblemen of [[Europe]] to come to Byzantium's aid and the result was the start of the [[Crusade]]s.

Unfortunately for Alexius, the Crusaders proved to be almost as great a threat as the Turks. One Crusader army after another marched to [[Constantinople]], wreaking havoc on this neighbours and his own lands. Twice during the First Crusade he was compelled to attack the very crusaders who had come in response to his pleas: first, to stop the depredations of [[People's Crusade]] led by [[Peter the Hermit]] and again to defend his city against the disgruntled [[Raymond of Toulouse]].

After the debacle of the People's Crusade, Alexius demanded [[oath]]s of allegiance from all crusader lords who arrived in Constantinople. These oaths stipulated Alexius' supremacy over all formerly Byzantine [[fief]]s re-taken from the Turks. In exhange he would ferry the army across the Bosphorus and support them in their war efforts. This oath was not popular with the Crusader lords, who almost unanimously resisted swearing it: Raymond of Toulouse went so far as to march on Constantinople itself and [[battle]] was only narrowly avoided; [[Tancred]] slipped across the [[Bosphorus]] by deceit rather than take the oath. All, however, were eventually persuaded, mostly by the promises of substantial monies to purchase supplies (from [[Byzantine]] merchants, of course), and by early 1097 the Crusaders were in Asia Minor.

Alexius himself did not travel on the Crusade, but sent representatives along with the army. These representatives were distrusted by the Crusader lords, especially after they secretly negotiated the surrender of the valuable city of [[Nicaea]], denying the Franks the opportunity to [[sack]] the city. As the Crusaders crossed Anatolia into the Levant relations with the Byzantines further deteriorated, and by the time of the siege at [[Antioch]] his representatives had all but abandoned the Franks. Worse, when the Crusaders were trapped inside the walls of Antioch by a Turkish army sent to relieve the city, Alexius failed to come to their aid; he had been misinformed by [[Stephen of Blois]] that the Crusaders had been destroyed, not trapped, and turned his relieving force around.

Also the victories in Asia Minor were a boon to [[Byzantium]], Alexius never again enjoyed the trust of the Franks. After the fall of [[Jerusalem]] the western, and more to the point [[Roman Catholic]], Crusaders snubbed the [[Eastern Orthodox]] Byzantines by establishing a Latin [[Patriarch]] in Jerusalem and generally distrusting Byzantines (whom they regarded as untrustworthy "[[Greek]]s") in general and Alexius in particular. Several crusader lords even ended up going to war against Byzantium from their new [[domain]]s in [[Outremer]], and rulers of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] preferred to send back to Europe for spouses rather than marry into Byzantine royalty.

The final years of Alexius' long reign were troubled by issues of dynastic succession as his large family vied for control over the Empire. At his death in 1118, however, his wishes were respected and his son [[John II Comnenus|John]] succeeded him as Emperor of Byzantium.

[[category:people (medieval)]] [[category:Monarchs (medieval)]] [[category:11th century]] [[category:12th century]]

Alexius I - Revision history

Paul Matisz at 03:12, 23 July 2008

Paul Matisz at 19:49, 17 July 2008