Description
Book SynopsisThe years before and after the battle of Mantzikert (1071) mark a turning point in the history of the Byzantine Empire. The invasions of the Seljuk Turks in the east and the encroachment of the Normans from the west altered the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean and forced the Byzantines to confront new threats to their survival. These threats came at a time when internal rivalries made an effective military response all but impossible and led to a significant transformation of the Byzantine polity under the Komnenoi. The Continuation of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes, now translated for the first time, provides a contemporary view of these troubled times. An extension of the principal source for the middle Byzantine period, and a subtle reworking of the History of Michael Attaleiates, the Continuation offers a high court official’s narrative of the events and personages that shaped the course of Byzantine history on the eve of the Crusades.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments List of Illustrations Abbreviations Introduction Maps The Continuation of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes I The Reign of Isaac Komnenos II The Reign of Constantine X Doukas III The Regency of the Empress Eudokia IV The Reign of Romanos IV Diogenes V The Mantzikert Campaign and Its Aftermath VI The Reign of Michael VII Doukas VII The Accession of Nikephoros III Botaneiates Concordance between Skylitzes Continuatus, Attaleiates, and John Zonaras Glossary of Terms Bibliography Index of Names Index
