House of AngelosThe descendents of Manolis Angelos of Philadelphia, Lydia played an important role in Byzantine history during the fourth Crusade. His son Konstantinos was the Admiral of Sicily who married Theodora, the daughter of Emperor Alexios Komnenos of Byzantium. Their grandson Isaakios II Angelos was unexpectedly proclaimed emperor in 1185 by the Constantinople mob that murdered his cousin, the emperor Andronicus I Comnenus. His reign was inaugurated by the decisive victory of his general Alexius Branas over the Normans, who, after invading the empire and sacking Thessalonica in 1185, were driven off Greek soil, except for the islands of Cephalonia and Zacynthus (modern Zante). Isaakios II was unsuccessful, however, in recovering Cyprus from the rebel Isaac Comnenus, who set himself up as an independent ruler of that island in 1185. Isaakios II failed to crush the revolt of the Bulgarians and Walachians that broke out toward the end of that year, even though he led expeditions against them in 1186 to 1187. He was forced to recognize the second Bulgarian empire. ..... continued |
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