Some of the Byzantine Emperors Acted Like Mafia Dons

September 12

The Eastern Roman Emperor Andronikos (I) Komnenos died on this day in 1185.

Hyperpyron coin of Andronikos I Komnenos, showing him (left) being crowned by the Lord

Today I would like to move away from the Russian Church Abroad and wear my Byzantinist’s hat.

In the second half of the twelfth century, Byzantium was still strong in the Mediterranean. However, as one might expect, the international context surrounding Byzantium was quite different from previous eras.

Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (1118–1180) had a Hungarian mother and a German fiancée. From the Normans (Scandinavians who had settled in Western Europe), he took over Bari in Southern Italy and allied with the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem against the Arabs. The restoration of ecclesiastical communion between the Eastern and Western Churches seemed to be close at hand. At the same time, Manuel suffered a defeat, which can be interpreted as one of the signs of the end of Byzantium: in 1176, the Roman Army was deadly ambushed by the Seljuks (Turks) at Myriokephalon in Phrygia (today roughly Konya Province in Turkey).

Andronikos, Manuel’s first cousin, conspired against Manuel and fled the Empire. He was first held hostage by the Vlachs (in the borderland between modern-day Romania and Moldova). Andronikos then reached Kiev and was received there by Prince Yaroslav the Wise (it is highly possible that Holy Prince Vladimir’s wife Anna Porphyrogenita, the sister of Emperor Basil II, was Yarsolav’s mother). Manuel pardoned Andronikos, and he won Yaroslav’s support for the Empire. Andronikos returned to the Empire but was treated with suspicion. He fled again to Antioch, Jerusalem, and Georgia, seducing on his way prominent Byzantine ladies. In 1180, Andronikos submitted himself to Manuel and was pardoned for a second time.

Byzantine Empire (marked dark) at the death of Emperor Manuel in 1180