Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium Episode 239, the new aristocracy.

Two episodes ago we talked about Manowiel's personality and the relationship he shared

with various family members like his cousin Andronicus or his father's old friend John

Axuke. In fact I described a dinner scene where those two nearly came to blows. The topic

being discussed was whether Manowiel was as good a general as his father John had been.

I don't know which pot-stirring relative brought this up but things turn nasty when John

Axuke argued a little too convincingly that Manowiel was not yet fit to lace his father's

boots. Andronicus at this point Manowiel's bestie told the much older Axuke to watch

his step and swords were drawn. The scene was particularly tense because Manowiel's older

brother Isaac was at the table and the subtext was that Axuke thought Isaac should have

inherited his father's crown. The reason I'm reiterating that family squabble is to draw

your attention to the scene itself. This dinner was happening on campaign in the Balkans,

presumably in a fancy imperial tent where the leading men of the dynasty ate together

often. This gathering of the great and the good is a

Com-Nenian innovation. Do you remember me describing similar scenes with Basil II and his

relatives? No you don't. Pre-Manzacert, Emperor's often saw their male family members as

threats and kept them away from military campaigns. But as soon as you start reading about Alexia's

Com-Nenos' campaigns all his relatives are by his side. His brothers and nephews and brothers

in law. Nicefrus Melisinos is there and George Pallelochus. All sticking their aura in and

having a say on how they should tackle Robert Giscard. It was quite jarring for me having

dealt with centuries of campaigns when no subordinates really get name checked. At first I thought

it was just Anna Com-Nenos' style of writing, but now here we are, with Kinemus and Koni

...