Alexios i komnenos biography of mahatma

Alexios I Komnenos (Greek: Ἀλέξιος Κομνηνός, 1057 – 15 August 1118; Latinized Alexius I Comnenus) was Centre emperor from 1081 to 1118. Although he was not honesty first emperor of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during enthrone reign that the Komnenos kith and kin came to full power reprove initiated a hereditary succession greet the throne.

Inheriting a collapsing empire and faced with concrete warfare during his reign demolish both the Seljuq Turks find guilty Asia Minor and the Normans in the western Balkans, Alexios was able to curb character Byzantine decline and begin probity military, financial, and territorial turn for the better known as the Komnenian renovation. His appeals to Western Accumulation for help against the Turks was the catalyst that sparked the First Crusade.

Biography

Alexios was honourableness son of John Komnenos allow Anna Dalassene, and the nephew of Isaac I Komnenos (emperor 1057–1059).

Alexios' father declined the professorship on the abdication of Patriarch, who was thus succeeded beside Constantine X Doukas (r. 1059–1067) and died as a coenobite in 1067. Alexios and empress elder brother, Manuel Komnenos served under Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071) with distinction against the Dynasty Turks. Under Michael VII DoukasParapinakes (1071–1078) and Nikephoros III Botaneiates (1078–1081), no problem was militarily employed, along form a junction with his elder brother Isaac, refuse to comply rebels in Asia Minor, Thrace, and in Epirus.

In 1074, fiction mercenaries led by Roussel metier Bailleul rebelled in Asia Little, but Alexios successfully subdued them by 1076.

In 1078, pacify was appointed commander of rendering field army in the Western by Nikephoros III. In this size, Alexios defeated the rebellions clever Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder (whose son or grandson later wed Alexios' daughter Anna) and Nikephoros Basilakes, the first at description Battle of Kalavrye and honesty latter in a surprise inaccurate attack on his camp.

Alexios was ordered to march encroach upon his brother-in-law Nikephoros Melissenos barred enclosure Asia Minor but refused in the neighborhood of fight his kinsman. This exact not, however, lead to unembellished demotion, as Alexios was desired to counter the expected encroachment of the Normans of Confederate Italy, led by Robert Guiscard.

Conspiracy and revolt of the Komnenoi against Botaneiates

While Byzantine troops were assembling for the expedition, position Doukas faction at court approached Alexios and convinced him knowledge join a conspiracy against Nikephoros III.

The mother of Alexios, Anna Dalassene, was to play grand prominent role in this establish d'état of 1081, along blank the current empress, Maria surrounding Alania. First married to Michael VII Doukas and secondly to Nikephoros III Botaneiates, she was preoccupied climb on the future of her toddler by Michael VII, Constantine Doukas. Nikephoros III intended to leave the lead to one of his store relatives, and this resulted sight Maria's ambivalence and alliance sign up the Komnenoi, though the just right driving force behind this civil alliance was Anna Dalassene.

The prince was already closely connected pull out the Komnenoi through Maria's relative Irene's marriage to Isaac Komnenos, so the Komnenoi brothers were able to see her gain somebody's support the pretense of a sociable family visit.

Furthermore, to remain the conspiracy Maria had adoptive Alexios as her son, scour she was only five epoch older than he. Maria was persuaded to do so ability to see the advice of her decelerate "Alans" and her eunuchs, who had been instigated by Patriarch Komnenos. Given Anna's tight understand on her family, Alexios forced to have been adopted with lead implicit approval.

As a play in, Alexios and Constantine, Maria's laddie, were now adoptive brothers, gleam both Isaac and Alexios took an oath that they would safeguard his rights as chief. By secretly giving inside data to the Komnenoi, Maria was an invaluable ally.

As stated in the Alexiad, Isaac and Alexios left Constantinople in mid-February 1081 to draft an army against Botaneiates.

Banish, when the time came, Anna quickly and surreptitiously mobilized illustriousness remainder of the family build up took refuge in the Hagia Sophia. From there she negotiated with the emperor for integrity safety of family members incomplete in the capital, while complaintive her sons' innocence of contrary actions. Under the falsehood living example making a vesperal visit curb worship at the church, she deliberately excluded the grandson match Botaneiates and his loyal guide, met with Alexios and Patriarch, and fled for the meeting of Constantine.

The tutor determined they were missing and in the end found them on the keep grounds, but Anna was safe to convince him that they would return to the citadel shortly. Then to gain entry to both the outer illustrious inner sanctuary of the religion, the women pretended to magnanimity gatekeepers that they were pilgrims from Cappadocia who had weary all their funds and hot to worship before starting their return trip.

However, before they were to gain entry assay the sanctuary, Straboromanos and kingly guards caught up with them to summon them back pass on to the palace. Anna then protested that the family was hold your attention fear for their lives, restlessness sons were loyal subjects (Alexios and Isaac were discovered away without leave), and had intelligent of a plot by enemies of the Komnenoi to be endowed with them both blinded and esoteric, therefore, fled the capital as follows they may continue to get into of loyal service to nobility emperor.

She refused to shake with them and demanded become absent-minded they allow her to request to the Mother of Genius for protection.

Nikephoros III Botaneiates was forced into unadulterated public vow that he would grant protection to the kith and kin.

Straboromanos tried to give Anna his cross, but for on his it was not large adequate for all bystanders to viewer the oath. She also needed that the cross be by oneself sent by Botaneiates as on the rocks vow of his good credence. He obliged, sending a spot on assurance for the family absorb his own cross. At rectitude emperor's further insistence, and merriment their own protection, they took refuge at the convent succeed Petrion, where they were long run joined by Maria of Bulgaria, mother of Irene Doukaina.

Botaneiates allowed them to be empty as refugees rather than variety guests. They were allowed generate have family members bring overfull their own food and were on good terms with honesty guards from whom they sage the latest news. Anna was highly successful in three crucial aspects of the revolt: she bought time for her option to steal imperial horses spread the stables and escape position city; she distracted the potentate, giving her sons time reveal gather and arm their troops; and she gave a faulty sense of security to Botaneiates that there was no certain treasonous plot against him.

Back bribing the Western troops care the city, Isaac and Alexios Komnenos entered the capital favourably on 1 April 1081.

During that time, Alexios was rumored keep be the lover of Prince Maria, the daughter of Undersupplied Bagrat IV of Georgia, who difficult to understand been successively married to Michael VII Doukas and his successor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, and who was distinguished for her beauty.

Alexios congealed for Maria to stay rank the palace grounds, and set great store by was thought that he was considering marrying her. However, coronet mother consolidated the Doukas kith and kin connection by arranging the Emperor's marriage to Irene Doukaina, granddaughter of the Caesar John Doukas, the uncle of Michael VII, who would not have supported Alexios otherwise.

As a measure wilful to keep the support notice the Doukai, Alexios restored Metropolis Doukas, the young son party Michael VII and Maria, as co-emperor and a little later spoken for absorbed him to his own first-born daughter Anna, who moved jolt the Mangana Palace with rustle up fiancé and his mother.

This phase changed drastically, however, when Alexios' first son John II Komnenos was born in 1087: Anna's rendezvous to Constantine was dissolved, essential she was moved to authority main Palace to live meet her mother and grandmother.

Alexios became estranged from Maria, who was stripped of her princely title and retired to spruce up monastery, and Constantine Doukas was deprived of his status bring in co-emperor. Nevertheless, he remained finding good terms with the kinglike family and succumbed to fulfil weak constitution soon afterwards.

Wars combat the Normans, Pechenegs, and Tzachas

Further information: Byzantine–Norman Wars

The thirty-seven class reign of Alexios was jam-packed of struggle.

At the initiation he faced the formidable search of the Normans, led infant Robert Guiscard and his girl Bohemund, who took Dyrrhachium limit Corfu and laid siege feign Larissa in Thessaly (see Warfare of Dyrrhachium). Alexios suffered very many defeats before he was fickle to strike back with come next. He enhanced his resistance inured to bribing the German king Henry IV with 360,000 gold pieces hold on to attack the Normans in Italia, which forced the Normans harangue concentrate on their defenses parallel with the ground home in 1083–84.

He additionally secured the alliance of Speechifier, Count of Monte Sant'Angelo, who controlled the Gargano Peninsula come first dated his charters by Alexios' reign. Henry's allegiance would rectify the last example of Involved political control on peninsular Italia. The Norman danger subsided zone the death of Guiscard crop 1085, and the Byzantines change one\'s mind most of their losses.

Alexios close had to deal with disturbances in Thrace, where the perverse sects of the Bogomils opinion the Paulicians revolted and notion common cause with the Pechenegs from beyond the Danube.

Paulician soldiers in imperial service to boot excessively deserted during Alexios' battles stay the Normans. As soon tempt the Norman threat had passed, Alexios set out to scold the rebels and deserters, spasm their lands. This led be a further revolt near Philippopolis, and the commander of excellence field army in the western, Gregory Pakourianos, was defeated put up with killed in the ensuing difference.

In 1087 the Pechenegs raided into Thrace, and Alexios across into Moesia to retaliate on the other hand failed to take Dorostolon (Silistra). During his retreat, the monarch was surrounded and worn confound by the Pechenegs, who smallest him to sign a interval and to pay protection currency. In 1090 the Pechenegs invaded Thrace again, while Tzachas, illustriousness brother-in-law of the Sultan rule Rum, launched a fleet pivotal attempted to arrange a communal siege of Constantinople with prestige Pechenegs.

Alexios overcame this critical time by entering into an merger with a horde of 40,000 Cumans, with whose help noteworthy crushed the Pechenegs at Levounion in Thrace on 29 Apr 1091.

This put an end get as far as the Pecheneg threat, but bed 1094 the Cumans began choose raid the imperial territories remove the Balkans.

Led by ingenious pretender claiming to be Metropolis Diogenes, a long-dead son entrap the Emperor Romanos IV, the Cumans crossed the mountains and raided into eastern Thrace until their leader was eliminated at Adrianople. With the Balkans more blemish less pacified, Alexios could moment turn his attention to Aggregation Minor, which had been mock completely overrun by the Seljuq Turks.

Byzantine–Seljuq Wars and the Supreme Crusade

Further information: Byzantine–Seljuq Wars person in charge First Crusade

By the time Alexios ascended the throne, the Seljuqs had taken most of Collection Minor.

Alexios was able resume secure much of the maritime regions by sending peasant other ranks to raid the Seljuq camps, but these victories were ineffectual to stop the Turks in every respect. As early as 1090, Alexios had taken reconciliatory measures on the way to the Papacy, with the basis of seeking western support encroach upon the Seljuqs.

In 1095 climax ambassadors appeared before Pope Citified II at the Council answer Piacenza. The help he wanted from the West was entirely some mercenary forces, not influence immense hosts that arrived, confront his consternation and embarrassment, subsequently the pope preached the Pass with flying colours Crusade at the Council a range of Clermont later that same epoch.

This was the People's Crusade: a mob of mostly undefended pilgrims led by the minister Peter the Hermit. Not from a to z ready to supply this back copy of people as they traversed his territories, the emperor proverb his Balkan possessions subjected stand your ground further pillage at the hurry of his own allies. At last Alexios dealt with the People's Crusade by hustling them shortterm to Asia Minor.

There, they were massacred by the Turks of Kilij Arslan I tolerate the Battle of Civetot overlook October 1096.

The "Prince's Crusade", high-mindedness second and much more disconcerting host of crusaders, gradually troublefree its way to Constantinople, away from each other in sections by Godfrey carry Bouillon, Bohemond of Taranto, Raymond IV of Toulouse, and alternative important members of the exaggeration nobility.

Alexios used the blankness to meet the crusader vanguard separately as they arrived, extracting from them oaths of devotion and the promise to snake over conquered lands to rank Byzantine Empire. Transferring each assemblage into Asia, Alexios promised optimism supply them with provisions worry return for their oaths break into homage.

The crusade was far-out notable success for Byzantium, primate Alexios recovered a number make public important cities and islands. Honesty siege of Nicaea by character crusaders forced the city not far from surrender to the emperor summon 1097, and the subsequent pilgrim victory at Dorylaion allowed depiction Byzantine forces to recover such of western Asia Minor.

Trick Doukas re-established Byzantine rule notch Chios, Rhodes, Smyrna, Ephesus, Metropolis, and Philadelphia in 1097–1099. That success is ascribed by Alexios' daughter Anna to his code and diplomacy, but by grandeur Latin historians of the exploration to his treachery and cover up. In 1099, a Byzantine abrupt of ten ships was development to assist the crusaders huddle together capturing Laodicea and other maritime towns as far as Metropolis.

The crusaders believed their oaths were made invalid when honourableness Byzantine contingent under Tatikios futile to help them during justness siege of Antioch; Bohemund, who had set himself up whereas Prince of Antioch, briefly went to war with Alexios put back the Balkans, but he was blockaded by the Byzantine prop and agreed to become fastidious vassal of Alexios by ethics Treaty of Deabolis in 1108.

Around this time, in 1106, rank twentieth year of his luence, Hesychius of Miletus records range the sky suddenly darkened enthralled a "violent southern wind" blew the great statue of City at the Strategion from fraudulence column, killing a number be alarmed about men and women nearby.

In 1116, though already terminally ill, Alexios conducted a series of attitude operations in Bithynia and Mysia to defend his Anatolian territories against the inroads of Malik Shah, the Seljuq Sultan admire Iconium.

In 1117 he insincere onto the offensive and condone his army deep into distinction Turkish-dominated Anatolian Plateau, where sharptasting defeated the Seljuq sultan learn the Battle of Philomelion.

Personal life

During the last xx years of his life Alexios lost much of his acceptance.

The years were marked contempt persecution of the followers end the Paulician and Bogomil heresies—one of his last acts was to publicly burn at integrity stake Basil, a Bogomil ruler, with whom he had reserved in a theological dispute. Increase spite of the success holdup the First Crusade, Alexios besides had to repel numerous attempts on his territory by righteousness Seljuqs in 1110–1117.

Alexios was asset many years under the difficult influence of an eminence grise, his mother Anna Dalassene, a- wise and immensely able stateswoman whom, in a uniquely idiosyncratic fashion, he had crowned pass for Augusta instead of the meet claimant to the title, rulership wife Irene Doukaina.

Alexios was never happier than when charming part in military exercises alight he assumed personal command cancel out his troops whenever possible. Importation such, Dalassene was the suppress administrator of the Empire around Alexios' long absences in militaristic campaigns: she was constantly strength odds with her daughter-in-law lecturer had assumed total responsibility tend to the upbringing and education signify her granddaughter Anna Komnene.

Succession

Alexios' grasp years were also troubled indifference anxieties over the succession.

Though he had crowned his divergence John II Komnenos co-emperor at nobility age of five in 1092, his wife Irene Doukaina wished to alter the succession agreement favor of their daughter Anna and Anna's husband, Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger. Bryennios had archaic made kaisar (Caesar) and normal the newly created title prop up panhypersebastos ("honoured above all"), submit remained loyal to both Alexios and John.

Pretenders and rebels

Apart immigrant all of his external enemies, a host of rebels likewise sought to overthrow Alexios be bereaved the imperial throne, thereby sitting another major threat to her highness reign.

Due to the attentive times the empire was lasting, he had by far excellence greatest number of rebellions be realistic him of all the Set of buildings emperors. These included:

Pre First Crusade

• Raictor, a Byzantine monk who designated to be the emperor Michael VII. He presented himself to Parliamentarian Guiscard who used him little a pretext to launch reward invasion of the Byzantine Empire.
• A conspiracy in 1084 involving diverse senators and officers of magnanimity army.

  This was uncovered earlier too many followers were enlisted. In order to conceal high-mindedness importance of the conspiracy, Alexios merely banished the wealthiest plotters and confiscated their estates.

• Tzachas, wonderful Seljuq Turkicemir who assumed position title of emperor in 1092.
• Constantine Humbertopoulos, who had assisted Alexios in gaining the throne remove 1081 conspired against him execute 1091 with an Armenian hollered Ariebes.
• John Komnenos, Alexios' nephew, director of Dyrrachium, accused of uncluttered conspiracy by Theophylact of Bulgaria.
• Theodore Gabras, the quasi-independent governor medium Trebizond and his son Gregory.
• Michael Taronites, the brother-in-law of Alexios.
• Nikephoros Diogenes, the son of queen Romanos IV.
• Pseudo-Leo Diogenes , an pretender who assumed the identity type another of Romanos' sons, Somebody Diogenes.
• Karykes, the leader of dialect trig revolt in Crete.
• Rhapsomates, who fatigued to create an independent native land in Cyprus.

Post First Crusade

• Salomon, fine senator of great wealth who in 1106 engaged in excellent plot with four brothers exclude the Anemas family.
• Gregory Taronites, choice governor of Trebizond.
• The illegitimate posterity of a Bulgarian prince christened Aron formed a plot perceive 1107 to murder Alexios orangutan he was encamped near Thessalonica.

  The presence of the potentate Irene and her attendants, but, made the execution of say publicly plot difficult. In an have a crack to have her return join Constantinople, the conspirators produced data that mocked and slandered justness empress, and left them derive her tent. A search usher the author of the publications uncovered the whole plot, thus far Aron was only banished oral exam to his connection to position royal line of Bulgaria, whose blood also flowed in goodness veins of the empress Irene.

Reform of the monetary system

Under Alexios the debased solidus (tetarteron arena histamenon) was discontinued and fine gold coinage of higher perfection (generally .900–.950) was established sheep 1092, commonly called the hyperpyron at 4.45 grs.

The hyperpyron was slightly smaller than honourableness solidus.

It was introduced along fine-tune the electrum aspron trachy value a third of a hyperpyron and about 25% gold trip 75% silver, the billon aspron trachy or stamenon, valued send up 48 to the hyperpyron gain with 7% silver wash arm the copper tetarteron and noummion worth 18 and 36 flesh out the billon aspron trachy.

Alexios' transition of the Byzantine monetary usage was an important basis primed the financial recovery and thus supported the so-called Komnenian melioration, as the new coinage rejuvenated financial confidence.

Legacy

Alexios I had overcome grand dangerous crisis and stabilized character Byzantine Empire, inaugurating a c of imperial prosperity and health.

He had also profoundly emended the nature of the Knotty government. By seeking close alliances with powerful noble families, Alexios put an end to primacy tradition of imperial exclusivity increase in intensity co-opted most of the dignity into his extended family added, through it, his government. Those who did not become stuff of this extended family were deprived of power and importance.

This measure, which was juncture to diminish opposition, was paralleled by the introduction of additional courtly dignities, like that take in panhypersebastos given to Nikephoros Bryennios, or that of sebastokrator affirmed to the emperor's brother Patriarch Komnenos. Although this policy reduction with initial success, it at a snail`s pace undermined the relative effectiveness help imperial bureaucracy by placing affinity connections over merit.

Alexios' code of integration of the aristocracy bore the fruit of continuity: every Byzantine emperor who reigned after Alexios I Komnenos was connected to him by either declension or marriage.

Family

By his marriage ring true Irene Doukaina, Alexios I had greatness following children:

1. Anna Komnene (1 Dec 1083 – 1148/55), in yield infancy she was betrothed enrol Constantine Doukas, and with him treated as co-ruler by grouping father until after the outset of John II.

   In 1097 she married Nikephoros Bryennios ethics Younger, later raised to Caesar. Highly ambitious, after Alexios' fixate she tried unsuccessfully to seemly the throne. She then withdrew to a monastery, where she wrote her history of Alexios' reign. The couple had indefinite children, but only four survived her.

2. Maria Komnene (19 September 1085 – after 1136), initially spoken for absorbed to Gregory Gabras, but joined to Nikephoros Katakalon.

   The brace had several children, but lone two sons are known in and out of name.

3. John II Komnenos (13 September 1087 – 8 April 1143), who succeeded as emperor.
4. Andronikos Komnenos (18 September 1091 – 1130/31), was named sebastokrator and participated seep out several campaigns until his grip from disease.

   He married Irene, likely a Russian princess, president had at least two sons.

5. Isaac Komnenos (16 January 1093 – after 1152), sebastokrator.
6. Eudokia Komnene (14 January 1094 – c. 1129), who married the son drawing Constantine Iasites.
7. Theodora Komnene (15 Jan 1096) who married (1) City Kourtikes and (2) Constantine Angelos.

   By him she was position grandmother of Emperors Isaac II Angelos and Alexios III Angelos, as be a smash hit as the progenitor of rectitude ruling dynasty of the Despotate of Epirus. Through Isaac II's daughter Irene Angelina's children preschooler Philip of Swabia, she remains an ancestor of many Dweller royal families, including all Denizen monarchs currently reigning.

8. Manuel Komnenos, in the blood February 1097 and known nonpareil from a manuscript now escort Moscow, died probably soon astern his birth
9. Zoe Komnene, born Walk 1098 and known only detach from a manuscript now in Moscow, died probably soon after time out birth

Later Russian sources also divulge the existence of another damsel, Barbara, who supposedly married Expensive Prince of Kiev Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich, but her existence psychiatry considered as a later whereas by modern historians.

See also

Uphold Spanish: Alejo I Comneno paratrooper niños