Why was the Byzantine Empire weak between 1071 and 1095? Flashcards
Threats from the Seljuk Turks: What happened to the Byzantine army at Manzikert in 1071?
The Byzantine army was defeated, allowing large Turkish warbands access to Anatolia.
This cut Byzantium off from sources of Armenian manpower for armies.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks: What were the consequences of the Byzantine defeat at Manzikert?
Nicaea (1080), Antioch (1085), and Nicomedia (1091) were lost to the Turks.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks: Who was Caka and what did he achieve?
Caka was a Seljuk Turkish warrior who took Smyrna (c. 1084-88) and defeated the Byzantines at sea, threatening Constantinople.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks: By the early 1090s, what territories had the Byzantines lost?
The Byzantines had lost all of Anatolia except for Trebizond and Chalcedon.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): What was the state of Anatolia in the 1080s?
Anatolia was stable with a stable relationship with the Turks.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): How were the Seljuk Turks involved in Byzantine politics?
The Seljuk Turks were often used as mercenaries, helping Nikephorus III take the throne in 1078.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): What role did Seljuk leader Suleiman play in 1081?
Suleiman became an ally and helped Alexius at Larissa with 7,000 troops against the Normans.
Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): How did the Turks initially enter Byzantine cities?
In most cases, the Turks were originally ‘invited’ into Byzantine cities, with their presence becoming a problem in the 1090s.
Internal developments: What internal issues did the Byzantine Empire face after Manzikert?
The empire faced dynastic instability and civil war, Romanus IV in 1071, Micheal VII in 1078 and Nicephorus III in 1081 being deposed.
Internal developments: What economic problems did the Byzantine Empire experience in the 1070s?
There was a financial crisis leading to debased coinage, with gold content dropping from 70% to 10%, causing inflation.
Internal developments: What was the impact of the Venetians’ exemption from ‘Kommerkion’?
The exemption of commercial tax (10%) led to resentment among Byzantine merchants who were at a disadvantage.
Internal developments (limitations): What action did Alexius I take in 1092 regarding currency?
Alexius I established a new currency, the Hyperpyron, which restored some stability.
Internal developments: What was a significant factor in the rise of separatism from the Byzantine Empire?
Byzantine aristocrats in the eastern provinces had been powerful and their lands had been areas of insurrection since Manzikert.
Internal developments: Who was Roussel of Bailleul?
A Norman mercenary who deserted in 1073 and set up his own lordship around Amaseia. (Supports Separatism)
Internal developments: What did the Armenian general Phileretos achieve in 1078?
He established himself as an independent ruler of Cilicia and took the city of Antioch.
Internal developments: What was Alexius I’s concern in the 1080s?
He was more worried about Byzantine nobles in Anatolia than Turks.
Internal developments (limitations): What action did Byzantine general Alexius Comnenus take in 1075?
He overthrew Roussel.
Internal developments (limitations): What happened to Antioch around 1085?
Suleiman, probably acting on behalf of Alexius I, recaptured Antioch.
Internal developments (limitations): How did Alexius I maintain support from the populace?
He had an excellent relationship with the Byzantine church and was personally pious.
Threats from Europe: What was the Treaty of Melfi?
An alliance made in 1059 between the papacy and the Normans, authorizing them to conquer southern Italy.
Threats from Europe: What significant event occurred in April 1071?
The Normans captured the city of Bari from the Byzantines, marking the last Byzantine holding in southern Italy.
Threats from Europe: Why did Robert Guiscard become a threat after 1078?
He claimed to be acting against the ‘usurpers’ who had taken his throne due to his daughter’s marriage tie.
Threats from Europe: What were the outcomes of Robert Guiscard’s invasion in 1081?
He invaded Epirus and defeated Alexius at Dyrrhachium, also taking Corfu.
Threats from Europe: What was the Pecheneg threat in the 1080s?
They raided Northern Byzantine territory regularly and planned to settle in Thrace.
Threats from Europe: What did Alexius I do in response to the massive Pecheneg invasion of 1087?
He initially bought them off.
Threats from Europe: What was the significance of the Pecheneg occupation of Thrace in 1090-91?
It put them dangerously close to Constantinople.
Threats from Europe (limitations): How did Robert Guiscard’s marriage plans affect Byzantine stability?
His daughter, Helena, was betrothed to Michael VII’s son, Constantine, which minimized trouble while he was on the throne.
Threats from Europe (limitations): What alliance did Alexius I use against the Normans in 1082?
He allied with Henry IV of Germany to make the Normans withdraw.
Threats from Europe (limitations): What happened to the Normans in 1084?
They were easily dealt with and pushed back.
Threats from Europe (limitations): What was the outcome of the battle at Lebounion in 1091?
The Pechenegs were annihilated when Alexius I made an alliance with the Cumans against them.
Threats from Europe (limitations): What happened to the Cuman threat in 1094?
It was crushed at Adrianople.
