Manuel Komnenos | |
|---|---|
 Lead seal of Manuel Komnenos with his title ofkouropalates, showing themilitary saintsDemetrius of Thessalonica andSaint George | |
| Native name | Μανουήλ Κομνηνός |
| Born | c. 1045 |
| Died | 17 April 1071 |
| Battles / wars | Campaigns against theSeljuq raids intoAsia Minor |
| Relations | John Komnenos (Father),Anna Dalassene (Mother),Alexios I Komnenos andIsaac Komnenos (Brothers),Alexios Charon (Grandfather),Manuel Erotikos Komnenos (Grandfather) |
Manuel Komnenos (Greek:Μανουήλ Κομνηνός,romanized: Manouēl Komnēnos;c. 1045 – 17 April 1071) was aByzantine aristocrat and military leader, the oldest son ofJohn Komnenos and brother of the future emperorAlexios I Komnenos. A relative by marriage of EmperorRomanos IV Diogenes, he was placed in charge of expeditions againstTurkish raids from 1070, until his sudden death by illness in April 1071.
Manuel was the first-born child ofJohn Komnenos and his wifeAnna Dalassene.[1] The date of his birth is unknown, but he was described as a youth in 1068, so he must have been born around 1045.[1] He was named after his grandfatherManuel Erotikos Komnenos. As a child, as was customary for children of the Byzantine aristocracy, Manuel was trained in war by his father, who at the time wasdomestikos ton scholon (commander-in-chief) of the eastern field army.[2]
In 1057, his uncle,Isaac I Komnenos, became emperor, but abdicated in 1059 and was succeeded byConstantine X Doukas (r. 1059–1067) after Manuel's father refused to take the throne.[3] Manuel's mother, Anna Dalassene, refused to acquiesce to her husband's decision, however, and developed a deep enmity towards theDoukas family. After John died in 1067, she began plotting against the Doukai with the ultimate aim of raising one of her sons to the throne. She thus backed the assumption of power byRomanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071), and soon after, married both Manuel and his sister Theodora to relatives of the new emperor as a sign of their political alliance.[4][5] By 1068, Manuel held the high court rank ofprotoproedros, and on the occasion of his marriage, Diogenes promoted him further tokouropalates.[6] The couple had at least one daughter, most likely named Anna after Manuel's mother.[7]
The emperor also gave Manuel the military rank ofprotostrator—a dignity that by this time had grown in importance sufficiently to only be awarded to individuals of exceptionally high social standing.[8] Manuel was also made commander-in-chief (strategos autokrator) of the eastern field army,[6] although unlike his father he does not appear to have held the corresponding rank ofdomestikos ton scholon.[9] In this capacity, Manuel confronted the raids of theSeljuq Turks into easternAsia Minor. In one skirmish in 1070, he foolhardily pressed ahead to the Turkish camp, and was captured after a bitter struggle. His loss led to the defeat of his army and the capture of his two lieutenants and brothers-in-law,Michael Taronites andNikephoros Melissenos.[10] Brought before the Turkish leader, a certainChrysoskoulos, Manuel managed to inflame his ambition and raise him in revolt against his nominal sovereign,SultanAlp Arslan (r. 1063–1072). Indeed, Chrysoskoulos accompanied his captives to the Byzantine capital,Constantinople, where Romanos IV received them with much honour.[11]
In spring 1071, Manuel and Chrysoskoulos went on campaign together against the Seljuqs, but inBithynia Manuel fell severely ill with anear infection. His mother hurried to his side at themonastery of Theotokos of Alypos on Mount Azalas, but arrived barely in time for him to bid her farewell before he died.[11] According to the early 12th-centurytypikon (foundational charter) of theMonastery of Christ Philanthropos, founded by EmpressIrene Doukaina, wife of Manuel's younger brotherAlexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118),[12] he died on 17 April (the day when he is commemorated).[13] In thetypikon, he is listed assebastos, one of the most exalted court ranks at the time thetypikon was written, but this is ananachronism reflecting later practice.[13]