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Alexius Komnenos and the West and So It Begins...76Th Emperor

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Alexius Komnenos and the West and So It Begins...76Th Emperor 3/14/2012 Alexius Komnenos and the West HIST 302 Spring 2012 And so it begins...76th Emperor 4 April 1081 ascended to the throne • 24 years old • short and stocky; deep chested; broad shoulders • seen action against the Seljuks – never lost a battle • uncle was Isaac Komnenus • married to the 15 year old Irene Ducas – assured support of aristocracy and clergy • his ascension was a little messy... Komneni Dynasty (1081-1185) 1057-9 Isaac I 1071 Battle of Manzikert 1081-1118 Alexios I 1118-43 John II 1143-80 Manuel I 1180-2 Alexios II 1182-5 Andronikos I 1 3/14/2012 War with the Normans • Robert Guiscard (the crafty) 1071 Bari fell 1081 giant fleet sailed towards Durazzo – road to Constantinople • Alexius shows up with his army – Varangians (mostly A-S refugees pissed off at Normans) wanting revenge • Alexius wounded in battle – retires to Thessalonica 2 3/14/2012 Gregory VII, besieged in Castel Sant'Angelo Tomb of Guiscard at Venosa Robert Guiscard dies of Typhoid in 1085 Normans Conquer S. Italy • Normans conquer Sicily and S. Italy • Cousin of Roger Guiscard organizes a new Kingdom Roger II, the Norman (ruled from 1130-1154) 3 3/14/2012 Palazzo Reale, Naples Roger II Frederick II Alfonso Charles V Charles III Charles of Anjou Gioacchino Murat Victor Emanuel II Norman Hohenstaufen Aragon Hapsburg Bourbon (1266-1285) (1808-1815) (1861-1878) (1130-1154) (1211-1250) (1442-1458) (1520-1558) (1734-1759) Alexius Receives Papal Mission Pope Gregory VII – excommunicated Alexius for helping HRE Pope Urban II • trying to restore unity b/t E &W churches 1095 letter to meet at a Great Council of the Church • March at Piacenza, Byzantine reps emphasize: – prizes – religious aspects – Turkish tide – Christendom lost? 4 3/14/2012 “Holy War” at Clermont 1095 Urban convened a council in Clermont • called upon the Frankish nobility to go to the aid of their Christian brothers • defend Byzantines from the Muslim Turks – he accused Turks of mistreating Christians and defiling Christian churches – encouraged the Franks to liberate Jerusalem from the domination of Muslims – the most sacred and beloved city in Christendom Terminology When Pope Urban made his plea: • never called the expedition a crusade – conceived of as an armed pilgrimage Crusaders were never called crusaders in contemporary sources • described as pilgrims who had taken the cross – (cruce signatus) Armed Pilgrimage as Holy War Augustine, City of God • there is no “private right” to kill. • One can kill only under the authority of God • only under a direct order from God, or under the order of a legitimate ruler who is carrying out God’s intention to restrain evil on earth 5 3/14/2012 Armed Pilgrimage as Holy War Augustine: anyone who obeys such a command “does not himself kill.” • acts only as the instrument of the one who commands – acts as the instrument of God. Sanctification of Holy War By the 9th century • warfare on God’s behalf not only justified, it was sanctified: – anyone who died defending Christ was a martyr who could expect a reward in paradise • The Church promoted this view – Urban promised the remission of crusader’s sins if they died in battle Fulcher of Chartres All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested.” 6 3/14/2012 Promises of Papal Peace Urban promised to protect the families and property of the crusaders and offer prayers on their behalf – as they were off fulfilling the will of God • He issues the call for pilgrimage in the context of renewal of the Truce of God. • His focus is on turning the violence of Europe’s warrior class outward. Promise of Special Status • Church promised the crusaders • not only a path to salvation, but a special status: • knight of Christ (milites Christi) – vassal of St. Peter – aggression was turned outward toward non- Christian foes Public response to Urban's speech The First Crusade turned into a mass movement – quickly swelled beyond the papacy’s control • Tens of thousands of Franks (nobles and peasants) answered the call with enthusiasm • began streaming eastwards in several waves. – most of the crusaders appear to have been pious and convinced of the righteousness of their cause – others, not so much: • material gain • runaway serf • criminals 7 3/14/2012 The last thing the Byzantines want Three expeditions in 1096 1. People’s Crusade • unruly mob of tens of thousands of ordinary Christians – led by a popular preacher named Peter the Hermit • set off from Europe in the spring of 1096 – no papal authorization – no military escort • made it as far as Nicaea, where most of them were slaughtered by the Turks in October. 2. German contingent, Summer 1096 First recorded Christian massacres of Jews: People’s Crusade, the French, and the Germans • tried to force “infidel” Jews living among Christians to convert, and killed those who refused. • resulted in the deaths of thousands of Jews in larger cities – Speyer, Worms, Trier, Mainz, and Cologne – Account of Solomon Bar Simson 8 3/14/2012 3. The French finally arrive Dec. 1096 French nobles arrived at Constantinople • join forces with the Byzantine Emperor, the Germans, and the remnants of the People’s Crusade. 1097 recapture Nicaea from the Turks – 1098 take Edessa and Antioch – 1099 take Jerusalem • six-week siege Krak des chevaliers 9 3/14/2012 The Legacy of Alexius • Bequeathed his rule to his son, John • provided new stability to Byzantium – past 56 years—governed by 13 monarchs • ~ 4.3 years/Emperor – personally defended his people – bravery against Normans – handled Crusaders well • The Alexiad – by daughter Anna The Legacy of Alexius • Rule of the Military Aristocracy – economic changes – taxation changes – military based on pronoia • feudal grants of land—obligation of service • Imperial Resistance to the Church – monasteries • Dynastic/Family jealousy – Ducas vs. Komenoi 10 .
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