Why were relations poor between Franks of Outremer and Byzantines 1095-1124?

Question 1

what are 3 main reasons why relations were poor between Franks of Outremer and Byzantines 1095-1124?

Answer 1

• Problems before the First Crusade
• Events of the First Crusade
• Problems after the First Crusade

Question 2

what are 2 long-term issues which contributed to the poor relations between Outremer and Byzantium 1095-1124?

Answer 2

• The Church was naturally divided. They developed different rites and had different approaches to religious doctrines (even before the Great Schism 1054).
• 1054 – the Great Schism

Question 3

why was the church naturally divided, even before the great schism?

Answer 3

• After the fall of the Western Empire, the number of individuals who spoke Latin and Greek began to dwindle - communication more difficult
• Cultural unity began to crumble along with linguistic unity

Question 4

how did cultural/relgious unity between east and west change after the fall of the western roman empire?

Answer 4

• The Orthodox East contested the teaching that Peter was the Patriarch of Rome as a Greek saint, St Irenaeus, stated that Pope Linus was the first bishop of Rome (whom the West see as the second) - The East rejected the idea of ‘pEtrine authority’ of the pope.
• The East did not accept the primacy of the Pope of Rome over the Eastern Church – they taught that the Pope was the first among equals.

Question 5

what was the great schism?

Answer 5

1054 – the Great Schism was a dispute over issues like petrine authority and the primacy of the pope. This includes the wording of the Nicaean Creed (Filoque clause) which partly led to mutual excommunications between the pope and the patriarch.

Question 6

when events just before the first crusade contributed to the poor relations between franks and byzantines 1095-1124?

Answer 6

• Gregory VII excommunicated Nicephorus III (1078) and Alexius I (1081) after their coups.
• The reform papacy under Gregory VII and later Urban II, sought to end the schism in Rome’s favour.
• The Normans had repeatedly invaded Byzantine territory in S. Italy (Bari, 1071) and Greece (1080s)

Question 7

why did Gregory VII excommunicate Nicephorus III (1078) and Alexius I (1081)?

Answer 7

both were seen as usurpers to the degree which a banner was issued to sanction an attack on Constantinople and Guiscard was recognised as a candidate for Byzantine emperor by the papacy

Question 8

how did The reform papacy under Gregory VII and later Urban II, seek to end the great schism in Rome’s favour?

Answer 8

• Papacy aware that the defeat at Manzikert 1071 had led to Christians in Anatolia coming under Muslim rule at the hands of the Turks​
• 1074: Gregory VII had promised to bring military aid to Michael VII to help him avenge Manzikert but had failed to do so. ​
• 1090: Alexius I had begun to seek improved relations with Urban II which were poor due to papal excommunication of the successors of Michael VII. Urban II had responded positively. ​

Question 9

where had The Normans repeatedly invaded Byzantine territory?

Answer 9

S. Italy (Bari, 1071) and Greece (1080s)

Question 10

what are some limitations to the theory that it was problems before the first crusade that caused the poor relations between outremer and byzantium 1095-1124?

Answer 10

• In 1074 Pope Gregory VII had promised to assist the Byzantine Empire which had suffered from attacks by the Seljuk Turks.
• Alexius I had asked for assistance from the West through his letter sent to the council of Piacenza in March 1095.

Question 11

what are some limitations to the theory that it was the events of the first crusade that caused the poor relations between outremer and byzantium 1095-1124?

Answer 11

• Alexius I provided the crusaders with food and supplies as well as informing them on how to deal with the Seljuk Turks.
• Alexius I sent two of his own generals, Manuel Boutoumides and Tatikios, to assist the crusaders on their journey.
• Nicaea’s control by Byzantium was, in fact, in accordance with the oaths sworn at Constantinople.
• Byzantium supplied the crusaders with wood to help them with the siege at Antioch.

Question 12

what actions did the crusaders take during the first crusade that alienated byzantium?

Answer 12

• Alexius I regarded the crusaders with distrust partly due to the Byzantine enemy, Bohemond of Taranto, amongst its ranks.
• Crusaders resented the fact they had to swear an oath to Alexius at Constantinople
• At the fall of Antioch, all the crusaders except Raymond of Toulouse agreed to hand it over to Bohemond of Taranto – in turn Alexius felt betrayed. Relations between the Byzantines and the crusaders collapsed.

Question 13

what actions did the byzantines take during the first crusade that alienated the crusaders?

Answer 13

• Crusaders were harassed by Byzantine populations on their journey from Europe to Constantinople.
• Alexius I regarded the crusaders with distrust
• Crusaders were angered when Alexius did not join them on crusade and the Byzantine’s secret negotiation with the garrison at Nicaea which meant the city fell to them.
• Feb 1098 – the Byzantine general, Tatikios, left the siege of Antioch – crusaders saw this as the Byzantines abandoning them.
• Military reinforcements promised by Alexius I never reached the crusaders at Antioch – crusaders, unaware of Stephen of Blois’ involvement saw this as another example of Byzantine abandonment.

Question 14

why were first Crusaders harassed by Byzantine populations on their journey from Europe to Constantinople?

Answer 14

This was partly a response to the behaviour of the People’s Crusade, but the lack of eager support from their fellow Christians was resented by the crusaders

Question 15

why did Alexius I regard the crusaders with distrust ?

Answer 15

partly due to the Byzantine enemy, Bohemond of Taranto, amongst its ranks.

Question 16

how did alexius i get the crusaders to swear an oath to him at constantinople?

Answer 16

• Godfrey of Bouillon initially refused resulting in Alexius cutting off his food supplies and led to Godfrey attacking Constantinople.
• All leaders except Raymond of Toulouse took the oath.

Question 17

why were the crusaders angered when the Byzantines’ secret negotiation with the garrison at Nicaea which meant the city fell to them?

Answer 17

Crusaders were refused entry into the city which meant they were unable to secure plunder.

Question 18

why did the crusaders feel abandoned at the siege of antioch?

Answer 18

• Feb 1098 – the Byzantine general, Tatikios, left the siege of Antioch
• Military reinforcements promised by Alexius I never reached the crusaders at Antioch

Question 19

why did Military reinforcements promised by Alexius I never reach the crusaders at Antioch

Answer 19

due to Stephen of Blois’ involvement

Question 20

why did Relations between the Byzantines and the crusaders collapse after the siege of antioch?

Answer 20

At the fall of Antioch, all the crusaders except Raymond of Toulouse agreed to hand it over to Bohemond of Taranto – in turn Alexius felt betrayed.

Question 21

what issues after the first crusade soured relations between byzantium and outremer 1095-1124?

Answer 21

• Keeping Antioch after its capture was key to the poor relations with Alexius and subsequent emperors
• Bohemonds crusade
• Removal of Greek figures
• John II refused to confirm his father’s 1082 treaty with Venice when he became Byzantine emperor in August 1118 (as well as the lesser privileges the Pisans had acquired in 1111).

Question 22

why was Keeping Antioch after its capture key to the poor relations with Alexius and subsequent emperors ?

Answer 22

The city was mainly populated with Greeks and regarded by Byzantium as a key part of their defence.

Question 23

how did bohemond worsen relations with byzantium through his actions at antioch?

Answer 23

Bohemond replaced the Greek patriarch of Antioch (John the Oxite) with a Latin one (Bernard of Valence).

Question 24

how did tancred worsen relations with byzantium through his actions at antioch?

Answer 24

Tancred (as regent) expanded the Principality of Antioch by attacking and taking the Byzantine cities of Mamistra, Adana and Tarsus in 1101 and the key port of Lattakieh in 1103.

Question 25

what did bohemond do after he was released from captivity in 1104?

Answer 25

returned to Western Europe and gained papal support for a military campaign against the Byzantines.

Question 26

what was the outcome of bohemond's crusade?

Answer 26

it was crushed and he was forced to sign a humiliating treat (Devol, 1108) acknowledging Byzantine overlordship and the return of the Greek patriarch

Question 27

what was the treaty of devol?

Answer 27

humiliating treaty signed after bohemond's cruasade, acknowledging Byzantine overlordship and the return of the Greek patriarch; however, Bohemond died shortly after and Tancred refused to accept it

Question 28

what greek figures were rermoved by the franks, worsening relations with byzantium 1095-1124?

Answer 28

- The Greek patriarch of Jerusalem was replaced by a Latin one. - Latin bishops were imposed on Orthodox Greek priests.

Question 29

what happened to the holy sepulchre after the franks gained jerusalem?

Answer 29

Custody of the Holy Sepulchre passed from Greek Christians to Latins; Jacobites and Armenians were allowed their religious autonomy but their heretical beliefs meant that the were excluded from the Holy Sepulchre

Question 30

how were eastern crhistians persecuted by franks?

Answer 30

Eastern Christians were subjected to a tax and they were not represented in the government of the kingdom of Jerusalem (this also related to indigenous Muslims and Jews too).

Question 31

how did venice respond to John II's refusal to confirm his father's 1082 treaty with Venice when he became Byzantine emperor in August 1118 ?

Answer 31

- the Venetian fleet, sent to undertake the Venetian crusade, unsuccessfully besieged the Byzantine Island of Corfu in the winter of 1122-23. - In the winter of 1124-25 the Venetian fleet that returned from the capture of Tyre plundered Rhodes, Chios, Samos, Lesbos, Andros and captured Kefalonia in the Ionian Seaq

Question 32

why, In the winter of 1124-25, was the Venetian fleet able to plunder Rhodes, Chios, Samos, Lesbos, Andros and captured Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea?

Answer 32

John II was not expecting the attack and had no fleet in the area; He had prioritised the build up of his armies over the navy (to aid him in his military campaigns in Anatolia). He was therefore unable to intervene.

Question 33

how did John II react to the Venetian fleet plundering and stealing land winter 1124-25?

Answer 33

In August 1126 John II signed a treaty with Venice restoring all of their original commercial privileges from the 1082 agreement (the Pisans also had their privileges restored); But John II also exempted all Byzantine merchants who bought or sold anything from or to the Venetians from the Kommerkion.