It Is Finished

King Of The Jews

In Autumn 1116 AD, a dying Alexios Komnenos marched East.

The Turks were once again encroaching on lands he had dedicated his life to returning to the Empire.

The last major battle the Byzantines had fought against the Turks was 45 years ago & 600 miles East; Manzikert.

Just hear him out…

The Hagia Sophia was originally clad in gleaming marble. It must’ve looked magnificent & blinding back in Justinian’s day.

During Emperor Manuel Komnenos’ scatter-brained reign a campaign was launched, in coordination with the Pope, to retake Southern Italy. It, like most of Manuel’s projects, was poorly equipped, timed, led, planned, and so failed. Byzantine rule would never return.

I’m getting really tired of this…

Influential families of the Byzantine Empire