Byzantium survives?

How would the Eastern Roman Empire and by extension the medieval world have developed assuming the competent Emperor Isaac Komnenos never falls ill and gives up the throne in 1059, instead ruling until say, 1080. Could the empire have maintained its 10/11th century resurgence with the Komnenoi at the helm before the Battle of Manzikert? If so, how?

How would the Mongols have affected things?
 
If Manzikert is avoided, would the Byzantines retain Anatolia? This would give them a great deal more manpower, make them stronger, etc.

If the Mongols come, I don't see why what happened IOTL wouldn't happen here: the Byzantines pay tribute to avoid Mongol conquest.
 

Philip

Donor
the competent Emperor Isaac Komnenos never falls ill and gives up the throne in 1059, instead ruling until say, 1080.

Are we certain that he is that competent? He only ruled for a couple years. I am not convinced that he would be successful in his reforms.

How would the Mongols have affected things?

If the PoD is c. 1059, it is doubtful that Temüjin/Genghis Khan is even born.
 

Typo

Banned
The problem is a Manzikert-scale defeat is going to happen sooner or later. The challenge is not to avoid Manzikert, but to reduce the impact that a catastrophic military battle would have on the empire.
 
There was nothing wrong with the scale of Manzikert. The Imperial army had suffered worse in the centuries and still managed victory.

It was the severe aftermath of Romanus' capture. The coup, the civil war, and the collapse of the military order that resulted. The Seljuks took advantage of this, Manzikert didn't win them direct entry to the central plains of Anatolia.

Luckily for all of you guys, I'm in the process of researching for a TL that includes Byzantium (and a whole lot of other fun things). I'm working through the initial stages so far, but I'm pretty sure I know where I'm going with it.
 
Are we certain that he is that competent? He only ruled for a couple years. I am not convinced that he would be successful in his reforms.
Well he did manage his holdings before becoming Emperor very well. Whether he would turn out to be much more than a competent Emperor who knows but even that is leaps and bounds better than what the Empire had OTL.


If the PoD is c. 1059, it is doubtful that Temüjin/Genghis Khan is even born.
Honestly it could go either way IMO being as we are talking about a little over 100 years. But I can see butterflies from Constantinople taking quite awhile to create a noticeable divergence in Mongolia.
 
Jaded is right militarily it was a humiliating defeat that shouldn’t have happened but no where close to being death blow. Politically however it set off a massively destructive domino chain.
It should also be pointed out that had a Komnenoi or a member of one of the larger more respected families been wearing the purple at the time would likely have just increased their border forcers to deal with the raids. Romanos’ position as Emperor was anything but secure so he felt he needed a major victory to cement his place on the throne.
 
Byzantium

The main problem was the government and the factions that were in power. It was'nt so much outside invasions but the internal bickering that led to Manzikert and the eventual collapse..Then you have the break up of the theme system. I would say that Isaac or any emperor of that period really had his work cut out for him.
 
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