The Historians' History of the World 07

1048 The Patzinaks invade the empire with a large army. Attack of the Seljuk Turks under Toghril. Indecisive battle of Capetron.

1050 Toghril retires to Persia. Death of Zoe.

1052 Second invasion of Toghril.

1053 The Patzinaks driven back to their own territory.

1054 The great schism between the Greek and Roman churches begins. Death of Michael. Theodora reigns alone.

1056 Death of Theodora, after appointing Michael (VI) Stratioticus her successor. Attempt of Theodosius Monomachus to seize throne.

1057 Battle of Hades. Defeat of Michael by Isaac Comnenus and Catacalon.

DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BYZANTINE GOVERNMENT (1057-1204 A.D.)

1057 Isaac (I) Comnenus proclaimed emperor. Michael retires to a monastery. The emperor introduces a system of great economy into all branches of the government.

1059 Invasion of the northern frontier by Hungarians and Patzinaks. Treaty of peace concluded. Isaac, after a severe illness, resigns crown into the hands of Constantine (XI) Ducas. Through motives of economy the latter materially reduces the size of the army.

1060-1064 Toghril Beg and Alp Arslan invade the empire from Mesopotamia. Ani captured, 1064.

1064 The Uzes, a nomad Turkish tribe, invade from the north. They are driven back by outbreak of the plague.

1067 Death of Constantine. The imperial title conferred on his young sons, Michael (VII) Ducas Parapinaces Andronicus, and Constantine (XII) Ducas. The empress Eudocia is regent. She marries Romanus (IV) Diogenes, who is proclaimed as emperor. Great ravage of the Turks. Massacre of Cæsarea.

1068-1069 Successful campaign of Romanus against the Turks.

1070 Manuel Comnenus takes command against the Turks. Alp Arslan captures Manzicert. Romanus returns to the command.

1071 Byzantine expedition to Sicily defeated by Normans. Surrender of Bari. End of the imperial authority in Italy. Romanus taken prisoner by Alp Arslan at Manzicert. Restored to liberty and makes a treaty of peace. Refused admittance to Constantinople. Michael VII regains power reigning conjointly with Constantine XII. Romanus blinded, dies of his wounds.

1072 Alp Arslan, unable to obtain payment of Romanus’ ransom, invades empire. He finally conquers the Byzantine part of Asia Minor, giving it to Suleiman to rule.

1074 Rebellion of Ursel. Treaty with the Turks.

1076 The Turks take possession of Jerusalem.

1078 Bryennius attempts to gain the throne. After a severe struggle Michael abdicates in favour of Nicephorus (III) Botaniates.

1081 Nicephorus, after a constant struggle with many aspirants, is dethroned by Alexius (I) Comnenus after the capture and sack of Constantinople. Many pretenders are put down. Treaty of peace with Suleiman. Defeat of Alexius by Robert Guiscard.

1084 Defeat of Bohemond, the Norman leader. Relief of Larissa.

1085 Alexius recovers Dyrrhachium from the Normans.

1087-1099 Patzinak war ending in imperial victory at Levounion.

1092 Tzachas, emir of Smyrna, assumes title of emperor.

1093 Murder of Tzachas at instigation of Alexius.

1096 The first crusaders appear at Constantinople.

1097-1098 With the help of the crusaders, Alexius regains Nicæa, Antioch, and the whole of Asia Minor.

1103-1108 War of Alexius with Bohemond, prince of Antioch.

1110-1116 War against the Turks in Asia Minor, ending in many Turkish losses, enabling Alexius to make treaty of peace.

1111 Hostilities of Alexius with Tancred and the crusaders.

1118 Death of Alexius. Joannes Comnenus, his son, succeeds. Failure of conspiracy of Anna Comnena and Nicephorus Bryennius to place latter on throne.

1119 Joannes takes Laodicea and

1120 Sozopolis in campaigns against the Turks.

1122 Great victory of Joannes over the Patzinaks in Macedonia.

1124 Joannes drives back the Servians who have seized Belgrade and Branitzova. He now proceeds again against the Turks of Iconium and holds Castamonia and Gangra for a short time.

1131 Campaign against Livo of Cilicia, whose dominions

1137 are united to the empire.

1138 Joannes proceeds against Raymond of Antioch, who refuses to recognise him for his liege-lord. Raymond apologises and helps Joannes in a successful campaign against the Turks in Syria.

1141 Joannes defeats the sultan of Iconium.

1142 He sets out for Cilicia to conquer all the Latin principalities taken from the empire, but 1143 dies as the result of a wound received while hunting. His son Manuel (I) Comnenus succeeds.

1144 Raymond, prince of Antioch, compelled to renew bonds of vassalage.

1145 Manuel invades Isauria and concludes treaty of peace with Turks.

1147 Manuel promises to aid the Second Crusade, but gives secret information of it to the Turks.