Why was the Byzantine Empire weak between 1071 and 1095?

Question 1

Threats from the Seljuk Turks: What happened to the Byzantine army at Manzikert in 1071?

Answer 1

The Byzantine army was defeated, allowing large Turkish warbands access to Anatolia.

This cut Byzantium off from sources of Armenian manpower for armies.

Question 2

Threats from the Seljuk Turks: What were the consequences of the Byzantine defeat at Manzikert?

Answer 2

Nicaea (1080), Antioch (1085), and Nicomedia (1091) were lost to the Turks.

Question 3

Threats from the Seljuk Turks: Who was Caka and what did he achieve?

Answer 3

Caka was a Seljuk Turkish warrior who took Smyrna (c. 1084-88) and defeated the Byzantines at sea, threatening Constantinople.

Question 4

Threats from the Seljuk Turks: By the early 1090s, what territories had the Byzantines lost?

Answer 4

The Byzantines had lost all of Anatolia except for Trebizond and Chalcedon.

Question 5

Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): What was the state of Anatolia in the 1080s?

Answer 5

Anatolia was stable with a stable relationship with the Turks.

Question 6

Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): How were the Seljuk Turks involved in Byzantine politics?

Answer 6

The Seljuk Turks were often used as mercenaries, helping Nikephorus III take the throne in 1078.

Question 7

Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): What role did Seljuk leader Suleiman play in 1081?

Answer 7

Suleiman became an ally and helped Alexius at Larissa with 7,000 troops against the Normans.

Question 8

Threats from the Seljuk Turks (limitations): How did the Turks initially enter Byzantine cities?

Answer 8

In most cases, the Turks were originally ‘invited’ into Byzantine cities, with their presence becoming a problem in the 1090s.

Question 9

Internal developments: What internal issues did the Byzantine Empire face after Manzikert?

Answer 9

The empire faced dynastic instability and civil war, Romanus IV in 1071, Micheal VII in 1078 and Nicephorus III in 1081 being deposed.

Question 10

Internal developments: What economic problems did the Byzantine Empire experience in the 1070s?

Answer 10

There was a financial crisis leading to debased coinage, with gold content dropping from 70% to 10%, causing inflation.

Question 11

Internal developments: What was the impact of the Venetians’ exemption from ‘Kommerkion’?

Answer 11

The exemption of commercial tax (10%) led to resentment among Byzantine merchants who were at a disadvantage.

Question 12

Internal developments (limitations): What action did Alexius I take in 1092 regarding currency?

Answer 12

Alexius I established a new currency, the Hyperpyron, which restored some stability.

Question 13

Internal developments: What was a significant factor in the rise of separatism from the Byzantine Empire?

Answer 13

Byzantine aristocrats in the eastern provinces had been powerful and their lands had been areas of insurrection since Manzikert.

Question 14

Internal developments: Who was Roussel of Bailleul?

Answer 14

A Norman mercenary who deserted in 1073 and set up his own lordship around Amaseia. (Supports Separatism)

Question 15

Internal developments: What did the Armenian general Phileretos achieve in 1078?

Answer 15

He established himself as an independent ruler of Cilicia and took the city of Antioch.

Question 16

Internal developments: What was Alexius I’s concern in the 1080s?

Answer 16

He was more worried about Byzantine nobles in Anatolia than Turks.

Question 17

Internal developments (limitations): What action did Byzantine general Alexius Comnenus take in 1075?

Answer 17

He overthrew Roussel.

Question 18

Internal developments (limitations): What happened to Antioch around 1085?

Answer 18

Suleiman, probably acting on behalf of Alexius I, recaptured Antioch.

Question 19

Internal developments (limitations): How did Alexius I maintain support from the populace?

Answer 19

He had an excellent relationship with the Byzantine church and was personally pious.

Question 20

Threats from Europe: What was the Treaty of Melfi?

Answer 20

An alliance made in 1059 between the papacy and the Normans, authorizing them to conquer southern Italy.

Question 21

Threats from Europe: What significant event occurred in April 1071?

Answer 21

The Normans captured the city of Bari from the Byzantines, marking the last Byzantine holding in southern Italy.

Question 22

Threats from Europe: Why did Robert Guiscard become a threat after 1078?

Answer 22

He claimed to be acting against the ‘usurpers’ who had taken his throne due to his daughter’s marriage tie.

Question 23

Threats from Europe: What were the outcomes of Robert Guiscard’s invasion in 1081?

Answer 23

He invaded Epirus and defeated Alexius at Dyrrhachium, also taking Corfu.

Question 24

Threats from Europe: What was the Pecheneg threat in the 1080s?

Answer 24

They raided Northern Byzantine territory regularly and planned to settle in Thrace.

Question 25

Threats from Europe: What did Alexius I do in response to the massive Pecheneg invasion of 1087?

Answer 25

He initially bought them off.

Question 26

Threats from Europe: What was the significance of the Pecheneg occupation of Thrace in 1090-91?

Answer 26

It put them dangerously close to Constantinople.

Question 27

Threats from Europe (limitations): How did Robert Guiscard’s marriage plans affect Byzantine stability?

Answer 27

His daughter, Helena, was betrothed to Michael VII’s son, Constantine, which minimized trouble while he was on the throne.

Question 28

Threats from Europe (limitations): What alliance did Alexius I use against the Normans in 1082?

Answer 28

He allied with Henry IV of Germany to make the Normans withdraw.

Question 29

Threats from Europe (limitations): What happened to the Normans in 1084?

Answer 29

They were easily dealt with and pushed back.

Question 30

Threats from Europe (limitations): What was the outcome of the battle at Lebounion in 1091?

Answer 30

The Pechenegs were annihilated when Alexius I made an alliance with the Cumans against them.

Question 31

Threats from Europe (limitations): What happened to the Cuman threat in 1094?

Answer 31

It was crushed at Adrianople.