Battle for Survival ⚔️ How did Alexios Komnenos save the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENTARY

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  • čas přidán 14. 04. 2022
  • 🚩 Sign up on HistoryHit and get 50% off your first 3 months by using the code HISTORYMARCHE access.historyhit.com/checkou...
    🚩 Alexios I Komnenos was one of the great Byzantine Emperors. He turned the declining Byzantine Empire into a strong seat of power and successfully defended it against Norman invasions in the Balkans and the Seljuk Turk threat in Asia Minor.
    🚩 This video was produced in collaboration with Bulgarian Empire Mapping, check out their channel and give them the credit that they deserve! / @historyrhymes1701 - Big shout to BEM for collaborating with us on this video!
    📜 Research and writing
    Bulgarian Empire Mapping
    🚩 Support HistoryMarche on Patreon and get ad-free early access to our videos for as little as $1: / historymarche
    📢 Narrated by David McCallion
    #documentary #alexios #byzantine

Komentáře • 824

  • @HistoryMarche
    @HistoryMarche  Před 2 lety +55

    🚩 Sign up on HistoryHit and get 50% off your first 3 months by using the code HISTORYMARCHE access.historyhit.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=historymarche&plan=monthly
    🚩 Alexios I Komnenos was one of the great Byzantine Emperors. He turned the declining Byzantine Empire into a strong seat of power and successfully defended it against Norman invasions in the Balkans and the Seljuk Turk threat in Asia Minor.
    🚩 This video was produced in collaboration with Bulgarian Empire Mapping, check out their channel and give them the credit that they deserve! czcams.com/channels/D-0LPbxri4fSvd0UoisIfg.html - Big shout to BEM for collaborating with us on this video!

    • @macgurkha1973
      @macgurkha1973 Před 2 lety

      The Crusaders breaking their oath with Alexios? You did not cover or disclose the part about Alexios and the Byzantines were negotiating with the Turks behind the Crusaders' back.

    • @bzbxzhdb4656
      @bzbxzhdb4656 Před 2 lety

      HISTORICAL CHRISTIAN SOURCES WRITES THAT PECHENEG AND GUZZ(BALKAN OGHUZS) TURKS IN ROMAN ARMY JOINED TO THE TURKIC SIDE DURING BATTLE OF MANZIKERT.

    • @georgiancountryball202
      @georgiancountryball202 Před 2 lety +2

      Oy why did you do georgia dirty when georgia defeated 300k or 400k (depending on what sources people use) seljuks in battle of didgori it happened literaly after the first crusade ended you could have thrown a small word about that into the video but let's get to the point of why I'm writing about this I want you to make a video about the David the builder the greatest king of Georgia(if not the greatest then seccond greatest) when he literally revolted against seljuks and laid fear into thair heart took lands and kept going till he died so please make a video about him I BEG YOU 😭😭😭

    • @GEO-mania
      @GEO-mania Před 2 lety +1

      Please think about doing little something about Georgian. Its been long overdue. Battle of Didgori, or life of King Davit "the builder" would be awesome. There's so many more. Thank you in advance.

    • @georgiancountryball202
      @georgiancountryball202 Před 2 lety +1

      @@GEO-mania I have been begging him about that for a LONG time let's hope he finnaly listens to our begging

  • @michaelsinger4638
    @michaelsinger4638 Před 2 lety +801

    Alexios is a great example of “bounce back.” He had setbacks, but he learned and came back better than before.

    • @ProvidenceNL
      @ProvidenceNL Před 2 lety +59

      The Eastern Roman Empire entire history was of bounce back, and then it being wasted by civil wars, religious disputes and resulting civil war and incompetent emperors and then a recovery by one or more amazing emperors, truly a tragic story.

    • @EpicAMV911
      @EpicAMV911 Před 2 lety +18

      @@ProvidenceNL Classic roman history right? "they got selfish" thats how we can define most of it/

    • @peterzin8979
      @peterzin8979 Před 2 lety +4

      Don’t forget the plague!

    • @histori_shqiptare0225
      @histori_shqiptare0225 Před 2 lety +1

      He is albanian,,, gjon is albanian name and komnens has been albanian prince too

    • @ProvidenceNL
      @ProvidenceNL Před 2 lety

      @@histori_shqiptare0225 Typical nationalistic bullshit. The Komemnos family was Thracian. It is commonly accepted among scholars that it was a Greek family.

  • @pseudomonas03
    @pseudomonas03 Před 2 lety +352

    Alexios Komnenos's story is a story about how to deal with any kind of almost impossible odds. From a young officer he had to face a mercenary who had under his controll a large part of Anatolia. Even if he was only in his late teens, he put an end to this threat. When he became Basileus, the state was falling apart. The Normans advanced from the west, the Pechenegs and Cumans from the north, while the Seljuks from the east were at Nicaea, almost outside Constantinople. What were the chances for Alexios to survive through this. None, most would say. But Alexios succeeded, giving to the state, one last period of glory.

    • @jackdonith
      @jackdonith Před 2 lety +24

      And by one last period, you mean almost 5 centuries! Trully a feat.

    • @saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014
      @saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 Před 2 lety +11

      The Komnenian Resilience. That sounds catchy.
      When someone believes he can do something even after failed many times

    • @pseudomonas03
      @pseudomonas03 Před 2 lety +20

      @@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 Well, if wasn't for Alexios Komnenos, the Eastern Roman Empire would have ceased to exist from 1080 AD. So apart from the original failures, considering that the troops that were in bad shape, the state that was falling apart, the enemies that were attacking from everywhere, yes what Alexios Komnenos did, was a small miracle.

    • @saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014
      @saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 Před 2 lety +3

      @@pseudomonas03 yeah, but what i said was in a positive way

    • @roenin
      @roenin Před rokem +1

      @@jackdonith Byzantines was gone by the 13th century. Whatever was left was in the western half of modern city of Istanbul. The rest both in Balkans and Anatolia was gone far earlier than 1453, the glorious year the city was liberated.

  • @notsm
    @notsm Před 2 lety +878

    It's always fun to think about how the eastern roman empire kept existing due to the rule of conviniently timed competent/genuis kings/queens during times that seem like "on the verge of collapse".

    • @robman102
      @robman102 Před 2 lety +179

      As they say: hard times make great men. Great times make weak men.

    • @Ragnarok__
      @Ragnarok__ Před 2 lety +43

      Byzantine Empire you mean?

    • @GlizzyGoblin757
      @GlizzyGoblin757 Před 2 lety +198

      @@Ragnarok__ no. the roman empire.

    • @Ragnarok__
      @Ragnarok__ Před 2 lety +37

      @@GlizzyGoblin757 Ecloga of Leo III contradicts Roman law, accession of Irene of Athens as well. Constantine XI son gave the title of Byzantine Emperor to Ferdinand of Aragon that he didn't even recognize, and who would inherit the title? none other than Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor, who didn't give a damn about the illegal Byzantine succession. So favoring more to Byzantine discredit.

    • @Akkise
      @Akkise Před 2 lety +155

      @@Ragnarok__ they were the eastern half of rome that survived which makes them roman.

  • @theblindlucario5093
    @theblindlucario5093 Před 2 lety +607

    His daughter was also an early female historian (after her failed coup against her brother John)! Though the Alexiad is dramatized and not exactly accurate Anna Komnene gives a very interesting first hand account of her father’s restoration!

    • @heinzlilio4612
      @heinzlilio4612 Před 2 lety +69

      Anna describing the French and the Normans as "frankish barbarians" seems oddly fitting considering the second they recaptured Antioch instead of handing it over to the Byzantines as agreed by their sworn oath to Alexios they made an independent principality

    • @ichthys4396
      @ichthys4396 Před 2 lety

      The coup probably never happened and was a later invention Choniates who wrote centuries later. The Alexiad is very pro Alexios and very pro John

    • @paulmayson3129
      @paulmayson3129 Před 2 lety +58

      @@heinzlilio4612
      Back then Barbarian meant Non-Greeks/Romans.

    • @bokonoo77
      @bokonoo77 Před 2 lety +11

      >lusting after her father's enemy
      she is overrated

    • @magistermilitum1206
      @magistermilitum1206 Před 2 lety +10

      Well let's consider the fact that the Normans in sicily, the venetians who sacked constantinople and so on and so on, of course they are considered barbarians lmao, barbarian isn't just if you are a tribe

  • @historyrhymes1701
    @historyrhymes1701 Před 2 lety +202

    Can't believe how well this one turned out. Once again pleasure working with you!

    • @HistoryMarche
      @HistoryMarche  Před 2 lety +21

      Same here! Big shout to Bulgarian Empire Mapping, go check out his channel! czcams.com/channels/D-0LPbxri4fSvd0UoisIfg.html

    • @catthegreat4977
      @catthegreat4977 Před rokem +1

      @@HistoryMarche name of song?

  • @christopherborges7929
    @christopherborges7929 Před 2 lety +163

    Despite Alexios' efforts and success, seeing the Empire in it's late stages is sad, knowing that a hundred years later it would be dealt a terminal blow and just 350 years later, the final fall, after spanning over 1,000 years, the Eastern Roman Empire would be just a memory, 1,500 years of Roman rule, East and West combined, from Augustus to Constantine IX. The Empire that survived countless rebellions and civil wars, invasions and set backs, it endured, but all things come to an end.

    • @nomoreman
      @nomoreman Před rokem +7

      Crasy too think how long the empire survived

    • @gsh64
      @gsh64 Před 10 měsíci

      Turks kind of continued on the same path

    • @Munciboss
      @Munciboss Před 10 měsíci +1

      Constantine XI*

    • @RocketHarry865
      @RocketHarry865 Před 2 měsíci

      When you also add in both the Republican and Kingdom periods of Roman history and you get 22 centuries of existence and if you add in the archaeological evidence that reveals that settlement stretched further back to 1000 BC. From a humble collection of farming villages built on 7 hills near the River Tiber to one of the greatest Empires that established and disseminated the very foundations of western European civilization to its final stand in its last capital on the shores of the Bosporus and Propontis.

  • @privatebandana
    @privatebandana Před 2 lety +238

    I like how Komnenos took a few cities in the west while the crusader army literally went rampage all the way to Jerusalem, letting Komnenos walk into the central parts of Turkey and just take it with minimal resistance, lol.

    • @macgurkha1973
      @macgurkha1973 Před 2 lety +23

      He was only successful because the Crusaders did a lot of the decisive fighting against the Muslims. The Muslim armies were preoccupied with the Crusaders.

    • @GeoBBB123
      @GeoBBB123 Před 2 lety +83

      Great strategy there Alexios. Use whatever tools, resources and circumstances make themselves available to you. Well done.

    • @majorianus8055
      @majorianus8055 Před 2 lety +79

      He would have been more successful if the Crusaders listened to him and follow their oaths and not act as barbarians that they were.

    • @Ian-yf7uf
      @Ian-yf7uf Před 2 lety +29

      I also like how all the famous Crusaders (the majority) were usually Norman and the Normans had wreaked havoc across Byzantium just a few years earlier.

    • @Vlassis06
      @Vlassis06 Před 2 lety +36

      @@majorianus8055 only a roman would say those words welcome citizen of rome

  • @AlexS-oj8qf
    @AlexS-oj8qf Před 2 lety +213

    The issue with the Komnenoian Dynasty is that they sees the Byzantine Empire as collections of Cities and ignored the countryside, they focused on the reconquest of the Anatolian Coastal Cities but never push deeper into the heartland, allowing the Turks to consolidate their populate, even worse during Emperor Manuel reign where he evacuate the greek populate from Turkish lands, making the Turks firmly attached to said lands.

    • @jeffreywong33
      @jeffreywong33 Před 2 lety +31

      I think the main issue of Komnenoian Dyansty is that they give too much power to military aristocracy (including Komnenoian themselves) , the unity of the empire is solely rely on military Emperor who can be accepted by the aristocrat ( Alexios, John, Manuel )

    • @jacobusmarch9524
      @jacobusmarch9524 Před 2 lety +61

      It's actually a very Roman mindset to focus on the urban areas and to ignore the countryside. It's not inaccurate to say it the Roman empire was essentially a empire of cities where the center of its power was in its urbanization. This is why more and more often the Romans struggled with recruitment and maintaining loyal troops. Levy's from the cities would always be inferior to peasant troops of the hills or farmland which is why the byzantines would often depend on Armenians and slavs for their soldiers in the early days, and more and more on mercenaries as they were deprived of those lands as decades wore on.

    • @khalidgagnon8753
      @khalidgagnon8753 Před 2 lety +17

      Yes and no: the coastal cities also expanded influence and remember: the navy for so long was the power broker of the empire.
      Besides, his grandson was able to try and retake those lands thanks to his grandfather's actions...... He SHOULD HAVE HAD IT.
      But..... Classic ambush in a pass story and a 1/4 of his army gone plays out..... The rest is history

    • @hachibidelta4237
      @hachibidelta4237 Před 2 lety +20

      The coast is wealthier and more populated, but afterwards instead of focusing on annexing the heartland to secure their border, they attack Antioch and Syria? Like I know they try to secure the Armenians for manpower but still.
      John Komnenos also offended Venice without considering their own lack of seapower. Manuel Komnenos improved the naval power.... but wasted resources and time for very little gain because he was trying too hard to be seen as leader of a large hegemony. He was also too obsessed with Western power and got depressed when he failed to take Iconium/Konya.

    • @crownprincesebastianjohano7069
      @crownprincesebastianjohano7069 Před 2 lety +24

      @@khalidgagnon8753 The Battle of Myriokephalon. Had Manuel won the Romans recover most, if not all, of interior Anatolia.* But, he didn't. That said, the defeat was not another Manzikert. Within a year the Romans were attacking again and raiding deep into Seljuk territory and retaking some border fortresses. However, due to various reasons, Manuel was never able to make another concerted effort to re-conquer the interior. When he died the Empire was still in great shape. But successors were incompetent and the great military they inherited, with a strong fleet and strong Tagma, withered. And the 4th Crusade tore the heart out of the Empire.
      *Even if the Romans had retaken interior Anatolia, things had changed. Many of the Greeks and Armenians had already fled to the coasts. Ethnic Turkish families took up where the Greeks had left off. The demographics of Anatolia were changed forever, and would, even if retaken, never be the same core territory that had been the main recruiting ground of the Byzantine armies during the Macedonian Dynasty.

  • @Mr_M_History
    @Mr_M_History Před 2 lety +92

    Thanks for all the great content and being someone to look up to. We all love your work!

  • @artbyevangelos
    @artbyevangelos Před rokem +8

    Great channel thank you for sharing 🍀☀️🌺🇬🇷🇩🇰

  • @EJobuu
    @EJobuu Před 2 lety +5

    Another excellent video. HistoryMarche has easily become my most anticipated CZcams channel of my long list. Every day i check longing for more excellent content. Thank You all.

  • @nervachadikus
    @nervachadikus Před 2 lety +92

    YES! FINALLY!! Alexios is without a doubt one of the greatest emperors. Bringing a state that's nearing total collapse back to the heights he did is truly astonishing. I think one of his greatest mistakes is focusing too much on the Normans of Antioch, though it's understandable looking at his experience with them. I just think much more should've been done to expel the Turks from Anatolia (but that brings the question how much more even could have been done).The blame still mostly falls on Manuel, but it's Alexios' actions that allowed the Turks to consolidate.
    (This subject I'm admittedly not as educated on so anyone feel free to correct me if I'm talking nonsense) Isn't he the one that like made the whole family rule structure? Because if he is I think he should also be responsible for the failure if that system seeing as it needed a rather capable emperor to keep the dozens of imperial relatives in check and we saw that system break the moment the wasn't such an emperor.

    • @ibobeko4309
      @ibobeko4309 Před 2 lety +4

      The Sack of Constantinople and fragmentation of the Byzantine Empire and fighting each other at every opportunity was like sending invitations to the Turks.
      Sack of Constantinople, fighting each other and the 7 year civil war= failed state.

    • @rayzas4885
      @rayzas4885 Před 2 lety +9

      Honestly the turks could've been thrown out multiple times after his death and weren't a threat at all to the romans for decades after his death

    • @nervachadikus
      @nervachadikus Před 2 lety +2

      @@rayzas4885 True, but I still think the top priority should've been the full recovery of Anatolia since it was pretty obvious that it was more valuable than the Balkans. I'm quite puzzled as to why such brilliant men like Alexios and John II think "Oi when we were only left with Anatolia we could still survive whereas when we were only left with the Balkans it was a clusterfuck". Though the Turks weren't dangerous at the moment they've proven that they could be dangerous (and that's exactly what happens after Manuel).
      To be honest I have no idea what John even did during most of his reign. I know he had a conflict with Venice and that he campaigned in the general area of Cilicia and Antioch and that he then died. did he take any major actions against the Turks? If not and assuming he didn't have a bigger conflict to keep him occupied, that's a massive mistake in my opinion.

    • @DestroyerOfSense000
      @DestroyerOfSense000 Před 2 lety +14

      @@nervachadikus No, he didn't take any major actions against the Turks. He took dozens of minor actions against them, seizing town after town, fort after fort, one at a time, until most of western Anatolia was back in Roman hands. It wasn't quite glorious, but it was extremely effective. And unlike his son Manuel, he maintained a razor-sharp focus on Anatolia, except when it was absolutely necessary to turn his attention elsewhere (like in his campaign against the Pechenegs, in which he utterly wiped the floor with them). Very few men could possibly fill the shoes of an emperor like Alexios, but John did so.

    • @ShalltearGaming
      @ShalltearGaming Před 2 lety

      is it greater than the Mongol Empire? Genhis khan

  • @rahman9749
    @rahman9749 Před 2 lety +21

    Alexios Komnenos is the definition of tenacity.

  • @hentaioverwhelming
    @hentaioverwhelming Před 2 lety +6

    Alexios Komnenos, also known as the personification of the Chumbawamba song "I get knocked down but I get up again"

  • @SavvaSou
    @SavvaSou Před 2 lety +4

    Amazing work as always

  • @daniellinanmolina1044
    @daniellinanmolina1044 Před 2 lety +37

    such an underrated emperor. reminds me of gallienus, the way he ended up defeating most of his enemies when his empire was at the lowest it had been in a long time, with lots of usurpers to deal with, yet managed to stay on the throne for quite a long time. both also had successors more celebrated than themselves

    • @alessandrogini5283
      @alessandrogini5283 Před 2 lety +2

      Another underrated Is Alexander severus

    • @daniellinanmolina1044
      @daniellinanmolina1044 Před 2 lety +1

      @@alessandrogini5283 yeah but not that much

    • @alessandrogini5283
      @alessandrogini5283 Před 2 lety

      @@daniellinanmolina1044 well, he needed more time/more Money/ more loyal army..he could had vassalized sassanid empire

    • @daniellinanmolina1044
      @daniellinanmolina1044 Před 2 lety

      @@alessandrogini5283 by no means he could have come close to subduing the sasanians. shapur I was a top 5 shahanshah (both khosrows and shapurs I and II are locks

    • @alessandrogini5283
      @alessandrogini5283 Před 2 lety

      @@daniellinanmolina1044 shapor was in 244,i speak in 232 233 235

  • @damac5136
    @damac5136 Před rokem

    Making the right friends helps. Thanks for the video!

  • @Uzair_Of_Babylon465
    @Uzair_Of_Babylon465 Před 2 lety +11

    Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job

  • @BlazeKiingHD
    @BlazeKiingHD Před 2 lety +2

    Thank god you keep making videos

  • @ashleyalexander7388
    @ashleyalexander7388 Před 2 lety +1

    love the voice acting. draws me in everytime

  • @ziedyacoub8488
    @ziedyacoub8488 Před 2 lety +3

    nice work from this channel . thx

  • @greyd.99xsome
    @greyd.99xsome Před 2 lety

    Great work Guys. You're one of the reasons i turned my back on TV.

  • @grasa95
    @grasa95 Před 2 lety +2

    best history chanel on YT!

  • @arthurbriand2175
    @arthurbriand2175 Před 2 lety +11

    We know all of this thanks to his daughter Anna Komnena, who is surprisingly not a Disney princess yet.

  • @DeusEx1977
    @DeusEx1977 Před rokem

    Great job! Very informative

  • @FieldTactics
    @FieldTactics Před rokem

    So excellent! Keep it coming please.

  • @AJ-et3vf
    @AJ-et3vf Před 2 lety +1

    awesome video! Thank you!

  • @parhi3m
    @parhi3m Před 2 lety

    thanks for this awesome video

  • @Killer-vi4ih
    @Killer-vi4ih Před 2 lety +1

    You never disappoint

  • @dansmith4077
    @dansmith4077 Před 5 měsíci

    Brilliant video thank you

  • @caesar3295
    @caesar3295 Před rokem +2

    Wow you're probably the best history channel I love your videos but this is probably the best

  • @eugenegershman900
    @eugenegershman900 Před 2 lety +3

    great video !!!

  • @saegoto
    @saegoto Před 2 lety +2

    great video! thanks for polish subs

  • @ZarnakTheTerrible
    @ZarnakTheTerrible Před 2 lety +2

    Thanks!

  • @IsaacRaiCastillo
    @IsaacRaiCastillo Před 2 lety +15

    As always, there is excellence in your videos, I'm glad you talk about Byzantine history, which often escapes Western historical interest. I would like you to also make videos on a subject that is not usually talked about much and that is the Conquest of the Kingdom of Aragon in the Mediterranean, it is very interesting and they even conquered areas of Greece with the Almogavares, the most lethal warriors of their time. Generally, the stories are usually focused on the Norman conquests of southern Italy, although the Aragonese reigned longer in the Mediterranean than they did, of course if you add that later the Hispanic monarchy followed the tutelage.

  • @DamonNomad82
    @DamonNomad82 Před 2 lety +63

    I have long been an admirer of Emperor Alexios. He came to power at a critical point. If another inept ruler like most of those from the prior half century had become ruler instead, it is likely that the Empire would have collapsed then, rather than surviving for another 3 and a half centuries.

    • @user-ln8eh5nq3q
      @user-ln8eh5nq3q Před 2 lety +12

      Indeed great emperor (with some mistakes such as the treaty with Venice but still a compitent ruler which the empire hadn't seen for 50 years

    • @daniellinanmolina1044
      @daniellinanmolina1044 Před 2 lety

      eastern version of gallienus?

    • @widjiro
      @widjiro Před 2 lety +3

      the norman would conquerored greece, bulgaria become independent, and there will be no crusade

    • @madhurawat155
      @madhurawat155 Před 2 lety +2

      Or if Basil II hadn't conquered Bulgaria, the empire would've collapsed even before he got the chance.

    • @hanglei9865
      @hanglei9865 Před rokem

      @@widjiro what do u mean by no crusade? Do u assume even if eastern Rome cease to exist as an entity there will be no inevitable crush between Christian and Muslim?

  • @rurrjh
    @rurrjh Před 2 lety

    Thank you. Most interesting

  • @artbyevangelos
    @artbyevangelos Před rokem

    Great channel thank you for sharing 🍀☀️🌺

  • @makutas-v261
    @makutas-v261 Před rokem +2

    10:29 OOOH HE DID IT! HE DID THE THING!!!!! THERE IT IS !! THERE IT IS!!! WOOOOOO YEAH BABY
    medieval equivalent of pressing the nuke button!

  • @robbabcock_
    @robbabcock_ Před 2 lety

    Great video! ⚔ ⚔ ⚔

  • @asder2036
    @asder2036 Před 2 lety +2

    Great video. Just one note for accuracy. Roussel de Ballieul tried to set up a state near Ancyra not Nicaea

  • @ionutpaun9828
    @ionutpaun9828 Před 2 lety +3

    Great series! Love the videos about the Byzantine Empire !

  • @jeffreywong33
    @jeffreywong33 Před 2 lety +2

    thank you :)

  • @MrBoodyx
    @MrBoodyx Před rokem +1

    This was great. You guys make lunch awesome 😬

  • @dolcinofavi6368
    @dolcinofavi6368 Před 2 lety +2

    LOVE IT !!!!!!!!

  • @erwinrommel2875
    @erwinrommel2875 Před 2 lety +2

    From turkey, çok başarılı olmuş altyazı içinde çok teşekkürler.

  • @mysteryjunkie9808
    @mysteryjunkie9808 Před 2 lety +8

    Alexios Komennos story would make a excellent TV series. From his rise to the Crusades particulate would be fun to watch

  • @jakeboylan9493
    @jakeboylan9493 Před 2 lety +6

    I love these history lessons! But I think i speak for a lot of people when I say, wheres Hannibal at? Keep up the great work in the mean time

    • @HistoryMarche
      @HistoryMarche  Před 2 lety +3

      Working on it. Last few weeks have been crazy on the home front with my father's illness, which has disrupted the schedule. But it's coming.

    • @jakeboylan9493
      @jakeboylan9493 Před 2 lety +5

      @@HistoryMarche sorry to hear about your father. I hope he is recovering well and you are still healthy

  • @MrBbuggy
    @MrBbuggy Před rokem +1

    This guy is the best narrator I've heard so far.

  • @arthegor
    @arthegor Před 2 lety +1

    Please more about the Komnenian Period ! ^^

  • @cortobrown7919
    @cortobrown7919 Před rokem +2

    A brilliant example of never surrender.

  • @dpdystro2227
    @dpdystro2227 Před 2 lety

    The video’s pronunciation of Byzantine is quite an innovation!

  • @scottryals3191
    @scottryals3191 Před 2 lety +2

    amazing story

  • @hentaioverwhelming
    @hentaioverwhelming Před 2 lety +23

    Everyone talks about how great Alexios Komnenos is but no one ever hears about his son John II Komnenos

    • @madhurawat155
      @madhurawat155 Před 2 lety +1

      Because Alexios was tested in fire, and John, while equally capable, was fortunate enough to never face the same kind of odds.

    • @jackdonith
      @jackdonith Před 2 lety +4

      @@madhurawat155 sure but on the other hand people tend to forget for example Nikephoros Phokas and John Tzimiskes while fanboying over Basil II who got the empire at its maximum but stood on the shoulders of previous successful rulers.

    • @crownprincesebastianjohano7069
      @crownprincesebastianjohano7069 Před 2 lety +4

      If only John had lived longer. Or if Manuel lives longer to ensure his son lives to majority and take the throne. Imagine no Andronikos or the Angeloi.

  • @morriganmhor5078
    @morriganmhor5078 Před 2 lety +5

    Your statement that "Nicaea opened its gates to Emperor" is a gross understatement. In fact, the siege of Nicaea mostly by Latins only, with a bit of help of Byzantine military engineers, was the first major battle of the First Crusade, taking place from 14 May to 19 June 1097. The city was under the control the Seljuk Turks, who, after their army was repelled from siege lines, opted to surrender to the Byzantines in fear of the crusaders breaking into the city.

  • @mikligardur9104
    @mikligardur9104 Před 2 lety +39

    Komnenos dynasty only needed one more emperor in same league as Alexios, John and Manuel to finish off the Seljuk of Rum by using Third Crusade as KO blow however Manuel heir Alexios II was a boy when Manuel died and was killed in coup d'etat. Komnenos dynasty fell apart after that and really period from 1182 to 1204AD was the turning point. There was no empire after 1204, just fragmented Byzantine despot kingdoms.

  • @Lumierd
    @Lumierd Před 2 lety +4

    @HistoryMarche Please make a video about Emperor John iii Doukas Vatatzès he was considered the greatest ruler for the byzantines during his reign no one was hungry and crime was very low in the empire, he forced the rich and aristocratic families to share their wealth with the poor and hungry people of the empire and he was canonized as a saint by the church a little bit after his death. He laid the groundwork for the recovery of Constantinople from the Latin crusaders.

  • @actanonvebra5183
    @actanonvebra5183 Před 2 lety +28

    Greek Medieval history is awesome 🔥

    • @user-wf4lz6md9d
      @user-wf4lz6md9d Před 2 lety +10

      Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) was not a Greek empire. Majority of the emperors were not Greek. The armies were very multi-national. Greece was indeed part of the Empire but only composed a small section. Eastern Romans spoke Greek and Latin but it does not translate into Greek ethnicity. The only time for me that the Empire can be said to be Greek is for the post 1204 phase when Greece was the only region of the Empire left standing. Ironically that was when the term Greek started being used again by leaders. It is no coincidence, eastern Roman empire was not Greek.

    • @actanonvebra5183
      @actanonvebra5183 Před 2 lety +7

      OK then.. The history of this post Hellenic kingdom of Rome its AWESOME 👌( you cant deny that) if you know the history.

    • @user-wf4lz6md9d
      @user-wf4lz6md9d Před 2 lety +3

      @@actanonvebra5183 You talking to me? It was not a Hellenic kingdom. A state that outlaws the word "Hellene" and bans Greek literature and arts cannot be deemed as Greek by any stretch of the imagination. I am saying that as a Greek. The Eastern Roman Empire would not even be considered Greek even by normal modern Greek government standards. Most of the soldiers, officials and emperors were of non-Greek stock. The modern Hellenic Republic would not give Greek citizenship to the Eastern Romans just because of this fact.

    • @IngenuinelyGenius
      @IngenuinelyGenius Před 2 lety +6

      @@user-wf4lz6md9d Don't be a fool. Greeks were the lords of this empire. Basileia Romaion is the hellenized Roman empire of the east. Even some today's Greeks identify as Romioi.

    • @user-wf4lz6md9d
      @user-wf4lz6md9d Před 2 lety +2

      @@IngenuinelyGenius Oh wonderful, such a convincing argument that you made. You convinced me. Not. Personal insults are not arguments. I, as a Greek do not agree with you. A state that repudiated the word and banished all its citizens who dabbled in Greek arts, sciences and philosophies will never become a hellenized state. It cannot be, for it refutes the very essence of Greek culture. The Roman empire of the East used the Greek language for its own purposes and goals. But it was not by any means Greek state, and it was certainly not ruled by my Greek ancestors. If you feel that you are a Romios, start applying for Italian citizenship. Millions of Greeks do not share your beliefs.

  • @wiictvchannel1112
    @wiictvchannel1112 Před 2 lety

    Always amazing to see what was happening elsewhere during the Crusades for example

  • @eliaspapanikolaou3563
    @eliaspapanikolaou3563 Před 2 lety +15

    Komnenos (Greek: Κομνηνός; Latinized Comnenus; plural Komnenoi or Comneni (Κομνηνοί, [komniˈni])) was a Byzantine Greek noble family who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1081 to 1185,[1] and later, as the Grand Komnenoi (Μεγαλοκομνηνοί, Megalokomnenoi) founded and ruled the Empire of Trebizond (1204-1461). Through intermarriages with other noble families, notably the Doukai, Angeloi, and Palaiologoi, the Komnenos name appears among most of the major noble houses of the late Byzantine world.
    Komnenos
    Κομνηνός
    Komnenian dynasty
    CountryByzantine Empire
    Empire of TrebizondFounded10th century
    1057 (as imperial family)FounderManuel Erotikos Komnenos
    (first known; possibly founder)
    Isaac I Komnenos
    (first emperor)Final rulerAndronikos I Komnenos
    (Byzantine Empire)
    David Megas Komnenos
    (Empire of Trebizond)Final headJohn Komnenos MolyvdosTitles
    Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans
    Emperor of Trebizond
    Queen of Jerusalem*
    Princess of Antioch*
    Duchess of Athens*
    * by marriageDissolution1719Deposition1185 (Byzantine Empire)
    1461 (Empire of Trebizond)
    Contents
    OriginsEdit
    The 11th-century Byzantine historian Michael Psellos reported that the Komnenos family originated from the village of Komne in Thrace-usually identified with the "Fields of Komnene" (Κομνηνῆς λειμῶνας) mentioned in the 14th century by John Kantakouzenos-a view commonly accepted by modern scholarship.[2][3] The first known member of the family, Manuel Erotikos Komnenos, acquired extensive estates at Kastamon in Paphlagonia, which became the stronghold of the family in the 11th century.[2][4] The family thereby quickly became associated with the powerful and prestigious military aristocracy (dynatoi) of Asia Minor, so that despite coming from Thrace it came to be considered "eastern".[5]
    The 17th-century French scholar du Cange suggested that the family descended from a Roman noble family that followed Constantine the Great to Constantinople, but although such mythical genealogies were common-and are indeed attested for the closely related Doukas clan-the complete absence of any such assertion in the Byzantine sources argues against Du Cange's view.[6] The Romanian historian George Murnu suggested in 1924 that the Komnenoi were of Aromanian descent, but this view too is now rejected.[6] Modern scholars consider the family to have been entirely of Greek origin.[6]
    Manuel Erotikos Komnenos was the father of Isaac I Komnenos (reigned 1057-1059) and grandfather, through Isaac's younger brother John Komnenos, of Alexios I Komnenos (reigned 1081-1118).
    Founding the dynastyEdit
    Isaac I Komnenos, a stratopedarch of the East under Michael VI, founded the Komnenos dynasty of Byzantine

    • @hachibidelta4237
      @hachibidelta4237 Před 2 lety

      There are descendant of Andronikos Komnenos in Georgia. The Bagrationi heavily intermarried with Trebizond Komnenoi, and there is illegitemate line. Of course its not uncommon for European nobles to have Komnenoi ancestor as well.

  • @locomotivebearingdown5381

    What a great video! Full of detail and great graphics. And just because you constantly called them Romans, I subscribed :)

  • @himaligokhale339
    @himaligokhale339 Před 2 lety

    Great video bro when is the next Hannibal video coming?

  • @CyanideP1ll
    @CyanideP1ll Před 2 lety +3

    good video

  • @maximusdecimusmeridious3784

    Seeing how successful they were working together is crazy… just for them to fracture and dissolve after

  • @bingingbinging8597
    @bingingbinging8597 Před 2 lety +2

    Can’t wait for the next Hannibal episode!

  • @chadwolf5596
    @chadwolf5596 Před 9 měsíci

    Crazy history nonstop war

  • @thegreycoat1612
    @thegreycoat1612 Před 2 lety +2

    What’s the background music someone help me?
    It’s so soothing and haunting at the same time which fits Alexios’s story.
    One last hurrah for for the empire to get back to its former glory.

  • @adityaanggaisback937
    @adityaanggaisback937 Před 2 lety +2

    Damn historymarche and BEM collab?

  • @Alkibijad87kg
    @Alkibijad87kg Před rokem +1

    Good video

  • @ModernandVintageWatches
    @ModernandVintageWatches Před 2 lety +3

    Great video. Thanks, i believe it can be put in the same category with the crusades series

  • @arturoliveira748
    @arturoliveira748 Před 2 lety +6

    Ótimo conteúdo de história. Perfeito !!!

  • @user-nz1eu8cz1d
    @user-nz1eu8cz1d Před 2 lety

    Ιmpressive video and work.

  • @panosp.k9063
    @panosp.k9063 Před 2 lety

    Waiting for the next episode

  • @redboy4315
    @redboy4315 Před 2 lety +1

    Now, I have basic knowledge of the life of Alexios Komnenos. Thank you.

  • @jorgejustice
    @jorgejustice Před 2 lety +4

    With the crusades going on, the greatness of Alexios is often overlooked. Great video!

  • @JaceLightwood0623
    @JaceLightwood0623 Před 2 lety

    this channel has the best voice bot fr fr

  • @dalesen
    @dalesen Před rokem +1

    Alexios campaign in video game land sounds amazing.

  • @kubix8049
    @kubix8049 Před měsícem +3

    Eastern Roman history in a nutshell: How did [Insert name] save the Byzantine Empire?

  • @cmdreftilon9786
    @cmdreftilon9786 Před 11 měsíci

    Byzantine history is so fascinating. The achievements of this East Roman Empire and civilization are totally underrated. Politics, Diplomacy, education, science etc. all of these still influencing our daily lives. One of the most interesting Books i read is called "Byzantine Grand strategy from the 8th to the 11th century"

  • @user-fi3oh3qh7e
    @user-fi3oh3qh7e Před 2 lety +3

    Well done.
    I hope very much you will make 2 more video for John II Comnenos and Manuel Comnenos.

  • @theemperorofmankind7706
    @theemperorofmankind7706 Před 2 lety +18

    I always had a feeling if they pushed juust a bit more. Just a bit more closer to the old Anatolian borders the empire would have been secured finally since central easter Anatolia which was the last remaining part to be reclaimed was more akin to the steps thus a very ideal land for the Turks and to the far east the mountain passes. Then again all that we can do is speculate and theorise

  • @SolidAvenger1290
    @SolidAvenger1290 Před 6 měsíci

    Came back to re-watch this video of Alexios after seeing HistoryMarche's recent video covering the Battle of Manzikert (1071). I want to give an honorable mention at 4:06 in the video about the Usurper Nikephoros Bryennios. He fought at Manzikert on Emperor Romanos IV's left flank and held out as long as possible against the onslaught by the Sejiks. He would become known by scholars as one of the most significant Byzantine tacticians (later historian in the 11th century) and would play a role during the reign of Alexios.
    During Michael's reign, he was the "Doux" or supreme general of Byzantine forces & governor in Bulgaria until he was disgusted with Michael's treaty with the Sejlks in 1077 after this massive defeat at Manzikert that led to the annexation of Anatolia alongside multiple civil wars in various parts of the empire. Bryennios attempted to take the title of emperor with the backing of most of his available troops, but Constantinople's defenses still proved impossible to breach, even to domestic rebellions.
    He was offered the title of "Ceasar" by Bontanites, who later obtained the title of emperor over the empire after Bryennios failed to oust Michael while besieging Constantinople. Still, he refused to submit to Nicephorus's authority, considering a former minister named Nikephoritzes under Michael VII tried to assassinate him (which was the cause of making his move on Michael's throne in late 1077), and the new emperor Nicephorus still considered him a potential threat. Later, Bryennious faced the early stardom of General Alexios I and was subsequently defeated & taken prisoner by him despite having a superior army at the battle of Kalavrye in 1078.
    He was blinded in both eyes by the orders of Nicephorus. However, the emperor later pitied the already-beaten Bryennios and decided to restore his rank & family's fortune. Despite being badly handicapped & retired from the army, he later successfully helped lead & defend the city of Adrianople during Alexios's Pecheneg campaign against a Cuman rebel attack in 1094/5, led by a pretender who claimed to be Constantine Diogenes, the son of Romanos IV Diogenes, who had died in 1073. Thus ensuring the longevity of Alexios's reign, the brief restoration of Byzantine land & prestige, and the empire's stability.
    Bryennios would finally accept the title of Caesar under Alexios (his once former foe) despite his retirement, be given many honors, and be one of Alexios's leading generals until his death around 1096. Emperor Alexios's daughter Anna would later marry Nikephoros the Younger because Nikephoros the Elder's successor greatly impressed the emperor, and Bryennios's heir would become one of the first men to gain the brand new Byzantine imperial title of Panhypersebastos - "Venerable Above All."

  • @mariusregizorul7545
    @mariusregizorul7545 Před 2 lety

    Great job but the next part when?

  • @JohnChinese320
    @JohnChinese320 Před 7 měsíci

    great video ! do you have one with John II ? I can't find it :(

  • @III-bo6zr
    @III-bo6zr Před rokem +2

    John Doukas, in Greek Ioannis Doukas Vatatzis, will rise up once again and lead the Orthodox world to a flourishing time.

  • @magimon91834
    @magimon91834 Před 2 lety +10

    Alexios is my favorite historical figure of all time, I'm going to name my first kid after him

  • @seantomlinson3320
    @seantomlinson3320 Před 2 lety +6

    He's one of my heroes. What a career. What I find most fascinating is how he was able to survive his repeated battlefield failures. The Byzantine state's politics had been a mess for 50 years, with constantly changing emperors, but despite his battlefield losses he was able to maintain his rule. I don't understand how but I'm glad he did.

  • @ceridangitp
    @ceridangitp Před 2 lety

    Great history.

  • @barnabymc9287
    @barnabymc9287 Před 2 lety

    When will you update Hannibal series?I can’t wait no more.

  • @ordinacijamariomalnar197

    Great clip. Whenis the nxt one about his son_?

  • @mysteryjunkie9808
    @mysteryjunkie9808 Před 2 lety +2

    Bohemond shows back up in the Byzantine Empire.
    Alexios:”How many time must I teach you this lesson old man!”

  • @DimitrisKardaras
    @DimitrisKardaras Před měsícem +1

    Συγχαρητήρια. υπέροχη η Βυζαντινή Ιστορία.

  • @choppacast
    @choppacast Před 2 lety

    What a guy!
    And his son was even better

  • @ethancash8870
    @ethancash8870 Před 2 lety +2

    Please make a video on John Kommnenous and how he did better than his father

  • @sayedhusson3876
    @sayedhusson3876 Před 2 lety +1

    Please make a video on John II!!

  • @brokenbridge6316
    @brokenbridge6316 Před 2 lety +5

    Hey do a video on some other great Byzantine Emperors. I would love to hear what you have to say about the one known as "The Bulgar Slayer."

    • @magistermilitum1206
      @magistermilitum1206 Před 2 lety +6

      I believe that would be Basil II, The bulgar Slayer. Another channel 'King and Generals' covered basil

    • @brokenbridge6316
      @brokenbridge6316 Před 2 lety

      @@magistermilitum1206---I saw that video. It was excellent. And now it's this channel's turn to do it.

    • @magistermilitum1206
      @magistermilitum1206 Před 2 lety

      @@brokenbridge6316 Sure why not I rewatch videos all the time xd

  • @vangelisskia214
    @vangelisskia214 Před 2 lety +15

    "The Byzantine empire was clearly, despite its multinational dimension, a Greek empire while its neighbours considered it so, and whose unity was based on the power of authority, in the dominance of Orthodoxy and the use of Greek as the official language."
    Sylvain Gouguenheim, "La gloire des Grecs", 2017, pp. 73

    • @inhocsignovinces8957
      @inhocsignovinces8957 Před 2 lety

      It was the Roman Empire not the Greek Empire. We all know this as fact. Your propaganda is not working.

    • @vangelisskia214
      @vangelisskia214 Před 2 lety +5

      @@inhocsignovinces8957 "The Frankish court (during the 7TH CENTURY A.D.) no longer regarded the Byzantine Empire as holding valid claims of universality; instead it was now termed the 'EMPIRE OF THE GREEKS'."
      LATE MEROVINGIAN FRANCE 640-720
      Fouracre, Paul; Gerberding, Richard A. (1996). Late Merovingian France: History and Hagiography, 640-720. Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, p. 345:

    • @vangelisskia214
      @vangelisskia214 Před 2 lety +6

      @@inhocsignovinces8957 "As heirs to the Greeks and Romans of old, the Byzantines thought of themselves as Rhomaioi, or Romans, though THEY KNEW FULL WELL that they were ETHNICALLY GREEKS."
      (see also: Savvides & Hendricks 2001).Niehoff 2012, Margalit Finkelberg, "Canonising and Decanonising Homer: Reception of the Homeric Poems in Antiquity and Modernity", p. 20 or Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum 2003, p. 482:
      "After the Empire lost non-Greek speaking territories IN THE 7th AND 8th CENTURIES, "Greek" (Ἕλλην), when not used to signify "pagan", became synonymous with "Roman" (Ῥωμαῖος) and "Christian" (Χριστιανός) to mean a Christian Greek citizen of the [Eastern] Roman Empire."
      "Roman, GREEK (if not used in its sense of 'pagan') and Christian became SYNONYMOUS terms, counter-posed to 'foreigner', 'barbarian', 'infidel'. The citizens of the Empire, now predominantly of GREEK ethnicity and language, were often called simply ό χριστώνυμος λαός 'the people who bear Christ's name'."
      Harrison, Thomas (2002). Greeks and Barbarians. New York: Routledge., p. 268

    • @hachibidelta4237
      @hachibidelta4237 Před 2 lety +3

      @@vangelisskia214 yeahh... Armenians, Bulgars, Serbs, Dalmatians etc are also Romans.

    • @vangelisskia214
      @vangelisskia214 Před 2 lety +4

      @@hachibidelta4237 Now read what In the last decades of the empire’s existence (1430's), Ioannes Kanaboutzes spelled out to his Latin masters:
      “One is not a barbarian on account of religion, but race, language, the ordering of one’s politics, and education. For we are Christians and share the same faith and confession with many other nations, but we call them barbarians, I mean the Bulgarians, Vlachs, Albanians, Russians, and many others.”
      Kanaboutzes, Commentary on Dionysios of Halikarnassos 35.

  • @moozillamoo2109
    @moozillamoo2109 Před 2 lety +5

    It was one brief, shining moment. Then Greeks went back to acting Greek.

    • @erwannthietart3602
      @erwannthietart3602 Před 2 lety

      Well lasted one century of a final golden era.
      In 1 century most of the Carolingien were already gone from their throne aside from Western Francia, and even them wouldnt last much longer

  • @allenvikramchochinov5940
    @allenvikramchochinov5940 Před 2 lety +11

    So much byzantine content from various youtubers these days. Please keep it coming