Articles

When Was Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos Born?

Published:
2024-10-03
Author
Keywords
License

Copyright (c) 2024 Acta Classica Universitatis Scientiarum Debreceniensis

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How To Cite
Selected Style: APA
Kovács, I. (2024). When Was Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos Born?. Acta Classica Universitatis Scientiarum Debreceniensis, 60, 147–155. https://doi.org/10.22315/ACD/2024/12
Abstract

This paper investigates the  birth date of Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, analyzing conflicting accounts of historical sources. The sources provide two primary narratives: the eulogies of Theodore Prodromos and Michael Italikos, which align Manuel's birth with his father John II Komnenos’ ascension in 1118, and the account of John Kinnamos, who suggests a birth year around 1122, based on Manuel's age during the Battle of Neokaisareia. This analysis is further enriched by examining the feast days of several saints named Stephen, as referenced by Prodromos. The paper seeks to reconcile these divergent perspectives, exploring the implications of each for our understanding of Manuel's life and reign. The study underscores the challenges in Byzantine historiography, where historical facts intertwine with literary motifs.