(The Pechenegs defeating the Rus, from the Skyllitzes Matritensis, fol.
173r, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)
In 1087 CE, a horde of
Pecheneg warriors (followed by their families) poured down from the steppes
above the Black Sea and into territory controlled by the Byzantine Empire. The
empire was ruled at that time by Emperor Alexios Komnenos, who had led the empire
since 1081 CE. These tens of thousands of hostile warriors threw the empire
into such a panic that memories of the old ‘barbarian’ enemies of the Roman
Empire were revived to describe the new Pecheneg threat. Anna Komnene, daughter
of Emperor Alexios, likened the invaders to the ancient Scythians, Sarmatians
and Dacians in her history, The Alexiad.
She estimated that the Pechenegs had crossed into imperial territory with as
many as 80,000 warriors.
Continue reading about the this long war between Emperor Alexios and three other military powers, HERE.
Continue reading about the this long war between Emperor Alexios and three other military powers, HERE.
No comments :
Post a Comment