The Historians' History of the World 07

1148 War with Roger of Sicily, who attempts to invade Greece. Manuel quickly repels an invasion of Patzinaks, and with the help of Venice proceeds against the Normans at Corfu.

1149 Fortress at Corfu taken. Roger invites the Hungarians and Servians to attack from the north.

1152 Imperial repulse in Cilicia, but great successes in Italy.

1153 Peace made with King Geisa of Hungary.

1153-1155 The Norman war turns against the empire. Many defeats. Maius, the Sicilian admiral, lands at Constantinople.

1155 Peace made with William of Sicily, Roger’s successor. Punishment of Reynolf of Antioch, successor of Raymond, and his reduction to vassalage.

1157 Renewal of war with sultan of Iconium. Peace made.

1161 War breaks out with Stephen III of Hungary.

1163 Short interval of peace in Hungarian War.

1168 Battle of Zeugmin. Great imperial victory. End of Hungarian War. Manuel joins with Almeric of Jerusalem in an attack on Egypt.

1171 Failure of attack through jealousy of Almeric. War with Venice over, Manuel attacks the Lombards. After an unprofitable contest 1174 peace made with Venice.

1176 Renewal of war with Kilidj-Arslan, sultan of Iconium. Crushing defeat of Manuel near Myriocephalus. Dishonourable peace made by Manuel.

1177 Manuel breaks peace. Imperial victory on the Mæander. Honourable peace.

1180 Death of Manuel. His son, Alexius (II) Comnenus, succeeds, under guardianship of mother, Maria of Antioch.

1183 Andronicus (I) Comnenus usurps the throne after inducing Alexius to have his mother put to death, and then killing him. Marries Alexius’ widow, Agnes, daughter of Louis VII of France.

1184 Isaac, sent to Cyprus to govern by the emperor, causes rebellion by his misgovernment, which entirely separates the island from the empire.

1185 Silician invasion at instigation of Greek fugitives. William II destroys Thessalonica, but is induced to desist from attack on Constantinople. The lieutenant, Hagiochristophorites, incites rebellion at Constantinople against Isaac. The people take Isaac’s part and proclaim him emperor. Death of Andronicus at hands of mob. Isaac (II) Angelus emperor. Victory at Demerize over Silician invaders.

1186 Rebellion of the Bulgarians and Wallachians owing to unjust taxation.

1187 Defeat of rebels by Joannes Cantacuzenus. Alexius Branas given command of army. He takes advantage of victories to proclaim himself emperor and appears before Constantinople, but is defeated and killed by Isaac’s brother-in-law, Conrad of Montferrat. William II of Sicily gives up his conquests in Greece.

1188 Wallachian successes lead to formation of independent kingdom.

1189 Emperor Frederick I of Germany appears with 150,000 crusaders. The terrified Isaac offers to make alliance with Saladin, but the latter declines.

Theodore Mancaphas proclaims himself emperor. He is pardoned, and gives up claim. Careers of the “False Alexius” and other pretenders.

1191 Capture of Cyprus by Richard I of England. It is lost forever to the empire.

1194 Isaac recognises the Wallachian kingdom.

1195 Isaac deposed by the nobles, and his brother Alexius (III) Angelus-Comnenus “the tyrant” made emperor. Alexius has Isaac’s eyes put out, and imprisons him in a Constantinople dungeon. Alexius’ extravagant conduct completes the destruction of the financial mechanism of the Roman Empire. Great disorder and anarchy throughout the empire.

1197 Peace purchased from Mueddin, sultan of Angora.

1198 War with the sultan of Iconium.

1199 Rebellion of Chryses, the Wallachian officer. Alexius makes peace, leaving him in possession of several towns.

1200 Ivan the Bulgarian attempts to found independent monarchy in Thrace and Macedonia.

1202 Alexius, son of Isaac II, escaping to Italy, brings about treaty between Venetians and crusaders to replace Isaac and himself on the throne.

1203 Siege of Constantinople. Flight of Alexius III to Italy. Crusaders occupy the city. Isaac III and Alexius (IV) Angelus on the throne. Great fire in Constantinople. Constant trouble between Alexius and the crusaders, in consequence of which 1204 Alexius (V) Ducas “Murzuphlus,” a party leader, seizes the throne. Murder of Alexius IV. Isaac dies of grief. Alexius finds it impossible to hold out against the crusaders. Capture and sack of Constantinople by crusaders and Venetians. Treaty of partition. End of true Byzantine Empire. The Latin Empire of Romania founded with Baldwin, count of Flanders. The Greek Empire continues at Nicæa.

THE LATIN EMPIRE OF ROMANIA (1204-1261 A.D.)

1204 Baldwin I elected emperor. His dominions consist only of Constantinople and Thrace, for the rest of the empire is divided among the Flemish, French, and Venetian leaders.

1205 Joannice of Bulgaria revolts, and obtains possession of Hadrianopolis. Capture of Baldwin in siege of town. He dies in captivity. His brother Henry I succeeds.