WI Emperor Manuel I defeats Nur ad-Din in 1159?

In May 1159 Emperor Manuel I at the head of a united Christian army he started on the road to Edessa, but he abandoned the campaign, when he secured the release by Nur ad-Din, the ruler of Syria, of 6,000 Christian prisoners captured in various battles since the second Crusade and concluded an alliance with him against Seljuk Turks. Despite the glorious end of the expedition, it is argued by modern scholars that Manuel finally achieved much less than he hoped in terms of imperial restoration.
WI Manuel I refused Nur ad-Din's terms then and crashed Syria in 1159?
How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 
With his supply line overextended, Manuel finds he is in a more dangerous position than before. Furthermore, he does not have the strength to garrison Syria and defend it against attacks from neighbouring powers. So he retires as soon as his withdrawal route appears threatened, and is forced to reinstate Nur ad-Din, who, having lost more prestige and support than OTL, is soon overthrown.

There is also a chance that Manuel's army gets ambushed on the way back; if the ambush is well executed this could kill him, starting a period of instability in Constantinople.

I am the Last True Roman!!!
No. No you're not. :)
 
With his supply line overextended, Manuel finds he is in a more dangerous position than before. Furthermore, he does not have the strength to garrison Syria and defend it against attacks from neighbouring powers. So he retires as soon as his withdrawal route appears threatened, and is forced to reinstate Nur ad-Din, who, having lost more prestige and support than OTL, is soon overthrown.

There is also a chance that Manuel's army gets ambushed on the way back; if the ambush is well executed this could kill him, starting a period of instability in Constantinople.

No. No you're not. :)

By 1159 Manuel I had secured both Raynald de Chatillon Prince of Antioch and King Baldwin III of Jerusalem as his vassals (at least nominally) so if he had crushed Nur ad-Din he could have entrusted Syria to Baldwin III to administrate it while the Empire would gain extra revenue from there...They would be both profited from that... extra money for Manuel to fight Seljucs and extra manpower for Baldwin to defend Kingdom of Jerusalem from the rising Saladin...
 
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