POD: John II Komnenos, the Kaloïōannēs, Does not get pricked with a poisioned arrow (or at least gets the wound treated, which apparently he did not) and thus does not die in the Byzantine equivalent of the White Ship disaster. It is spring 1143, the imperial army is primed to conquer Antioch just as it had Cilicia, Caria and Lycia before, John, now in his 50s, looks forward to being in a position to attack the Seljuqs of Konya from two directions...but first must force the Franks of Antioch to submit to imperial rule and supply troops to support his campaigns.
He also must choose which of two surviving sons, Issac and Manuel, is to be his successor, the choice will be a hard one...
On April 8th 1143 his forces, numbering some 20,000 attended by a massive siege train, set off for Antioch.
What do you guys think? Is it plausible for him not to die in the hunting "accident"?
He also must choose which of two surviving sons, Issac and Manuel, is to be his successor, the choice will be a hard one...
On April 8th 1143 his forces, numbering some 20,000 attended by a massive siege train, set off for Antioch.
What do you guys think? Is it plausible for him not to die in the hunting "accident"?