Editing John II Komnenos (section)

==Early life==
John was born on 13 September 1087, the third child and first son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and his wife Irene Doukaina. [[Joannes Zonaras]] describes John's birth, "And then a son was born to the emperor, who was honoured with the holy baptism in the holy church of [[Hagia Sophia]] by the Patriarch. He was named John and his father then crowned him with a diadem".<ref>Stankovic, p. 14</ref> At a young age he was associated with his father as co-emperor, sometime between 1 September and early November, 1092.<ref>Bucossi and Suarez, p. 16</ref> The first act in the name of both emperors was issued on 15 November 1092. The occasion of John's elevation was celebrated by a special issue of coins with his parents depicted on the reverse and John crowned by Christ on the obverse.<ref>Stankovic, pp. 16-17</ref>

Alexios I arranged a dynastic marriage for John. In 1104 or early 1105 John was married to the Hungarian princess [[Piroska of Hungary|Piroska]], daughter of King [[Ladislaus I of Hungary]]. She was given the Greek name Irene, meaning 'peace', in Byzantium. This marriage sealed a political alliance, which would strengthen Byzantium's position in the Balkans and Adriatic.<ref>Stankovic, p. 17</ref> In 1106 Alexios I was campaigning against the [[Serbs]], most probably accompanied by his son John. At this time John's wife was heavily pregnant, she was with her husband on campaign, giving birth to twins, [[Alexios Komnenos (co-emperor)|Alexios]] and Maria, in [[Sidirokastro|Balabista]], Macedonia. The question arises as to why the birth was not in Constantinople. It is reasonably supposed that John did not wish to leave his unsupported wife under the control of his mother, who would have had authority in Constantinople in the absence of both emperors.<ref>Stankovic, p. 18</ref> In 1108, the [[Treaty of Devol]] recorded the submission of the defeated [[Bohemond I of Antioch]] to " ... the great Emperor Kyr[ios] Alexios Komnenos and of your thrice-loved son, Emperor Kyr John born in the purple". This leaves no doubt as to John's status as co-emperor and heir apparent.<ref>Stankovic, p. 19</ref>