Survival of the Byzantine Empire - Essay Example

The emperors of Latin ruled from 1204 to 1261. During the year 1261, the Byzantine reclaimed the throne. In 1453, it falls to the Turks. By 1081, all of the Asia Minor became conquered by the Turks. This deprived the heart of the empire. Some of the mentioned emperors would save the Byzantine Empire till it survived for the entire 400 years. Alexius Komnenus was the savior in 1081 when the Turks had defeated the Asia Minor. The Turks came from central Asia on horseback and came to attack the Byzantine Empire.

By 1091, they owned the entire Turkey from the Byzantine (Hollister 25). However, the Byzantines got help from the Europe nation. It would be then referred to as the First Crusade. Many soldiers and knights left to assist the Byzantines. In addition, they would secure Jerusalem for the Christians, which Muslims had dominated. Alexius Komnenus was the previous general of Army. He took over the throne through the help of aristocracy. He rebuilt the empire. He literally established a state that lasted better and longer than anyone could expect (Haldon 54).

He reformed the system of thematic which had perished for some time, changing to a form of feudalism. He was noble to serve within the army. In that process, he obtained land, which he gave peasants that joined him in war. He got rid of Venice allies, who defended the seas of the empire in return of economical advantages. Venice would always set the value of her services high. Alexius alliance stopped the advance of Duke Norman, who tried to attack Greece, and shifted his attention towards the northern front, in the south of Danube where Partzinaks had invaded the territory, and plagued Constantinople during 1090.

Alexius died in 1118. After Alexius death, the empire had its power back and prestige that tried a further expansion. John II, the son of Alexius, took over. He was intelligent and wise. He avoided the influence of Venetian over the economy of the empire. He inflicted a solemn defeat to the tribes that jeopardized the empire in the Balkans. He conquered the Hungarians in the year 1128. He finally moved to Northern Syria, where he attacked the Antioch principality. He conquered them in 1138. John II became allied to the emperor of the western and Pisa to attack the Normans, who he defeated.

He planned a campaign to reinstate the supremacy of Byzantine over Palestine. Unfortunately, he died in 1143. In 1161, a war erupted against the Hungarians as a result of the throne succession. The war ended in the year 1164 with vast advantages for the Byzantines. The Byzantines had obtained Dalmatia, Croatia and Bosnia. Manuel was sly, ambitious, and strong and admirer of the culture of western (Deng 25). He allied with Conrad III, the western emperor against the Normans. Conrad led the 2nd crusade with Luis Vii, the King of France.

After the usual robberies and rape within the Byzantine territory by the German army, he would be conquered in Asia Minor by the Turks. The Hungarians rose stronger, threatened the interests of the Byzantine in Russia, opposing their candidate for the Kiev Throne. However, the Byzantine diplomacy became rich due to the close relationship Manuel had with Henry II. Manuel attacked the Turk Sultanate in 1176, but he did not receive victory and lost the whole army. In 1180, Alexius II was twelve years old.

His regency got assumed by Mary of Antioch, his mother. In 1182,