As the tin says. Alexios and Andronikos were John’s most capable sons and campaigned heavily with him. Alexios has already been crowned his co-emperor. Unfortunately first Alexios and then Andronikos died prematurely from diseases while campaigning with their father. What if their illnesses didn’t happen or they recovered and as a result don’t predecease their father?
WI: Alexios and Andronikos Komnenos, eldest sons of Emperor John II Komnenos, hadn’t died early?
- Thread starter Sevarics
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Marc
Donor
We, typically, know very little about them. Their reputations - and remember that they are adults, but quite young - are largely based on the kind of panegyrics common to the children of distinguished rulers.
They could be fine, or they could end up being Titus and Domitian, or worse.
Dynasties are tricky, The Komnenoi had their share of, ah, difficult, personalities.
They could be fine, or they could end up being Titus and Domitian, or worse.
Dynasties are tricky, The Komnenoi had their share of, ah, difficult, personalities.
True but anyone is better than the Angeloi, I reckon they'll continue the Kommenoi for probably a couple more generations. At least Manuel Megas doesn't exist to drain the empire's power when it didn't benefit them.
Marc
Donor
Stand corrected, I was off by more than a decade it seems. (Blame not checking references but going by going increasingly unreliable memory) Nevertheless, we don't really know their personalities in any detail. Which does allow a supposing to paint what it wishes on their talents and character.
Now, it is rather intriguing that they both die closely - not that common among the very elite - and that the next brother, Isaac, is passed over in favor of Manuel. A clever author could have fun with fratricide...
We might not know much about them, but Andronikos seems to have been the more capable of the two. The wiki for Andronikos states: “Andronikos Komnenos became early on involved in military affairs. His first campaign was when he accompanied his father in his decisive victory against the Hungarians in 1129. Like his other brothers, he then accompanied John II during his successive campaigns against the Seljuk Turks in Asia Minor.[3] The court poets Michael Italikos and Theodore Prodromos praised Andronikos' military ability, the former comparing him to the mythical heroes of the Iliad.[4]”