A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

922 MANUEL. MANUEL.
when the latter lost his life through'an accident in of Coorfu vielded to him after an obstinate and proCilicia; and, fears were entertained that Isaac, who tracted siege, signalised by the death of his brotherwas then.in Constantinople, would seize the supreme in-law, Stephanus. Contostephanus, Magnus Dux,
power. But no sooner had John expired than the who was succeeded in the command by the faithful
faithful minister, Axuch, hastened to the capital, Axuch. The surrender of that important fortress
seized Isaac, confined him in a prison, and suc- was delayed by a bloody quarrel which broke out
ceeded in causing Manuel to be recognised in Con- between the Greeks and the Venetians. In this
stantinople, where he met with a brilliant reception, siege Manuel was foremost among those who
on his arrival from Cilicia, a short time afterwards. stormed the town; and his fleet having one day
Manuel was scarcely seated on his throne, when made several fruitless attempts to drive the Sicihe was involved in an uninterrupted series of wars lians from some outworks near the sea, he put himwith the nations of the East as well as the West, self on the poop of a galley, and cheered his men
in which, though not always successful, he distin- on while showers of arrows and other missiles came
guished himself so much by his undaunted courage down upon the spot where he stood. His boldness
and heroic deeds as to deserve the name of the excited the admiration of the Sicilians, who ceased
greatest hero of a time when there was no lack of for a moment to make him the aim of their weaextraordinary achievements in the field. The dis- pons. They would, however, soon have despatched
covery that his brother Isaac seemed not to enter- him but for the voice of their commander, who
tain ambitious designs, and the re-establishment of cried out that it would be dishonourable to kill an
a good understanding between the two brothers, hero like Manuel. The emperor intended to attack
allowed Manuel to devote himself entirely to the Roger within his own dominions, but the crafty
conduct of his wars and to those endless in- Norman enticed the Servians and Hungarians to
trigues and negotiations in which he found him- make a diversion on the Danube. The former were
self involved. As -early as 1144 his general, vanquished in two campaigns, when they begged
Demetrius Branas, forced Raymond, the Latin for peace; and the Hungarian war lasted till 1152,
prince of Antioch, who had shaken off his allegi- when their king, Geisa, after having been beaten
ance towards the emperor, to submit to Greek in many pitched battles, promised to desist from
valour, and to renew, in Constantinople, the bonds molesting the empire. The peace, however, was of
of his vassalship. In the following year Manuel short duration. In the same year, 1152, Manuel
set out against the Turks, who had invaded Isauria, experienced a repulse in a war with the Turks in
defeated them in several pitched battles, and cast Cilicia; but in Italy his armies met with glorious
such a terror among the Turkish soldiers, that they success, The Greeks having landed in Italy, took
would no longer keep the field; whereupon peace Brundusium, Bari, and other places of importance;
was concluded to the advantage of the victor. the fleet of the Sicilians was defeated in several
About this time Manuel found reason to distrust decisive engagements; and it seemed that John
his brother Isaac, who was deprived of his title of Ducas, the gallant commander-in-chief of the
Sebastocrator; but as there was no direct evidence Greeks, would find no more obstacles in re-uniting
of treason against him, he was allowed to live on Southern Italy with the Byzantine empire. The
condition of retiring into a convent, where he spent sanguine hopes of Manuel were blighted by Wilthe rest of his life. In the same year, 1147, liam, the successor of king Roger, who fell upon
Manuel received information from king Louis VII. Alexis Comnenus, the successor of John Ducas; and
of France, that the Western princes, headed by the after a severe struggle, routed the Greeks. At the
king and the emperor Conrad III. of Germany, same time the Greek fleet was defeated off Negrohad resolved upon a new crusade, and desired his pont; and Maius, the Sicilian admiral, sailed withalliance. Manuel promised it, but gave secret in- out loss of time for Constantinople, where he landed
formation of the approaching storm to the Turks. a considerable force. The inhabitants were thrown
Nevertheless he allowed Conrad to pass through into the utmost consternation; but their fears soon
his dominions with a vast army, and subsequently ceased, since Maius was not strong enough to
the French king also. attempt any thing of importance, and consequently
While the Crusaders were fighting with the sailed home, satisfied with some booty and captives.
Turks, Manuel was involved in a war with Roger, These checks produced a great effect upon the
the Norman king of Sicily, who possessed likewise mind of Manuel, who, having received a very
a large portion of Southern Italy, and who, think- noble letter from king William, with offers of an
ing that the new crusade would prevent the Greek honourable peace, accepted the proposition, and
emperor from maintaining great forces in Europe, thus this memorable war terminated in 1155.
prepared for an invasion of Greece. This war, The conquests on both sides were given back, as
which broke out in 1148, is by far the most re- wellas all the captives, except those Greeks taken
markable in the history of Manuel, who, however, by the Sicilians who were silk-weavers, and whodid not engage in it alone, but found an ally in the were to remain in Italy, where they laid the founrepublic of Venice. Marching at the head of his dation of the flourishing state of Italian silk manu-:
veterans towards Macedonia, he was informed, factures. The following years were signalised by
while at Philippopolis, that the Patzenegnes had hostilities with Raymond, prince of Antioch, who,
crossed the Danube, probably excited by king was soon brought to obedience; and Az-ed-din,
Roger. Without hesitating a'moment, Manuel, the Turkish Sultan, who met with no better sucwheeled to the right, fell upon the barbarians, cess, and went to Constantinople to sue for peace.
drove- them back into the Dacian wildernesses; The tranquillity of Asia was no sooner settled,
and after receiving hostages for their future good than a new and terrible war broke out in the north
behaviour, returned with rapid marches towards King Geisa of Hungary fancied that the forces of
Macedonia. embarked at Thessalonica, and landed the empire were exhausted by protracted warfare,
his host in Corfu before the end of the year. There and accordingly crossed the Danube. Manuel
he was joined by a Venetian army. The fortress intended to lead his armies in person, but he