Alexius I Comnenus
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Alexius I Comnenus (Grk. Alexios Komnenos): (b. 1048; d. Aug. 15, 1118, Constantinople). Byzantine Emperor (r1081-1118). Born into the noble Komnenos family, he was the son of John Komnenos and Anna Dalassene. He served as a general under the emperors Michael VII Ducas (r 1067-78) and Nicephorus (Nikophoros) III Botaneiates (r1078-81). In association with his brother, Isaac, Alexius revolted against Nicephorus on Feb. 14, 1081. The rebels seized control of Constantinople on April 1 and, on April 8, Alexius was crowned as the new emperor.
Although Alexius had the support by other political and military powerful families like the Doukai, he soon found the security threatened by aristocratic conspiracies from within and powerful enemies from outside the imperial borders. Although two of the latter, the Seljuk Turks and the Pechenigs of the Danube region seemed to pose the most imminent threat, the greatest danger proved to be the Normans of southern Italy under the leadership of Robert Guiscard. When Guiscard crossed the Adriatic and invaded Byzantine territory, intent on seizing the imperial throne for himself, he initially won some significant victories. Alexius, however, was able to utilize his considerable military and diplomatic skills to turn back the Norman invaders. Once the Norman threat ended, Alexius was able to also defeat invasions by the Seljuk Turks and the Pechenigs.
Eventually, Alexius realized that he could only hope to turn back the increasing threat from the Turks by seeking help from the West. His request for aid ultimately touched off the religious wars known as the Crusades.