JOHN II, Comnenus

The eldest son of Alexius I, John Comnenus succeeded to the throne on 15th August 1118, though not without considerable opposition from his ambitious sister Anna Comnena.

The new emperor was a most gifted ruler. In the military sphere he greatly increased Byzantine prestige in the Balkans, ridding the Empire for good of the Patzinak threat and extending his authority over the Serbs. Antioch was re-captured for the Empire as the culmination of a victorious advance through Cilicia, and an alliance was made with the German Empire to counter the growing power of the Norman kingdom in South Italy and Sicily. At home John fully appreciated the long-term dangers of the trading privileges granted by his father to the Venetians, but although he attempted to curtail them he had to abandon this policy in the face of threatened reprisals.

The reign of John II was brought to a premature end after twenty-five years when the emperor died following a hunting accident. He was succeeded by his youngest son Manuel Comnenus.