Irlandos: /* John the Beautiful */

2006-01-21T21:21:51Z

John the Beautiful

Irlandos at 21:20, January 21, 2006

2006-01-21T21:20:20Z

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'''John II Comnenus''' ([[September 13]], [[1087]] – [[April 8]], [[1143]]) was [[Byzantine emperor]] from [[1118]] to 1143. Also known as ''Kaloioannes'' (John the Beautiful), he was the eldest son of the emperor [[Alexius I Comnenus|Alexius]] and [[Irene Ducaena]].

==Succession==
He succeeded his father in 1118. [[Nicetas Choniates]] alone tells of the actions by which John II secured his own succession. Alexius I had favoured John to succeed him over his wife Irene's favourite, [[Nicephorus Bryennius]], who was married to their daughter Anna. Alexius resorted to dissimulation in order to avert Irene's criticism of his choice and her demands that Nicephorus should succeed. As Alexius lay on his deathbed in the monastery of the Mangana ([[15 August]] 1118), John, consorting with relatives whom he could trust, among whom was his brother, the sebastokrator [[Isaakios Comnenus (d. 1152)|Isaac]], stole into the monastery and removed the imperial signet ring from his dying father. Then, taking up arms, he rode to the Great Palace, gathering the support of the citizenry who acclaimed him emperor. Irene was taken by surprise and was unable either to persuade her son to desist, or to induce Nicephorus to act against him. Although the palace guard at first refused to admit John without proof of his father's wishes, the mob surrounding the new emperor simply forced entry. Alexius died the following night. John refused to join the funeral procession, in spite of his mother's urging, because his hold on power was so tenuous. However, in the space of a few days, his position was secure.

==Role==
On account of his mild and just reign he has been called the Byzantine Marcus Aurelius. By the personal purity and piety of his character he effected a notable improvement in the manners of his age, and he devoted his reign to restoring the [[Byzantine Empire]] to its former extents, before the disaster at [[Battle of Manzikert|Manzikert]] in [[1071]]. His various successes against the invading Petchenegs, Serbians and Seljuk Turks, whose progress in [[Asia Minor]] he reverted, along with his attempts to establish Byzantine suzerainty over the Crusader States in Antioch and Edessa, did much to restore the reputation of his empire, even if the Comnenian dynasty in hindsight gave Byzantium, torn apart by corruption and invasions, but a brief respite against disintegration. His only serious—but very telling—setbacks were against the Venetians, upon whose naval strength the empire was dependent after the breakdown of the Byzantine fleet in the [[11th century]]. An effort to reduce their extensive privileges within the empire ended with a humiliating return to status quo, many Byzantine ports being plundered in the process.

== John the Beautiful ==
John was known as ''Kaloiannis'', 'John the Beautiful'. William of Tyre says that he was short and unusually ugly, with eyes, hair and complexion so dark he was known as 'the Moor'. The description ''Kaloiannis'' referred not to his body but to his soul. Both his parents had been unusually pious and John surpassed them. Members of his court were expected to restrict their conversation to serious subjects only. The food served at the emperor's table was very frugal and John lectured courtiers who lived in excessive luxury. Despite his austerity, John was loved. His principles were sincerely held and his integrity great. He never condemned anyone to death or mutilation. Charity was dispensed lavishly.

John married [[Piroska of Hungary]], daughter of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Their two eldest sons predeceased him, and he passed over the third son, Isaakios, in favor of the youngest, Manuel, who had shown great promise.

==Death==
It was on Mount Taurus in Cilicia, on [[April 8]], 1143 that John was accidentally infected by a poisoned arrow (though there are those that theorize that this was no accident), and when it was apparent that he was going to die, the emperor chose his youngest son [[Manuel I Comnenus|Manuel]] to be his successor over the other remaining son Isaac, citing two main reasons, namely Isaac's irascibility and the courage that Manuel had shown at [[Neocaesareia]].

==Family==

John married Piroska in [[1104]]; the marriage was intended as compensation for the loss of some territories to King Coloman of Hungary. She played little part in government, devoting herself to piety and their large brood of children. Piroska died on [[August 13]], [[1134]] and was later venerated as Saint Eirene. John and Piroska had eight children:
# [[Alexius Comnenus (d. 1142)|Alexius Comnenus]], co-emperor, died [[1142]]
# Maria Comnena, twin to Alexius, married Ioannes Dalassenos Rogerios
# Andronikos Comnenus (died [[1142]])
# [[Isaakios Comnenus (d. 1154)|Isaakios Comnenus]] (died [[1154]])
# [[Manuel I Comnenus]] (died [[1180]])
# Anna Comnena, married Stephanos Kontostephanos
# Theodora Comnena, married Manuel Anemas
# Eudokia Comnena, married Theodoros Vatazes

==See also==
* [http://homepage.mac.com/paulstephenson/trans/cinnamus.html John II Comnenus' Hungarian campaigns]
* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/johncomn.htm An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:1087 births]]
[[Category:1143 deaths]]
[[Category:Comnenid dynasty]]
[[Category:Byzantine emperors]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 John was known as ''Kaloiannis'', 'John the Beautiful'. William of Tyre says that he was short and unusually ugly, with eyes, hair and complexion so dark he was known as 'the Moor'. The description ''Kaloiannis'' referred not to his body but to his soul. Both his parents had been unusually pious and John surpassed them. Members of his court were expected to restrict their conversation to serious subjects only.  The food served at the emperor's table was very frugal and John lectured courtiers who lived in excessive luxury. Despite his austerity, John was loved. His principles were sincerely held and his integrity great. He never condemned anyone to death or mutilation. Charity was dispensed lavishly.
-John married [[Piroska of Hungary]], daughter of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Their two eldest sons predeceased him, and he passed over the third son, Isaakios, in favor of the youngest, Manuel, who had shown great promise.
+John married Piroska of Hungary, daughter of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Their two eldest sons predeceased him, and he passed over the third son, Isaakios, in favor of the youngest, Manuel, who had shown great promise.
 ==Death==

John II Comnenus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* John the Beautiful */

Irlandos at 21:20, January 21, 2006