WI: Emperor Manuel I Komnenos & Maria of Antioch had more than one son?

Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, from his two marriages, only had two daughters - Maria Porphyrogenita (1152-1182) and Anna (1154-1158), one son, Alexios II (1169-1183), and a miscarried son in 1166.

While Manuel did have illegitimate children, his count of legitimate children was small compared to his father (John II), grandfather (Alexios I) and great-grandfather, who each had 8 to 9 children, and about an equal share of sons and daughters.

Given Manuel's drive to have a son (though probably not as obsessive as Henry VIII of England's), I'm surprised he didn't have more children with Maria of Antioch after Alexios II. If there was a reason for that, I understand.

Anyway, what if, after the birth of Alexios II, Manuel had had at least one or two more sons by Maria of Antioch? Would it have made much difference in the long run, or would they have met the same end as Alexios II?

Any thoughts?
 
Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, from his two marriages, only had two daughters - Maria Porphyrogenita (1152-1182) and Anna (1154-1158), one son, Alexios II (1169-1183), and a miscarried son in 1166.

While Manuel did have illegitimate children, his count of legitimate children was small compared to his father (John II), grandfather (Alexios I) and great-grandfather, who each had 8 to 9 children, and about an equal share of sons and daughters.

Given Manuel's drive to have a son (though probably not as obsessive as Henry VIII of England's), I'm surprised he didn't have more children with Maria of Antioch after Alexios II. If there was a reason for that, I understand.

Anyway, what if, after the birth of Alexios II, Manuel had had at least one or two more sons by Maria of Antioch? Would it have made much difference in the long run, or would they have met the same end as Alexios II?

Any thoughts?
Considering their age,they are definitely too powerless to be killed alongside with their older brother.
 
It could have made the empire less stable.

How so? It he/they survives Andronikos and the Norman invasion, he/they could be used as a rally point for those who are still loyal either to the Komnenoi, or more specifically, the memory/legacy of Manuel.

Considering their age,they are definitely too powerless to be killed alongside with their older brother.

How so? Youth was hardly protection for previous child emperors, namely Heraclius II (aka Heraklonas). And Andronikos wasn't the sort to share power (for long, anyway).
 
And Andronikos wasn't the sort to share power (for long, anyway).

He might be persuaded to "share power" with a child figurehead (as opposed to tolerating the teenage Alexios II, who - had he lived - could have posed some threat to Andronikos very soon). Though I wouldn't get my hopes up.
 
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