Alexios II Komnenos - Wikipedia Alexios II Komnenos From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Byzantine emperor from 1180 to 1183 For the emperor of Trebizond, see Alexios II of Trebizond. Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans Alexios II Komnenos Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans 15th-century portrait of Alexios II (from a 15th-century codex containing a copy of the Extracts of History by Joannes Zonaras) Byzantine emperor Reign 24 September 1180 – September 1183 Predecessor Manuel I Komnenos Successor Andronikos I Komnenos Born (1169-09-14)14 September 1169 Constantinople Died September 1183(1183-09-00) (aged 13–14) Constantinople Spouse Anna of France ​ (m. 1180)​ Dynasty Komnenos Father Manuel I Komnenos Mother Maria of Antioch Alexios II Komnenos (Medieval Greek: Αλέξιος Β′ Κομνηνός; 14 September 1169[1][2][3]:64[a] – September 1183), Latinized Alexius II Comnenus, was Byzantine emperor from 1180 to 1183. He ascended to the throne as a minor. For the duration of his short reign, the imperial power was de facto held by regents. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early years 1.2 Regency of Maria and Alexios 1.3 Regency of Andronikos and death 2 Portrayal in fiction 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading Biography[edit] Early years[edit] Born in the purple at Constantinople, Alexios was the long-awaited son of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (who gave him a name that began with the letter alpha as a fulfillment of the AIMA prophecy) and Maria of Antioch. In 1171 he was crowned co-emperor, and in 1175 he accompanied his father at Dorylaion in Asia Minor in order to have the city rebuilt. On 2 March 1180, at the age of eleven, he was married to Agnes of France aged 10, daughter of King Louis VII of France. She was thereafter known as Anna,[3]:64 and after Alexios' murder three years later, Anna would be remarried to the person responsible, Andronikos, then aged 65. Regency of Maria and Alexios[edit] When Manuel I died in September 1180, Alexios II succeeded him as emperor. At this time, however, he was an uneducated boy with only amusement in mind. The imperial regency was then undertaken by the dowager empress and the prōtosebastos Alexios Komnenos (a namesake cousin of Alexios II), who was popularly believed to be her lover.[4][3]:64 The regents depleted the imperial treasury by granting privileges to Italian merchants and to the Byzantine aristocracy. When Béla III of Hungary and Kilij Arslan II of Rum began raiding within the Byzantine western and eastern borders respectively, the regents were forced to ask for help to the pope and to Saladin. Furthermore, a party supporting Alexios II's right to reign, led by his half-sister Maria Komnene and her husband the caesar John, stirred up riots in the streets of the capital.[4][3]:64 The regents managed to defeat the party on April 1182,[3]:64 but Andronikos Komnenos, a first cousin of Manuel I, took advantage of the disorder to aim at the crown. He entered Constantinople, received with almost divine honours, and overthrew the government. His arrival was celebrated by a massacre of the Latins in Constantinople, especially the Venetian merchants, which he made no attempt to stop.[4][3]:64 The Empire in 1180, when Alexios II became Emperor Regency of Andronikos and death[edit] On 16 May 1182 Andronikos, posing as Alexios' protector, officially restored him on the throne.[3]:64 As for 1180, the young emperor was uninterested in ruling matters, and Andronikos effectively acted as the power behind the throne, not allowing Alexios any voice in public affairs. One after another, Andronikos suppressed most of Alexios' defenders and supporters: his half-sister Maria Komnene, the caesar John, his loyal generals Andronikos Doukas Angelos, Andronikos Kontostephanos and John Komnenos Vatatzes.[4][3]:64 In 1183, Alexios was compelled to condemn his own mother to death. In September 1183, Andronikos was formally proclaimed emperor before the crowd on the terrace of the Church of Christ of the Chalkè. Probably by the end of the same month,[3]:64 Andronikos ordered Alexios’ assassination; the young emperor was secretly strangled with a bow-string and his body buried in the Bósporos.[4][3]:64[6]:641 In the years following Alexios' mysterious disappearance, many young men resembling him tried to claim the throne. In the end, none of those pseudo-Alexioi managed to become emperor.[6]:641–2 Portrayal in fiction[edit] Alexios is a character in the historical novel Agnes of France (1980) by Greek writer Kostas Kyriazis. The novel describes the events of the reigns of Manuel I, Alexios II, and Andronikos I through the eyes of Agnes. Notes[edit] ^ Alternative dates of birth are 10 September 1169,[4] or a more vague 1168, based on William of Tyre's statement that Alexios was 13 in 1180[5] References[edit] ^ Wirth, Peter (1956), "Wann wurde Kaiser Alexios II. geboren? [When was Emperor Alexios II born?]", Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 49: 65–67, doi:10.1515/byzs.1956.49.1.65, S2CID 193204437 ^ Magoulias, Harry J., translator (1984), O city of Byzantium: annals of Niketas Choniates, Detroit: Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-1764-2, p. 383 ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. ^ a b c d e f  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:  Bury, John Bagnell (1911). "Alexius II.". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 577. ^ van Dieten, J. L., editor (1975), Nicetae Choniatae historia, Berlin: De Gruyter, p. 169 ^ a b Magdalino, Paul (2008). "The Byzantine empire, 1118–1204". In Luscombe, David; Riley-Smith, Jonathan (eds.). The New Cambridge Medieval History, volume IV, c. 1024–c. 1198, Part II. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-41411-1. Further reading[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexios II Komnenos. Byzantine Empire portal Harris, Jonathan, Byzantium and the Crusades, Bloomsbury, 2nd ed., 2014. ISBN 978-1-78093-767-0 Magdalino, Paul (2002) [1993]. The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos, 1143–1180. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52653-1. Plate, William (1867), "Alexios II Komnenos", in William Smith (ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, 1, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, p. 130 Varzos, Konstantinos (1984). Η Γενεαλογία των Κομνηνών [The Genealogy of the Komnenoi] (in Greek). Thessaloniki: Byzantine Research Centre., Vols. A1, A2 & B Alexios II Komnenos Komnenian dynasty Born: 14 September 1169 Died: September 1183 Regnal titles Preceded by Manuel I Komnenos Byzantine emperor 1180–1183 Succeeded by Andronikos I Komnenos v t e Roman and Byzantine emperors and ruling empresses Principate 27 BC – AD 235 Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus Commodus Pertinax Didius Julianus (Pescennius Niger) (Clodius Albinus) Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus Diadumenian Elagabalus Severus Alexander Crisis 235–285 Maximinus Thrax Gordian I Gordian II Pupienus Balbinus Gordian III Philip the Arab Philip II Decius Herennius Etruscus Hostilian Trebonianus Gallus Volusianus Aemilianus Valerian Gallienus Saloninus Claudius Gothicus Quintillus Aurelian Ulpia Severina Tacitus Florian Probus Carus Carinus Numerian Gallic emperors Postumus (Laelianus) Marius Victorinus (Domitianus II) Tetricus I with Tetricus II as caesar Palmyrene emperors Vaballathus Zenobia Septimius Antiochus Dominate 284–395 Diocletian Maximian Galerius Constantius I Severus Constantine the Great Maxentius Licinius Maximinus Daza (Valerius Valens) (Martinian) Constantine II Constantius II Constans I Magnentius Vetranio Julian Jovian Valentinian I (west) Valens (east) Gratian (west) Valentinian II (west) Theodosius I Magnus Maximus Victor (Eugenius) Western Empire 395–480 Honorius Constantine III with son Constans II Constantius III Joannes Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustulus Eastern/ Byzantine Empire 395–1204 Arcadius Theodosius II Marcian Leo I Leo II Zeno Basiliscus Marcus Anastasius I Dicorus Justin I Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice with son Theodosius as co-emperor Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Heraklonas Constans II Constantine IV with brothers Heraclius and Tiberius and then Justinian II as co-emperors Justinian II (first reign) Leontios Tiberius III Justinian II (second reign) with son Tiberius as co-emperor Philippikos Anastasios II Theodosius III Leo III the Isaurian Constantine V Artabasdos Leo IV the Khazar Constantine VI Irene Nikephoros I Staurakios Michael I Rangabe with son Theophylact as co-emperor Leo V the Armenian with Symbatios-Constantine as junior emperor Michael II the Amorian Theophilos Michael III Basil I the Macedonian Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos Romanos I Lekapenos with sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine as junior co-emperors Romanos II Nikephoros II Phokas John I Tzimiskes Basil II Constantine VIII Zoë (first reign) and Romanos III Argyros Zoë (first reign) and Michael IV the Paphlagonian Michael V Kalaphates Zoë (second reign) with Theodora Zoë (second reign) and Constantine IX Monomachos Constantine IX Monomachos (sole emperor) Theodora Michael VI Bringas Isaac I Komnenos Constantine X Doukas Romanos IV Diogenes Michael VII Doukas with brothers Andronikos and Konstantios and son Constantine Nikephoros III Botaneiates Alexios I Komnenos John II Komnenos with Alexios Komnenos as co-emperor Manuel I Komnenos Alexios II Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos with John Komnenos as co-emperor Isaac II Angelos Alexios III Angelos Alexios IV Angelos Nicholas Kanabos (chosen by the Senate) Alexios V Doukas Empire of Nicaea 1204–1261 Constantine Laskaris Theodore I Laskaris John III Doukas Vatatzes Theodore II Laskaris John IV Laskaris Byzantine Empire 1261–1453 Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos II Palaiologos with Michael IX Palaiologos as co-emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos John V Palaiologos John VI Kantakouzenos with John V Palaiologos and Matthew Kantakouzenos as co-emperors John V Palaiologos Andronikos IV Palaiologos John VII Palaiologos Andronikos V Palaiologos Manuel II Palaiologos John VIII Palaiologos Constantine XI Palaiologos Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. v t e The Komnenoi of the Byzantine Empire and the Empire of Trebizond 1st generation Nikephoros Komnenos Manuel Erotikos Komnenos 2nd generation Isaac I Komnenos John Komnenos 3rd generation Manuel Komnenos Isaac Komnenos Alexios I Komnenos Adrianos Komnenos Nikephoros Komnenos 4th generation John Komnenos Alexios Komnenos Constantine Komnenos Adrianos/John IV, Archbishop of Ohrid Anna Komnene Maria Komnene John II Komnenos Andronikos Komnenos Isaac Komnenos Eudokia Komnene Theodora Komnene 5th generation Alexios Komnenos Andronikos Komnenos Isaac Komnenos Manuel I Komnenos John Tzelepes Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos 6th generation John Doukas Komnenos Theodora Komnene, Duchess of Austria Alexios Komnenos Maria Komnene, Queen of Hungary Theodora Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem Maria Komnene Alexios II Komnenos Alexios Komnenos Manuel Komnenos John Komnenos Alexios Komnenos 7th generation Maria Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem Theodora Komnene, Princess of Antioch David Komnenos Alexios I Megas Komnenos 8th generation John I Axouchos Manuel I Megas Komnenos 9th generation Andronikos II Megas Komnenos Theodora Megale Komnene George Megas Komnenos John II Megas Komnenos 10th generation Alexios II Megas Komnenos Michael Megas Komnenos 11th generation Andronikos III Megas Komnenos Basil Megas Komnenos Anna Anachoutlou John III Megas Komnenos 12th generation Manuel II Megas Komnenos Alexios III Megas Komnenos 13th generation Anna Megale Komnene, Queen of Georgia Manuel III Megas Komnenos Eudokia Megale Komnene, Lady of Sinop 14th generation Alexios IV Megas Komnenos 15th generation John IV Megas Komnenos Maria Megale Komnene, Byzantine empress Alexander Megas Komnenos David Megas Komnenos 16th generation Theodora Megale Komnene ("Despina Khatun") Uncertain generation Eudokia Komnene, Lady of Montpellier Related subjects AIMA prophecy Only male-line descendants who are independently notable are shown. Rulers and co-rulers are denoted in bold Authority control General Integrated Authority File ISNI 1 VIAF 1 WorldCat National libraries Spain United States Other SUDOC (France) 1 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexios_II_Komnenos&oldid=1027191657" Categories: 1169 births 1183 deaths Komnenos dynasty Rulers who died as children Medieval child rulers 12th-century Byzantine emperors People executed by ligature strangulation Eastern Orthodox monarchs Assassinated Byzantine emperors 12th-century murdered monarchs Manuel I Komnenos Porphyrogennetoi Sons of Byzantine emperors Hidden categories: Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from July 2012 Articles containing Medieval Greek-language text Commons category link from Wikidata CS1 uses Greek-language script (el) CS1 Greek-language sources (el) Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNE identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers Navigation menu Personal tools Not logged in Talk Contributions Create account Log in Namespaces Article Talk Variants Views Read Edit View history More Search Navigation Main page Contents Current events Random article About Wikipedia Contact us Donate Contribute Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file Tools What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Wikidata item Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Languages Afrikaans العربية Aragonés تۆرکجه Български Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano ქართული Latina Magyar Македонски മലയാളം مصرى Nederlands 日本語 Norsk bokmål Polski Português Română Русский Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Zazaki 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 6 June 2021, at 16:48 (UTC). 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