Family Tree
  • Episodes
    Episode Index Key Dates Timelines By Category This day in history
    Episodes
    Saxons, Angles and Jutes Viking Invasions The Norman Invasion The Hundred Years War War of the Roses Complete list of Episodes
    Timelines
    Timeline Index 1001 .. 1100 1101 .. 1200 1201 .. 1300 1301 .. 1400 1401 .. 1500 1501 .. 1600
    Key Dates
    1001 - 1200 1201 - 1300 1301 - 1400 1401 - 1500 1501 - 1600
    More
    This day in history Timelines by Category
  • People
    Medieval People A..Z English Kings & Queens Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers Family Trees
    Rulers
    Medieval People A..Z English Kings & Queens Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Listed by Century Births and Deaths Family Trees
    More
    Medieval Knights Popes and Antipopes Crusader State Rulers
    Heraldry
    Medieval Heraldry Heraldry Colours Heraldry Divisons Heraldry Ordinaries Heraldry Crosses Common Charges Heraldry Beasts
    Shield Designer
    Design your Shield
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
    General
    Life in Medieval Times The Feudal System The Black Death The Peasants Revolt
    Life in
    Life in a Castle Life in a Village Life in a Town
    Life as
    Life as a Medieval Knight
    The Abbey
    Life in an Abbey The Medieval Abbey The Origin of Monasteries Religious Orders
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development Early Fortifications Motte and bailey Castles Square Keeps Castle of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
    General
    Castle Index Page Castle Development Purpose of a Castle Life in a Castle
    Types
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Square Keeps Conquest Castles Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    More
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle Master Masons
    Locations
    300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings Maps Photographs Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
    Places
    Medieval Buildings A..Z Photographs
    Maps
    Index Page
    Abbeys
    Abbeys and Monasteries Layout of a Medieval Abbey Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
     
  • 3D/VR
    Virtual Reconstructions
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Virtual Bodiam Castle Virtual Skenfrith Castle Virtual Middleham Castle Virtual White Tower Virtual Etal Castle
    Knights Training
    3D Reconstructions
    Index Page Motte and Bailey Castle Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower
    3D Locations
    The Medieval Abbey The Medieval Town The Medieval Village
    2D
    The Medieval Town The Manor House
    Headset VR
    VR Experiences VR Medieval Keep VR Medieval House
  • More
    • Test your Knowledge

    • Glossary of Terms
    • Glossary of Heraldic Terms
    • Scriptorium

    • Games
    • Early Access

    • Copyright / About TimeRef.com
    • Contact the Author
  • Episodes
    Episodes
    Saxons, Angles and Jutes Viking Invasions The Norman Invasion The Hundred Years War War of the Roses Complete list of Episodes
    Timelines
    Timeline Index 1001 .. 1100 1101 .. 1200 1201 .. 1300 1301 .. 1400 1401 .. 1500 1501 .. 1600
    Key Dates
    1001 - 1200 1201 - 1300 1301 - 1400 1401 - 1500 1501 - 1600
    More
    This day in history Timelines by Category
  • People
    Rulers
    Medieval People A..Z English Kings & Queens Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Listed by Century Births and Deaths Family Trees
    More
    Medieval Knights Popes and Antipopes Crusader State Rulers
    Heraldry
    Medieval Heraldry Heraldry Colours Heraldry Divisons Heraldry Ordinaries Heraldry Crosses Common Charges Heraldry Beasts
    Shield Designer
    Design your Shield
  • Life
    General
    Life in Medieval Times The Feudal System The Black Death The Peasants Revolt
    Life in
    Life in a Castle Life in a Village Life in a Town
    Life as
    Life as a Medieval Knight
    The Abbey
    Life in an Abbey The Medieval Abbey The Origin of Monasteries Religious Orders
  • Castles
    General
    Castle Index Page Castle Development Purpose of a Castle Life in a Castle
    Types
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Square Keeps Conquest Castles Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    More
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle Master Masons
    Locations
    300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings Maps Photographs Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
    Places
    Medieval Buildings A..Z Photographs
    Maps
    Index Page
    Abbeys
    Abbeys and Monasteries Layout of a Medieval Abbey Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
     
  • 3D/VR
    3D Reconstructions
    Index Page Motte and Bailey Castle Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower
    3D Locations
    The Medieval Abbey The Medieval Town The Medieval Village
    2D
    The Medieval Town The Manor House
    Headset VR
    VR Experiences VR Medieval Keep VR Medieval House
  • More
    • Test your Knowledge

    • Glossary of Terms
    • Glossary of Heraldic Terms
    • Scriptorium

    • Games
    • Early Access

    • Copyright / About TimeRef.com
    • Contact the Author
Biography
Biography
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Comnenus, Alexius (Byzantine Emperor)

Tweet
 Born1048   Born At
 Died1118  Buried At
 Born1048 / 
 Died1118 / 
Alexius Comnenus became emperor of Byzantium in 1081 after a palace revolution and was excommunicated by the Pope. Alexius took control of the Byzantine army that had fallen into a state of disarray.

Related Episodes

The People's Crusade and First Crusade (click here)

The People's Crusade and First Crusade (click here)

tab 2
tab 3

Contemporary People/Rulers

Show All
Show All
Show All
Fantasy image of Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
Fantasy image of Baldwin (I, King of Jerusalem 1100-1118)
Baldwin (I, King of Jerusalem 1100-1118)
Fantasy image of Bohemund (I, Prince of Antioch 1099-1111)
Bohemund (I, Prince of Antioch 1099-1111)
Fantasy image of Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
Fantasy image of Philippe (I, King of France 1060-1108)
Philippe (I, King of France 1060-1108)
Fantasy image of William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)
William (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100)

 

Family Tree Details

 Comnenus, Alexius (Byzantine Emperor) (b.1048 - d.1118)
 Comnenus, Alexius (Byzantine Emperor) (b.1048 - d.1118)

See Also

    People

    • Peter (The Hermit)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Timeline

    1081(Age: 33yrs)
    ...
    Accession of Alexius Comnenus

    The civil wars following the battle of Manzikert led to Alexius Comnenus becoming the Eastern Emperor. [1]

    1095(Age: 47yrs)
    Mar
    The Council of Piacenza

    At the Council of Piacenza a delegation visited Pope Urban II led by the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to raise the problems he was having fighting the Muslims in the East. Pope Urban removed the excommunication that had been placed on the Emperor by Pope Gregory and promised to help.

    1096(Age: 48yrs)
    Qtr 2
    Crusaders cause trouble

    Peter the Hermit's army of ordinary people was large and it needed feeding. One of the more noble members of the army was Walter Sans Avoir, also known as Walter the Penniless. When the army reached Cologne in April Peter decided to halt the army to take advantage of the good supply of food. Walter was impatient and with a small section of the army continued on. They passed through Hungary but at the town of Semlin a dispute broke out when some of his men stole food. When his men were refused food at Belgrade because the harvest had not yet been gathered Walter's army began pillaging the surrounding area. Finally Alexius Comnenus sent supplies and an escort to guard the Crusaders as they marched to Constantinople. The guard ensured that the Crusaders didn't cause any more trouble. [2]

    1097(Age: 49yrs)
    Apr
    Crusaders reach Constantinople

    When the crusaders arrived at Constantinople they were greeted by Emperor Alexius. The Emperor was happy for the crusaders to capture areas of the Holy Land but he wanted the land to be under his control. Alexius persuaded the Leaders of the crusaders to swear an oath of allegiance to him and to hand over the land they captured. They could however be allowed to live on and rule that land but not own it.

    May
    Stephen of Blois at Constantinople

    In late 1096, Stephen of Blois, his brother-in-law Robert Curthose, duke of Normandy, along with his cousin Robert, count of Flanders set out for the Holy Land. They reached Constantinople in May of 1097 and were warmly welcomed by Emporer Alexis. They then joined the main party of Crusaders and helped capture the city of Nicea.

    May 6
    Siege of Nicaea

    The Crusaders began their campaign with a siege of the city of Nicaea. The walls of the city were several miles long and as it lay on the eastern shore of a large lake a section of the walls rose out of the water. The Crusaders surrounded the city but were unable to gain entry. Attempts at undermining the walls were unsuccessful. Towards the end of May the Turks attacked the Crusaders and inflicted heavy losses but were beaten back. When it was discovered the the city was getting supplies from across the lake the Emporer Alexius sent a number of boats to prevent any further shipments getting through. This was the final straw for the defenders inside the city and on June 19th moments before the Crusaders launched an attack they surrendered. But they did not surrender to the Crusaders but to the Emperor instead. This infuriated the Crusaders who were expecting a large haul of treasure from the city. Alexius treated the captured Turks well and allowed many to buy their own freedom. But the city was important for the Crusaders as control of it ensured they could not be attacked as they moved further east. [3]

    1098(Age: 50yrs)
    Jun 28
    The Crusaders fight back

    Spurred on by the find of the Spear of Longinus, the spear that was supposed to have pierced Jesus on the cross, the Crusaders emerged from the city of Antioch to face the Moslems. The Moslems were defeated, many being killed and many fleeing. After the battle the ownership of the city was disputed. Bohemund and Raymond of Toulouse argued over its possession and after several months of debate Raymond accepted Bohemund's right to it. In truth, the city should have been handed over to Emporer Alexius. [3]

    On this day in history:

    3D Virtual Reconstructions

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

    More medieval people

    Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

    Page Navigation

    Selection of references used:

    • 1: BBC Publication, Background to the Crusades, printed by The Broadwater Press Ltd, Welwyn Garden City
    • 2: Alfred Duggan, The Story of the Crusades
    • 3: J.D.Griffith Davies, England in the Medieval Ages, 1928

      See Also

        People

        • Peter (The Hermit)
        • A .. Z List of Medieval People

        Medieval Heraldry

        Learn about medieval shield design.

        Design your own medieval Coat of Arms.

        Explore the White Tower

        Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

         

        Adventure Game - Early Access

        Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

         

        Medieval Town - Early Access

        Explore the medieval town.

         

        Medieval Village - Early Access

        Explore the medieval village.

         

        Medieval Abbey - Early Access

        Explore the medieval abbey.

         

        Medieval Theatre - Early Access

        Explore the medieval theatre.

         

        ^ Back to top

                This popup will contain more information
                This popup will contain more information
                xyz
                xyz