Editing Andronikos I Komnenos (section)

=== Power struggle ===
[[File:Bizancio1180AD.svg|thumb|Map of the [[Byzantine Empire]] at the death of Manuel I Komnenos in 1180]]
Manuel died on 24 September 1180{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=126}} and the throne was inherited by his eleven-year-old son, [[Alexios II Komnenos]].{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}} A regency was set up for the young emperor, led by Manuel's widow, Maria of Antioch.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} Manuel had made his officials and nobles swear to obey Maria as regent, on the condition that she became a [[nun]] (which she did) and guarded the honor of the empire and their son.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=205}} Maria was supported by Patriarch [[Theodosios Borradiotes]] and the ''[[Protosebastos|prōtosebastos]]'' [[Alexios Komnenos (protosebastos)|Alexios Komnenos]], a nephew of Manuel.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} Despite this, she was in a dangerous position. She was of [[Latins|Latin]] (i.e. Catholic/Western European) origin and regent for a minor with ambitious relatives.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=205}} Manuel had throughout his reign sought to integrate the empire into the world of the Latin states in the West and [[Levant]] through diplomacy. His efforts were largely unsuccessful, as Latin polities began to regard themselves as having a say in imperial politics and anti-Latin sentiment grew among the populace of the empire.{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=726}}[[File:Maria of Antioch 01.jpg|thumb|[[Maria of Antioch]], regent of the Byzantine Empire 1180–1182]]
Maria of Antioch was young and beautiful, leading to power struggles between officials who sought her favor.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=205}} Little political attention was given to Alexios II, who as a child was devoted entirely to pursuits such as chariot races and hunting.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} The perceived pro-Latin stance of the regency and rumors that Maria and Alexios the ''prōtosebastos'' were lovers, as well as suspicions that the ''prōtosebastos'' planned to seize the throne for himself, led to the formation of a court faction opposed to the regency.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}}{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=205}} Some of Maria's supporters also began to abandon her as the favors they sought were increasingly given to the ''prōtosebastos''.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} The opposition was led by Manuel's daughter, [[Maria Komnene (daughter of Manuel I)|Maria Komnene]], her husband [[Renier of Montferrat]],{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}}{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} and Manuel's illegitimate son [[Alexios Komnenos (illegitimate son of Manuel I)|Alexios]].{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}}

In early 1181, a plot to assassinate the ''prōtosebastos'' was uncovered and many were arrested.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} Maria Komnene and Renier sought asylum in the [[Hagia Sophia]]{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}}{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} and were supported by Patriarch Theodosios and the clergy.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} The two conspirators turned the church into a stronghold and issued demands that the ''prōtosebastos'' be removed from office and that those arrested should be released.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} The citizenry of Constantinople were split between the two factions. Clashes erupted throughout the capital,{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}} lasting for two months.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} Maria Komnene, supported by the clergy, portrayed her revolt against the regency as a [[holy war]].{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} With the government focused on the power struggle, the empire swiftly lost territory to foreign enemies. Béla III of Hungary conquered [[Dalmatia]] and [[Sirmium]], and [[Kilij Arslan II]] of [[Sultanate of Rum|Rum]] conquered [[Sozopolis (Pisidia)|Sozopolis]] and besieged [[Attaleia]].{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}}

Peace was brokered in the capital by the ''[[megas doux]]'' [[Andronikos Kontostephanos]]{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=696}} and the patriarch{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=206}} but the conflict was not resolved.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} In 1182,{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} Maria Komnene and other nobles sent for Andronikos in Paphlagonia, inviting him to the capital to assume the protection of Alexios II.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=207}} Andronikos was by this time in his early sixties and regarded by some as an elder statesman.{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=697}} Because of his exile away from the affairs in the capital, he was seen as an impartial outsider who could champion the young emperor's best interests.{{Sfn|Magdalino|2008|p=660}} Maria Komnene could also assume that he would be supportive of her since Andronikos's sons Manuel and John had been involved in her revolt.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=207}} In the spring of 1182, Andronikos assembled an army and marched on Constantinople.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=127}} He portrayed himself as a champion of Alexios II,{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=697}} accused Maria of Antioch and the ''prōtosebastos'' of conspiracy, and falsely claimed that Manuel had appointed him as one of Alexios II's regents.{{Sfn|Garland|1999|p=207}} The general [[Andronikos Angelos Doukas|Andronikos Angelos]] was sent to intercept Andronikos but was defeated, fled back to Constantinople, and quickly defected to Andronikos out of fear of his failure being punished.{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=697}} Once Andronikos reached the [[Bosporus]], public opinion in Constantinople was firmly on his side.{{Sfn|Harris|2014|p=128}} The ''prōtosebastos'' organized a fleet to stop Andronikos, led by Kontostephanos, though Kontostephanos likewise defected to the rebel's side.{{Sfn|Kaldellis|2024|p=697}}