Term of Award
Fall 2012
Degree Name
Master of Arts in History (M.A.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of History
Committee Chair
Vernon O. Egger
Committee Member 1
Kathleen M. Comerford
Committee Member 2
Michael J. Decker
Committee Member 3
Michael J. Decker
Abstract
Manuel I of Byzantium (1143-80) has been unfairly judged as misguided, reckless, and, ultimately, as a failure. This work endeavors to refute the claims that Manuel's imperial policy lacked any coherent strategy, and that Byzantium simply reacted to external stimuli. The most ambitious aim of this thesis is to present a cogent analysis of Manuel's imperial policy to demonstrate the emperor's efficacy and strategic flexibility. The perception, generally accepted by historians, that Manuel left his empire exhausted and vulnerable to outside aggression is also seriously challenged. Regardless of Manuel's defeat at Myriokephalon in 1176, he could claim that the empire was stronger than it had been in over a century.
Recommended Citation
Gentry, Darryl Keith II, "Exonerating Manuel I Komnenos: Byzantine Foreign Policy (1143-1180)" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 22.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/22
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
