Alessandra Bucossi & Alex Rodriguez Suarez (eds.),
John II Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium: In the Shadow of Father and Son, Routldege 2016, 238pp.
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The Emperor John II Komnenos (1118-1143) has been overshadowed
by both his father Alexios I and his son Manuel I. Written sources have not
left us much evidence regarding his reign, although authors agree that he was
an excellent emperor. However, the period witnessed territorial expansion in
Asia Minor as well as the construction of the most important monastic complex
of twelfth-century Constantinople. What else do we know about John’s rule and
its period? This volume opens up new perspectives on John’s reign and clearly
demonstrates that many innovations generally attributed to the genius of Manuel
Komnenos had already been fostered during the reign of the second great
Komnenos. Leading experts on twelfth-century Byzantium (Jeffreys, Magdalino,
Ousterhout) are joined by representatives of a new generation of Byzantinists
to produce a timely and invaluable study of the unjustly neglected figure of
John Komnenos.
Preface; Life and reign of John II Komnenos
(1118-1143): a chronology, Rodriguez Suarez / John II Komnenos: a
historiographical essay, Stathakopoulos / John II Komnenos before the year
1118, Stanković / Narratives of John II Komnenos’ wars: comparing Byzantine and
modern approaches, Stouraitis / The political ideology of John II Komnenos,
Papageorgiou / The triumph of 1133, Magdalino / Emperor John II’s encounters
with foreign rulers, Vučetić / From Greek into Latin: western scholars and
translators in Constantinople during the reign of John II, Rodriguez Suarez /
Literary trends in the Constantinopolitan courts in the 1120s and 1130s,
Jeffreys / Seeking a way out of the impasse: the Filioque controversy during
John’s reign, Bucossi / Architecture and patronage in the age of John II,
Ousterhout / Imperial impersonations: disguised portraits of a Komnenian prince
and his father, Linardou / Coinage, numismatic circulation and monetary policy
under John II, Papadopoulou / Bibliography, Rodriguez Suarez.
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