Editing Andronikos I Komnenos (section)

=== Imperial career ===
[[File:Manuel I Comnenus.jpg|upright|thumb|Emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos]] ({{Reign}}1143–1180)]]
Manuel I Komnenos began his reign as emperor on good terms with Andronikos. Andronikos showed no signs of treachery towards his cousin and Manuel was fond of his company since the two were of similar age and had grown up together.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} Andronikos took offence when officials spoke badly of Manuel's governance and was lent Manuel's favorite horse while they were on military campaigns.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} Similar in personality, the friendship between Manuel and Andronikos only gradually transitioned into rivalry.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=198}}

Manuel never succeeded in integrating Andronikos into the imperial family power network. Although talented and impressive as a person, Andronikos typically handled tasks entrusted to him carelessly.{{Sfn|Kislinger|2019|p=77}} Relations between Manuel and Andronikos deteriorated in 1148, when Manuel appointed his favorite nephew [[John Doukas Komnenos]] as ''[[protovestiarios]]'' and ''[[protosebastos]]''.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} These appointments were the last in a long line of extraordinary favors given to John{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=196}} and greatly wounded Andronikos, who from then on became involved in various intrigues against the emperor.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}}

In 1151–1152, Manuel sent Andronikos with an army against [[Thoros II]] of Armenian Cilicia, who had conquered large parts of Byzantine-held [[Cilicia]].{{Sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=642}} The campaign was a dismal failure, as Thoros defeated Andronikos and occupied even more of Cilicia.{{Sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=642}} Andronikos was nevertheless made governor of the portions that remained in imperial control.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}}

In the winter of 1152–1153, the imperial court was at [[Pelagonia]] in [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]],{{Sfn|Jeffreys|2017|p=185}} perhaps for recreational hunting.{{Sfn|Garland|2017|loc=Imperial Women and Entertainment at the Middle Byzantine Court}} During the stay there, Andronikos slept in the same tent as [[Eudokia Komnene (niece of Manuel I)|Eudokia Komnene]], Manuel's niece{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2009|p=92}} and sister of John Komnenos Doukas,{{Sfn|Jeffreys|2017|p=185}} committing incest.{{Sfn|Jeffreys|2017|p=186}} When Eudokia's family attempted to catch the two in the act{{Sfn|Jeffreys|2017|p=186}} and assassinate Andronikos,{{Sfn|Garland|2017|loc=Imperial Women and Entertainment at the Middle Byzantine Court}} he escaped by cutting a hole in the side of the tent with his sword.{{Sfn|Garland|2017|loc=Imperial Women and Entertainment at the Middle Byzantine Court}}{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2009|p=92}} Manuel criticized the affair but Andronikos answered him that "subjects should always follow their master's example", alluding to well-founded rumors of the emperor himself having an incestuous relationship with Eudokia's sister [[Theodora Komnene (niece of Manuel I)|Theodora]].{{Sfn|Norwich|2018|loc=Against Andronicus}}

Andronikos actively conspired against Manuel in the early 1150s, together with [[Baldwin III of Jerusalem]] and [[Mesud I]] of [[Sultanate of Rum|Rum]].{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} He was then removed from his command in Cilicia and transferred to oversee the governance of [[Braničevo (Golubac)|Branitzova]] and [[Niš|Naissus]] in the west. Not long thereafter, Andronikos promised to turn over these towns to [[Géza II of Hungary]] in return for aid in seizing the imperial throne.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} In 1155, Andronikos was imprisoned by Manuel in the imperial palace.{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=697}} According to [[Niketas Choniates]], the imprisonment was a direct result of his plot to usurp the throne with Hungarian aid, and his affair with Eudokia.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}} [[John Kinnamos]], however, claims that Manuel knew of the intrigues and did not punish Andronikos until he uttered death threats to John Komnenos Doukas.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2002|p=197}}