The reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, a young general who usurped the throne of a collapsing Empire and ruled it for 37 years, was an eventful and exciting one, full of challenges and innovations. After suffering some severe military defeats which may have brought down lesser Emperors, Alexios learned, persevered, and conquered, beginning what we call the Komnenian Restoration which would see its height under his grandson Manuel, bringing the Roman Empire back as a superpower onto the world stage after Manzikert. In a decade he had neutralized the Italo-Norman and Pecheneg threat, and caused a world changing event in order to push back the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia: he called on the First Crusade, which partially fulfilled his wish to retake the Asian Roman provinces, but also brought new enemies along: the Crusader Principality of Antioch who would not relinquish their claims on the former Roman city which they solemnly swore to return to Alexios. Overall, although some of the refounder of the Komnenian Dynasty's actions and policies are controversial, there is no doubting that he went to extreme lengths to ensure his Empire's survival and prosperity and deserves the high praise lavished upon him by his daughter, the historian Anna Komnene.

Sources:
- The Alexiad, by Anna Komnene, translated by Elizabeth Dawes
- Alexios I Komnenos (Belfast Byzantine Texts and Translations), edited by Margaret Mullett and Dion Smythe
- A History of the Crusades Volumes I and II by Sir Steven Runciman
- The Orphans of Byzantium by Timothy S. Miller

Music used in video:
Andreas Waldetoft - Komnenos (https://youtu.be/6xIxIaQlGYU)
Farya Faraji - The Varangians (https://youtu.be/I1EUIoJDgsk)
Al Kindi Ensemble - The Crusades (2 - 5) (https://youtu.be/FpbuD4NLam0)

Hope you enjoyed the debut of Season 3 of Eastern Rome Summarized! See you soon when we explore the full blossoming of Alexios Komnenos' legacy in the next video.