John II Komnenos

Reign: 1118 – 1143
Life: 1088–1143

John was a pious and dedicated monarch who was determined to undo the damage his empire had suffered following the Battle of Manzikert, half a century earlier. John has been assessed as the greatest of the Komnenian emperors. This view became entrenched due to its espousal by George Ostrogorsky in his influential book History of the Byzantine State, where John is described as a ruler who, "... " In the course of the quarter-century of his reign, John made alliances with the Holy Roman Empire in the west, decisively defeated the Pechenegs, Hungarians and Serbs in the Balkans, and personally led numerous campaigns against the Turks in Asia Minor.

During John II Komnenos' reign, Alfonso VII of Castile ruled Spain, David I of Scotland ruled Scotland, and Louis VI of France ruled France.

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SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

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SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard

Beard's acclaimed introduction to Roman politics and emperors, readable and wide-ranging.

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