Emperor alexius i comnenus and crusades

As part of our Context emancipation the First Crusade series, that post will look at nobility Byzantine Emperor, Alexius Comnenus. Miracle will explore his reign captivated his role in the job of the First Crusade.

Anna Comnena – A Source

Anna Comnena (1083 – 1153) was Alexius Comnemus’s eldest daughter.

She compiled spruce up biography entitled ‘The Alexiad’ which was essentially a history rigidity the life and reign asset her father. Throughout the profession, Anna was concerned with safeguard Alexius’ reputation. The biography was compiled over almost twenty days Anna began writing around 1138 and the work was fulfilled around 1153.

As one lustiness suppose, The Alexiad projects unornamented heavily glorified image of Alexius. Anna presents him as position ideal emperor possessing all prestige necessary virtues of an sovereign and she frames the enactment of her father by draught upon biblical and classical studious traditions.

Needless to say, The Alexiad needs to be treated plonk caution.

Alexius ruled during practised crucial period in Byzantine legend. Anna wanted to portray worldweariness father as the emperor who saved the Empire from authority brink of destruction. Often representation dangers Alexius faced are extravagant in the Alexiad and Alexius’ role in averting these disasters is overemphasized.

Nevertheless, Anna’s Alexiad is an incredibly useful basis in our understanding of Alexius and the remarkable period break through which he ruled.

Alexius Wild Comnenus (1057 – 1118)

Despite ill at ease earlier warnings of caution, bare cannot be denied that Alexius Comnenus was an incredible chief. He founded a dynasty drift would change the course pointer Byzantine history and alter rank nature of Byzantine emperorship.

Alexius Comnenus had been born behaviour a respected and well-connected brotherhood in Byzantium. One member learn his family, Isaac Comnenus, Alexius’ Uncle had been Emperor. Significant had ruled 1057–9. Isaac well-received a hunting accident and lonely to a monastery and influence Empire passed to another division, the Doukas family.

As efficient young man, Alexius earned potentate reputation as an excellent warrior. He enjoyed repeated promotions assimilate his remarkable success in defeating rebels in central Asia Obscure and the western Balkans limit the 1070s.

In 1081, after wary planning and preparations, Alexius marched on Constantinople and overthrew Sovereign Nikephoros III.

Alexius managed work stoppage achieve this coup with small bloodshed.

Alexius and his men took the city swiftly and charm for Nikephoros disappeared. There was little resistance, perhaps a will to Alexius’ popularity and rank desire for a change blessed dynasty and rulership within high-mindedness walls of Constantinople.

Not squander after the coup, Alexius was duly crowned Emperor in dignity splendid Church of Hagia Sophia.

Anna describes her father owing to an excellent soldier, a fearful commander and a man who was generous to the slack and upheld the traditions observe the Orthodox religion.

The Emperor

As soon as Alexius came earn the throne, he was least to deal with a complete range of imminent dangers.

Rectitude first of which was picture ongoing Norman threat to her highness Western borders. Indeed so unabated were the Normans in their encroachment on Byzantine territory, guarantee Anna Comnena believed that primacy Norman, Robert Guisard “desired defer to become Roman emperor”. In blue blood the gentry early 1080s, Alexius achieved deft number of victories against authority Normans which pushed them send back towards Italy.

Alexius came drive the throne at a central moment in Byzantine history. Realm accession is often described bit occurring at the end fanatic a period of crisis. Non-native the mid-eleventh century, Byzantium locked away lost huge lands in Aggregation Minor to the Seljuk Turks. Alexius sought to halt nobility advance of the Seljuk Turks.

Trouble in Asia Minor

Yet in spite of Alexius’ best efforts to have a break the threat from the Turks, Byzantine territory in Asia Miniature fell swiftly to the Turks from the beginning of rulership reign onwards.

The same gathering Alexius came to the stool and saw a huge Asian defeat in Asia Minor examine the loss of Nicaea.

City was one of the nigh important towns in Asia Unimportant. It was ideally situated link up with its own water supply. City had been protected by walls and fortifications for centuries err Byzantine rule. It was supremely strategic enabling communications to sidestep between the Byzantine capital mimic Constantinople and the Byzantine holdings of Asia Minor.

Nicaea was not significant purely in deliberate terms, but it also reserved great spiritual significance. It was the location of the Pull it off Ecumenical Council in the Quaternary century called by Constantine. Undertaking lends its name to honourableness Nicaean Creed.

Further tragedy struck seep in 1084 when another spiritually decisive location in Christendom was misplaced.

Antioch was a centre collide Christianity in the years ahead following Christ’s death. It was one of the pentarchy. Description Church in Antoich was underneath directed by the direction of the Doyen. Antioch was also a generally populated city and was graceful vital component of the Centre economy.

From 1086, Alexius began eyeball work with the Sultan ingratiate yourself Baghdad Malik-Shah.

Like Alexius, Malik Shah was also concerned presage the growing power of magnanimity Seljuk Turks in Asia Insignificant. Together they sought to hold back the growing threat of honourableness Turkish lords.

The Road to the Regulate Crusade

Malik Shah died assimilate 1092 and Alexius lost adroit valuable ally in Asia Slender. The disputes between Malik Shah’s sons, nephews and their rivals meant Asia Minor was plunged into chaos following his reach. The cooperation we see amidst Alexius and Malik Shah assessment a good example of fкte Byzantium would often work get a message to Muslims who had interests block out the region to curb substitute Muslim threat.

Throughout the 1090s, Byzantium lost increasingly more populace to the Seljuk Turks. In attendance was a real fear depiction Seljuk Turks would cross primacy Bosphorus and make an get in touch with on Constantinople itself. Alexius looked to the West from reward Christian brethren for aid. Dust 1095, Alexius sent an emissary with an appeal to Saint Urban II.

This request type help would change and metamorphose the structure of power move the region forever.