Nicephorus Botaniates is commander instead of Andronikos Doukas at Manziert
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Are you sure you don't mean Nicephorus Bryennius who was in command of the left flank at Manzikert?
Well, he'll probably not leave Romanus in the lurch by buggering off with the reserves for one thing. That could change a lot of things. Such as winning the battle.
Sargon
Riain
Banned
I think Manzikert was a result of structural problems inherent in the Empire at the time. Someone with more detailed knowedge than I could probably trace the actions that lost the battle up through the system of army admintistration, recruitment, training and the selection of leaders, through the middle leadership and adminstration of the Empire itself all the way to the Emperors and other top leaders and the sytems by which they were installed into power.
The point being that even if someone else had been put in charge of the army at Manzikert and the battle had been won the structural problems of the Empire would still exist. The dynatoi (spelling?) would still be too powerful, continuity of leadership would still be lacking, the army could not be assured of having competent leaders in charge of a well equipped, recruited, trained force and the next lost battle would probably still be a disaster. I think that a certralised, absolute monarchy like Byzantium and the later European nation-states need a powerful dynasty in charge to keep everything in check.
The point being that even if someone else had been put in charge of the army at Manzikert and the battle had been won the structural problems of the Empire would still exist. The dynatoi (spelling?) would still be too powerful, continuity of leadership would still be lacking, the army could not be assured of having competent leaders in charge of a well equipped, recruited, trained force and the next lost battle would probably still be a disaster. I think that a certralised, absolute monarchy like Byzantium and the later European nation-states need a powerful dynasty in charge to keep everything in check.
Jaded_Railman
Banned
That's a bit of an assumption there. Start with the premise, have some else provide the meat, and finish with the conclusion. Beautiful, it avoids actually proving anything while still making an authoritative sounding claim.
In truth the Byzantine economy, that one main determinant of the capability of the state, was booming well into the 12th century. There was a short fiscal crisis in the middle-late 11th century because of the political turmoil, but not something life-threatening to the economy as a whole. In fact, 12th century Byzantium underwent a commercial revolution of a sort, in ways booming in capital production like the Italian city-states would do for another few centuries.
The economy limped on for another few decades after the 4th Crusade, finally all coming crashing down into terminal decline around the end of the 13th century. It's not too entirely unfeasible to say, however, that the situation couldn't even have been saved then, had the Byzantines been able to reacquire certain of their former lands. Silk and glass continued to be produced right through the third quarter of the century in some Latin occupied lands.
In truth the Byzantine economy, that one main determinant of the capability of the state, was booming well into the 12th century. There was a short fiscal crisis in the middle-late 11th century because of the political turmoil, but not something life-threatening to the economy as a whole. In fact, 12th century Byzantium underwent a commercial revolution of a sort, in ways booming in capital production like the Italian city-states would do for another few centuries.
The economy limped on for another few decades after the 4th Crusade, finally all coming crashing down into terminal decline around the end of the 13th century. It's not too entirely unfeasible to say, however, that the situation couldn't even have been saved then, had the Byzantines been able to reacquire certain of their former lands. Silk and glass continued to be produced right through the third quarter of the century in some Latin occupied lands.
Actually any other General could be better at Manzikert than Andronikos Dukas...
Romanos IV attacked Alp Arslan and was expecting that his rearguard commanded by Andronikos Dukas to outflank the Seljuks... Suddenly he receives a message from Dukas that the rearguard was cut off and he retreats... Romanos IV then tries to retreat in dissarray but he is soon surrounded by Seljuk cavalry...
Actually Andronikos Dukas wasnt cut off... He held a grudge against Romanos IV whom he considered an usurper... So he deserted him and left him alone on the battlefield...
Romanos IV attacked Alp Arslan and was expecting that his rearguard commanded by Andronikos Dukas to outflank the Seljuks... Suddenly he receives a message from Dukas that the rearguard was cut off and he retreats... Romanos IV then tries to retreat in dissarray but he is soon surrounded by Seljuk cavalry...
Actually Andronikos Dukas wasnt cut off... He held a grudge against Romanos IV whom he considered an usurper... So he deserted him and left him alone on the battlefield...