Ten Years War (Battle of Manzikert)

Battle of Achaea, 1177.

"A victory in this war is no better than a defeat"

- Attributed to Ioannes II soon after his ousting as Emperor.

The Ten Years War, also sometimes referred to as the Ten Years Anarchy of the Decade of Anarchy, was a climactic and critical period in Byzantine History. It was a complicated and bloody affair. In some cases, it would take nearly half a Millenium for the empire to recover from some aspects of the conflict.

The war was sparked by the deposition of the highly unpopular emperor Alexios III by Andronikos I in 1165. At the time, few realized the massive implications this would have on Byzantine History. The War raged on for a little more than a decade, killing and destroying everything it touched. By the end of the civil conflict, farms lay deserted and trade had collapsed. The war took a toll on the Byzantine empire and almost caused its collapse. In total, nine emperors usurped the Byzantine throne, outshining even the famed Twenty Years Anarchy that took place in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.

Background

The year is 1163. Alexios II, one of Byzantium's most famed and admired emperors, had perished from malaria, which he contracted while campaigning in southern Italy. His son, Alexios III, ascends to the Byzantine Throne and it swiftly became clear that his reign would be vastly different from those of his predecessors. His contemporaries and Modern Historians have long scrutinized him for his reign and the poor leadership that oozed out of him. Described as a "stuttering fool" by historians of the era and "an excuse for an Emperor" by contemporary historians, he barely possessed the wisdom to rule the Byzantine Empire, a fact that he was aware of. A failed expedition into chaotic Egypt and a feared interest in Iconoclasm furthered the deterioration of his reputation. Eventually, the burden of an unskilled emperor was too much to bear and Alexios' reign was numbered.

Initiation: Andronikos takes power

The discontented Nobility and Clergy selected Alexios' son, Andronikos, as a candidate for replacing the detested emperor. Exactly why is still up to debate but nonetheless, Andronikos was unanimously nominated as the replacement for Alexios. On July 4, 1165, the Byzantine Army renounced their loyalty to Alexios and subsequently stormed the Great Palace of Constantinople. Alexios III was ousted and was said to be killed (his body would be declared missing and it would soon be revealed that he still retained his life). Andronikos was now Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans.

The Nobility and Clergy were initially enthusiastic about Andronikos' reign but after his instating as emperor they swiftly began to regret their decision. He arguably much worse than Alexios and was completely incompetent. His reputation was damaged further in 1167 when it was uncovered that he was no man of the Eastern Orthodox faith, but rather a member of the previously unheard of Cappadocian Sect. This enraged his subjects, particularly the clergy, who were angry and cautious of a non-orthodox emperor taking the throne. The stage was set for another coup.

In February of that year, a Syrian general named Constantine revolted. Andronikos set off for war, attempting to make an amphibious landing in Antioch. He engaged the forces of Constantine, inflicting what seemed to be a decisive blow towards him. Constantine regrouped in Alexederetta, defeating Andronikos and hanging him on April 8, 1167. With that moment, the Ten Years Anarchy commenced.

A Decade of Turmoil

The Reign of Constantine XI

Slaughter of Constantine XI as depicted in a 13th Century French chronicle of the "Greek Kingdom."

Constantine XI's reign would be challenged from the start, a trend found in the reign of every emperor of this period. However, unlike most other emperors, Constantine was able to eliminate most of the pretenders he engaged in the battlefield. Many contemporaries had hoped that his reign would prevent a long and grueling Twenty Years Anarchy-like situation in the empire. Many had joined Constantine in hopes that this dream would become a reality. However, behind masks of friendship were ulterior motives. In particular, a man named Andronikos, while appearing as a staunch ally of the emperor, was in reality studiously plotting against Constantine. He had joined Constantine's campaigns to gain experience in the art of war and used the emperor's trust of him to gain an inside look into the emperor's contacts. He organized a coup, bribing friendly nobles and allying himself with the clergy, who had disdain for the emperor for the reduction of clerical rights that had taken place during his reign. Then, he anonymously riled up the populous of Constantinople into a mob.

On April 11, 1169, an angry mob arrived at the Great Palace of Constantinople, denouncing Constantine XI and forcing him to abdicate. The mob got out of the control of Andronikos however, and they began to siege the palace. They stormed the palace the next day, looting, pillaging, and plundering. Constantine fled the palace but was met by the mob and killed by it. His body was never found. Andronikos II took the throne and faced the same precarious situation that Constantine had endured during his reign.