Alexius Comnenus

Alexius Comnenus, one of the ablest rulers of the Byzantine empire, was born at Constantinople in 1048. He was the nephew of the Emperor Isaac Comnenus, on whose abdication, in 1059, his own father refused the purple; and Alexius, having in youth given brilliant promise of military genius, was at length, in 1081, after four brief anarchic reigns, elevated by his soldiers to the throne. Gibbon graphically paints his position and achievements. Everywhere he was encompassed with foes. The Scythians and Turks were pouring down from the north and north-east; the fierce Normans, who had effected a lodgment in Sicily and Italy, were menacing his western provinces; and, in 1096, the myriad warriors of the first crusade burst into his empire on their way to Palestine, and encamped around the gates of his capital. Yet he contrived to avoid all perils by the wisdom of his policy, the mingled patience and promptitude of his character, his discipline in the camp, and his humanity on the throne. He reigned for thirty-seven years; and had it been possible to preserve the weak and corrupt Byzantine empire in its integrity, a ruler like Alexius might have achieved the task. He could only delay the inevitable doom. Historians differ as to the sincerity of his conduct towards the crusaders. His daughter Anna Comnena, who wrote his life, defends his 'policy' with filial piety; but it seems clear that he entertained a profound dread and suspicion of the half-civilised Franks, and, knowing the weakness of his own empire, was compelled to dissimulate. He died in 1118.