v29_0545 - MANUEL I KOMNENOS Aspron trachy (scyphate)

MANUEL I KOMNENOS

(8/04/1143-24/09/1180)

The very long reign of Manuel I marks the last Byzantine burst before the fall of 1204. Impregnated with Latin culture, he had to face the second crusade (1147-1149), led by Louis VII of France who, with the help of the Normans of Roger II, attacked Byzantium. The Normans seized part of Greece (Corinth and Thebes). Louis VII had to return to France just before divorcing Eleanor of Aquitaine. Manuel was the son-in-law of Conrad III and Frederic Barbarossa was his sworn enemy. The Emperor of Germany urged the Sultan of Iconium to revolt against the Byzantines who were crushed at the battle of Myrioscephalon in 1176. After a reign of 37 years, Manuel died out in 1180, leaving Byzantium weakened, easy prey for Christians and Muslims.