quiz iii Flashcards
What are some of the attributes the Pope reserves to himself?
Dictates of the Pope
- Supreme authority over the church
- Power to depose emperors
- Jurisdiction over all Christians
- Infallibility in religious decisions
- Only the Pope can call a council
- Power to absolve subjects from oaths
What is the Pope’s position regarding the bishops as it comes out of this document?
Dictates of the Pope
The Pope alone has the right to appoint and remove bishops
* Centralizes power in the papacy and reduces the independence of bishops
Bishops are subordinate to the Pope
* They must act under his authority and cannot exercise independent power without his approval
The Pope is the ultimate judge of the actions and behaviour of bishops
* If bishops are deemed unworthy, the Pope has the power to remove them
What is the Pope’s relationship to secular authorities?
Dictates of the Pope
- The Pope claims authority to depose kings and emperors, asserting that the spiritual authority of the Church supersedes the power of secular rulers
- Secular rulers are required to submit to the Pope in spiritual matters, including acknowledging the Pope’s supreme authority in religious issues
- The Pope has the power to excommunicate secular rulers, which would remove them from the Church’s protection and potentially weaken their authority over their subjects
Why would the Byzantine emperor probably be upset with the stipulations of this document?
Dictates of the Pope
The Pope’s claim to have the authority to depose emperors directly undermines the emperor’s secular and religious authority
* This would be especially problematic for the Byzantine emperor, who viewed himself as a political and religious leader (as head of the Orthodox church)
The Byzantine emperor traditionally had control over the church in his realm, including the appointment of bishops and other religious leaders
* The Pope’s assertion that he alone had authority to appoint and remove bishops would have been seen as a direct challenge to the emperor’s traditional control over the Church
The Pope’s power to excommunicate rulers would have also been a source of conflict, as the emperor would have seen this as a threat to his power (ex-communication could lead to a loss of legitimacy and support among his subjects)
For what reasons does Anna write her history, as she explains in the Preface?
Alexias
- She wants to provide a truthful account of her father, Alexius I Comnenus’ reign
- She wants to preserve his memory and defend his reputation
What do we learn from the Roussel episode from ch 1 about the relationship between Romans, Turks and Normans (i.e. Kelts or Franks)?
Alexias
Roussel - a Norman mercenary - initially serves Alexius but later betrays him by attempting to take control of parts of the Byzantine Empire
* Highlights the Romans’ vulnerability to betrayal, the ruthless ambition of the Normans, and the fluctuating allegiances of foreign forces in Byzantine affairs
* The Turks are portrayed as another threat as they were just beginning to establish their presence in Anatolia, which complicated the region’s political landscape
What do we learn about military tactics and army composition from ch. 1?
Alexias
- Military tactics during Alexius’ reign were based on a combination of traditional Roman military discipline and the strategic use of mercenaries from various ethnic groups, including the Normans and the Turks
- Alexius also utilized diplomacy, leveraging alliances with foreign powers to strengthen his forces
- His army was composed of a variety of units, including heavy infantry, archers, and cavalry, and was highly reliant on strategic positioning and intelligence
Who is Peter the Short (or Hermit), and what is his call? How many groups decide to follow his call?
Alexias
- He was a charismatic leader who called for a popular crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control
- His call for a People’s Crusade inspired many poor and unarmed peasants, though they were not part of the formal military efforts
- The crusade ended in disaster as the group was poorly equipped and unorganized
How does Anna present the Muslims?
Alexias
- As formidable and persistent enemies of the Byzantine Empire, highlighting their military prowess and their ability to disrupt Byzantine control in Anatolia
- She recognizes their strength and skill in warfare; Anna frames them as a significant threat to the stability and sovereignty of the empire
- Her depiction is one of respect for their military capabilities but also a clear distinction between the Christian and Muslim worlds
What were the first actions of the Norman army once it crossed the Asian side?
Alexias
- Once the Norman army crossed Asia Minor, they engaged in raids against the Byzantines
- The Normans initially began plundering and causing disruption in Byzantine-controlled areas
- They were seen as a serious threat due to their aggressive tactics and ability to destabilize regions that were crucial to Alexius’ control
What are some of the attributes of the Normans or the “Latin race” (bad translation) according to Anna?
Alexias
- Fierce, ambitious, and ruthless
- She acknowledges their military skill, adaptability, and determination but also views them as treacherous and deceitful
What happens to Peter’s army?
Alexias
- It was poorly equipped and composed mainly of peasants and faced complete destruction
- After marching through Anatolia, they were defeated by the Turks
- The army was massacred, and Peter was returned to the Byzantine Empire
What aspects take the first encounters between the “counts’ crusade” and the Romans?
Alexias
- The first encounters were marked by tension and mutual suspicion
- The Crusaders sought to gain control over various territories in the Byzantine Empire, while Alexius tried to maintain control over his realm
- The Crusaders were seen as potential allies and threats, and their interactions with the Byzantines were characterized by negotiation, manipulation, and the occasional skirmish
How does Alexius finally get rid of the Latins?
Alexias
- By using a combination of diplomacy and military action
- He initially tried to manage their presence through negotiations, offering them land and resources to secure their cooperation
- As the Latins became more aggressive, Alexius resorted to military force, culminating in decisive battles that forced them to retreat
When reading the accounts of the skirmishes of the first crusade in Ch. 11, do we understand that the religious divide is clear and absolute?
Alexias
- The divide between the Byzantines and the Latins is evident but not always absolute
- There was apparent religious animosity, particularly during the Crusades; the encounters were also shaped by political motives such as territorial control and military advantage
Do the Latins have a clear leader? Do we get an impression of a stable political organization in Anatolia during the Crusades?
Alexias
- They did not always have a clear leader, and their forces were often disorganized
- The Crusaders were made up of various groups of knights and nobles, which created a lack of unity
- Anatolia was politically unstable, with multiple factions and powers vying for control
Of whose navy are the Byzantines wary of? What is their advantage?
Alexias
- They were vary of the Venetian army, which had become a dominant force in the Mediterranean
- They had superior naval technology, skilled sailors, and economic power, which allowed them to control key maritime trade routes and exert confluence over the Byzantine Empire
Alexios arrives in power and changes something in the way bureaucracy had worked for centuries (and which will have lasting consequences ).
AK ch 28
- He reformed the Byzantine bureaucracy by centralizing power and consolidating control over military and financial resources
- He changed the relationship between the emperor and the aristocracy, reducing the power of the local elites and increasing the emperor’s direct control over administration and military appointments, which had long-lasting effects on the centralization of the empire
Who is the first enemy he faces? Given what you had read about the Roman army in the Macedonians, what strikes you in the description of Alexios’ army against the Normans?
AK ch 28
- The first enemy Alexius faces is the Normans, led by Robert Guiscard
- Alexius’ army was smaller and less equipped than the traditional Roman legions seen in earlier periods, especially in comparison to the Macedonian era’s formidable, highly organized military
- Alexius relied on strategic alliances, diplomacy, and innovative tactics to counter the Norman threats
Alexios starts his “cultural war” against Psellos’ intellectual heirs. Why can we say that Ioannis Italos is a scapegoat and his condemnation served another purpose?
AK ch 28
- He was condemned not only for his heretical views but also as a way to control the growing intellectual movements that were threatening imperial stability
- The condemnation served as a broader tool for Alexius to assert control over intellectual life and align the intellectual class with imperial authority without directly confronting the influence of figures like Psellos
Under Alexios starts a “privatization” of the state. What are the three to four elements it consists of?
AK ch 28
- Granting pronoia - land and resources given to military commanders and officials in exchange for services
- Privatization of military power - military leaders were granted more autonomy
- Decentralization of financial control - wealthy elites played a more significant role in economic administration, thus reducing direct state involvement
- Use of mercenaries - reliance on private military forces rather than only controlled armies
What does Alexios’ deal with the Venetians involve? Why did that hurt Romania in the long run? (cf. What he offers the Pisans at the end of the chapter)
AK ch 28
- He granted them significant trading privileges in exchange for military support
- The agreement hurt Romania as it gave Ventians excessive influence and autonomy within the empire, leading the Venetian dominance in trade and the weakening of Byzantine control over its own economic affairs
- The Pisans were given fewer concessions, showing Alexius’ strategic but ultimately costly diplomacy
Who are the parties involved in the First Crusade, and when does it take place? Why is the siege of Antioch a turning point in the Crusade that will explain later issues?
AK ch 28
- The first crusade (1096-1099) involved European Christian forces, mainly from France, Germany, and Italy, who sought to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control
- The siege of Antioch in 1098 marked a turning point because it exposed the Crusaders’ internal divisions, their reliance on Byzantine support, and their increasing alienation from the Byzantine Empire, setting the stage for tensions that would define later Crusader-Byzantine relations
Revolts had always happened in Romania. But in which way is Anna’s animosity toward her brother Ioannis typical of the Komneni period’s distinct types of revolts?
AK ch 29
- It reflects the Komnenian period’s internal struggles for power, where family members competed for the throne
- The revolts of the era were marked by personal rivalries among elites and imperial family members, often driven by ambition rather than ideological differences, which was a distinctive feature of the Komneni period
During Ioannis’ period, a distinct feature is that the Basileus now rules many “ethnic” Romans as by whom else? Do all “ethnic” Romans dislike this?
AK ch 29
- The Basileus ruled over not only the Greeks but also ‘ethnic’ Romans, such as Armenians, Slavs, and others, who were integrated into the empire
- Not all these groups disliked the rule, but the imposition of centralized authority by the emperor sometimes caused dissatisfaction among local elites, particularly those with their own power bases
In which 2-3 ways was the Pantokrator institutional complex unique?
AK ch 29
- Its dual role as both a religious and administrative center, combining spiritual functions with secular governance
- Its role in social welfare, as it provided hospitals, monasteries, and charitable services, emphasizing the emperor’s responsibility for both the spiritual and physical well-being of the people
What is the pronoia system?
AK ch 29
- The pronoia system involved granting land and resources to military and bureaucratic officials in exchange for their services
- This system allowed the state to maintain a military presence without maintaining a standing army, as soldiers would support themselves through the land granted to them
What are two literary products of the Komnene period, and on which textual traditions do they draw?
AK ch 29
The Alexiad by Anna Comnena and The Chronographia by Micheal Psellos
Who is Tzetzes? In what two ways is he typical of the ambiguous relationship between “secular intellectuals” and the state during the Komnene period?
AK ch 29
- He was a scholar and poet during the Komneni period
- He worked in the imperial court, benefitting from imperial patronage while also criticizing the state
- He navigated the tension between the secular intellectual world and the imperial system, writing works that sometimes engaged with state ideology while also questioning it
Why is Manuel’s reign driven more by “foreign policy concerns”?
AK ch 29
- He was constantly engaged with external threats, such as the Normans, Seljuk Turks, and Crusaders
- His reign involved more diplomatic maneuvering and military campaigns to protect the empires’ borders and restore its influence in the Mediterranean and the Balkans
What is the outcome of the 2nd crusade?
AK ch 29
- The Second Crusade (1147-1150) ended in failure
- The Crusaders, led by King Louis VII of France and Emperor Conrad II of Germany, were unable to achieve their goal of capturing Damascus, and the campaign ended with significant losses and no major territorial gains
- The failure weakened the Crusader states and damaged Christian morale
What was the relationship of the Romans with the Italians during Manuel’s time?
AK ch 29
- There was cooperation, particularly among the Venetians and Pisans, for trade and military alliances
- Tensions also existed, though
- The Romans were growing wary of the growing influence of Italian city-states, which often acted in their own interests, sometimes undermining Byzantine control in the Mediterranean
What are some of the military techniques used by the Crusaders?
Villehardouin
- Siege warfare - they employed tactics like the use of siege towers, battering rams, and ladders to breach the walls of a city
- Naval warfare - Controlling the seas, blocking ports, and engaging in naval assaults to help establish dominance
- Alliance with Venetians - relied on the Venetians for Naval support
- Discipline and coordination - utilized heavy cavalry and infantry in tandem during attacks and sieges
What are the terms of the agreement between the Crusaders and Isaac’s son that Geoffrey of Villehardouin announced to Isaac when he re-became emperor?
Villehardouin
- Restoration of the Byzantine Empire
- Financial support and military aid - Alexios IV promised to pay the Crusaders a large sum of money and to provide military assistance for their ongoing campaigns
- Religious concessions - promises to ease tensions between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
How does the first part of the expedition end?
Villehardouin
Ends with the Crusader’s successful siege and conquest of Constantinople
Why do the Crusaders decide to stay in C/ple, and does everybody in the army agree with this?
Villehardouin
They decide to stay because of
* Political and financial considerations
* Power struggles and betrayals - the situation in Constantinople became unstable, leading to a change in leadership that forced the Crusaders to remain longer than they originally planned
Not everyone in the Crusader army agreed with staying
* Some were dissatisfied with the diversion from their original goal of going to the Holy Land and felt that the political situation was becoming too complicated
* Others were more focused on material gains, so they supported the decision
How are Isaac and Alexios overthrown?
Villehardouin
- The people of Constantinople revolted against their rule
- The situation became increasingly unstable, and the Byzantine citizens, who were not happy with the Crusaders’ presence and Alexios’ failure to deliver on his promises, rose up
- The emperors were captured, and Alexios was killed
**
Towards the end of chapter 6, Villehardouin discusses whether it was right to stay in C/ple rather than go to Syria. What is his judgment?
Villehardouin
- He acknowledges the difficulties that the Crusaders faced in deciding whether to stay in Constantinople or move to Syria
- Villehardouin does not regret his decision to stay but says that it might not have been the ideal choice
- He focuses on the rewards that the Crusaders achieved in terms of wealth and influence but also notes the moral and spiritual challenges faced as a result
How does the sack of C/ple occur, and does Villehardouin feel comfortable narrating what happened?
Villehardouin
- It occurs after the Crusaders launch an all-out assault because they are still pissed off at the political instability and the betrayal they faced
- The city is looted, and many religious and cultural treasures are taken
- Villehardouin describes it as chaotic and violent, but he is not particularly comfortable narrating what happened
- His tone is uneasy; he acknowledges the brutality of the event but also frames it as a necessary action for the Crusaders to take
What problems do the Crusaders face after taking over and partitioning the empire?
Villehardouin
Internal divisions - The Crusaders’ army is divided into factions, and there are disagreements over the distribution of land and titles
* This leads to conflicts over power and control within the Crusader states
Resistance from the Byzantines - The native Byzantine population resented the Crusaders’ occupation, and there was ongoing resistance from local populations, making it difficult for the Crusaders to maintain control over the territory
Financial and logistical strain - The Crusaders faced financial difficulties due to the inability to fulfill promises made to their allies and the complex task of managing a newly partitioned empire
* This places a strain on their resources and creates logistical problems
What is a bad sign since the first skirmish about how things might end for the Romans?
Choniates Ch VIII
- A Roman defeat in the first skirmish, which, according to him, was a sign of the collapse of Roman morale and military strength
- It set a tone of inevitable decline
- The Romans, weakened by internal division and external pressure, were unable to present a united defence, signalling that the fall of the Byzantine Empire was approaching
After Alexis Doukas flees, the scene moves to the Hagia Sophia and the Milion, where two pretendants to the throne (Konstantinos Doukas and Konstantinos Laskaris) take their chance. They need the support of three key constituencies regarding the Roman protocol. Does it work?
Choniates Ch VIII
The key constituencies:
* The military (soldiers) - they need soldiers’ loyalty, but their efforts fail as the soldiers are scattered and demoralized, unwilling to back an unstable regime
* The Senate - they need the approval of the Senate, but this is not happening due to internal division and the lack of clear leadership in the empire
* The people - they hope to win the support of the general populace, but the citizens are disillusioned and angry, especially after the repeated betrayals and failed leadership
How does the population of Constantinople deal with the Crusaders, and how do they react?
Choniates Ch VIII
- A mixture of fear, anger, and despair
- Choniates describes how the city’s residents are faced with the overwhelming presence of the Crusaders and their violent behaviours
- The citizens feel betrayed seeing the Crusaders as enemies rather than liberators, and their reactions range from outright hostility to a sense of hopelessness as they are powerless to stop the invaders
- There is social unrest and discontent and a sense of imminent collapse as the Crusaders approach
Why are Choniates even more upset with the Crusaders about their attitude in Constantinople and Hagia Sophia? How do they fare compared to the Muslims?
Choniates Ch VIII
- Choniates is deeply upset by the Crusaders’ behaviour in Constantinople, particularly in places of great religious and spiritual significance like Hagia Sofia
- He condemns their desecration of sacred spaces
- The Crusaders’ attitudes towards Hagia Sofia and other churches are seen as an insult to both the Roman people and the Christian faith
- Muslims, though hostile, generally respected religious sites during their invasions
How does Choniates manage to escape?
Choniates Ch IX
By fleeing through a secret passageway
How do they try to protect women from sexual violence?
Choniates Ch IX
Most efforts to protect women from sexual violence failed as the Crusaders were very relentless in their abductions
How did the Crusaders decide to choose an emperor? Do they all agree?
Choniates Ch IX
They decided to appoint Baldwin of Flanders as emperor of the Latin Empire
Not all Crusaders agreed
* Some argued for the installation of other candidates, including Alexios V Doukas
* The decision to crown Baldwin is a compromise that reflects the military and political realities of Crusader leadership at the time
* Baldwin is chosen because of his military status and the need to quickly establish a leadership that can control the remnants of the Byzantine Empire
