Editing Manuel I Komnenos (section)

===Byzantine policy in Italy after 1158===
[[Image:B alexander III2.jpg|thumb|Frederick Barbarossa submits to the authority of Pope Alexander III after his defeat at the [[Battle of Legnano]] ([[fresco]] in the Palazzo Pubblico in [[Siena]], by [[Spinello Aretino]]).]]

After 1158, under the new conditions, the aims of the Byzantine policy changed. Manuel now decided to oppose the objective of the [[Hohenstaufen]] dynasty to directly annex Italy, which Frederick believed should acknowledge his power. When the war between [[Frederick Barbarossa]] and the northern [[Italian commune]]s started, Manuel actively supported the [[Lombard League]] with money subsidies, agents, and, occasionally, troops.<ref name="ReferenceA">Rogers, Clifford J, ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology: Vol. 1.'', 290</ref> The walls of [[Milan]], demolished by the Germans, were restored with Manuel's aid.<ref name="MV84">P. Magdalino, ''The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos'', 84<br/>* A. A. Vasiliev, ''History of the Byzantine Empire'', [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0832/_P1A.HTM VII]</ref> Ancona remained important as a centre of Byzantine influence in Italy. The Anconitans made a voluntary submission to Manuel, and the Byzantines maintained representatives in the city.<ref>Abulafia, D. (1984) ''Ancona, Byzantium and the Adriatic, 1155–1173'', Papers of the British School at Rome, Vol. 52, pp. 195–216, 211</ref> Frederick's defeat at the [[Battle of Legnano]], on 29 May 1176, seemed rather to improve Manuel's position in Italy. According to Kinnamos, [[Cremona]], [[Pavia]] and a number of other "[[Liguria]]n" cities went over to Manuel;<ref name="M84">J. Cinnamus, ''Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus'', 231<br/>* P. Magdalino, ''The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos'', 84</ref> his relations were also particularly favourable in regard to [[Genoa]] and [[Pisa]], but not to [[Republic of Venice|Venice]]. In March 1171 Manuel had suddenly broken with Venice, ordering all 20,000 Venetians on imperial territory to be arrested and their property confiscated.<ref name="MV93">P. Magdalino, ''The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos'', 93</ref> Venice, incensed, [[Byzantine–Venetian war of 1171|sent a fleet of 120 ships]] against Byzantium. Due to an epidemic, and pursued by 150 Byzantine ships, the fleet was forced to return without great success.<ref name="Nor4">J. Norwich, ''Byzantium: The Decline and Fall'', 131</ref> In all probability, friendly relations between Byzantium and Venice were not restored in Manuel's lifetime.<ref name="Vas7"/>