Isaac II Angelos

Isaac II Angelos (Greek Ἰσαάκιος Β ' Ἄγγελος, * 1155, † January 28, 1204 in Constantine Opel ) was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195 as the successor of Andronicus I and again from 1203 to 1204.

Life

Isaac began his reign with a decisive victory over the Normans in Sicily, but was otherwise less successful. Trying to recapture Cyprus from the rebellious noble Isaac Komnenos, failed due to the interference of the Normans. At the same time brought the Bulgarians and Vlachs and founded in 1186, the Second Bulgarian Empire. 1187 turned to the General Alexios Branas, who had been sent against the rebels against the emperor and tried to occupy Constantinople Opel, but was defeated and killed. Next, the East demanded the attention of the emperor, where various pretenders to the throne rose and fell again. 1189 Frederick Barbarossa tried to lead his troops on the Third Crusade through the Byzantine Empire, and was given permission. He had already crossed the border, as Isaac, who had meanwhile agreed with Saladin, began to put obstacles in his way, and could only be compelled by force of arms to fulfill the commitment. His daughter Irene was here promised to the present in Germany, Philip of Swabia.

The next five years was Isaac involved in new insurrections of the Vlachs, against whom he led several campaigns. During these campaigns took advantage of his brother Alexios in 1195 on a hunting expedition of the emperor and his absence from the camp to proclaim himself emperor, and was also recognized by the soldiers. Isaac was placed blinded and imprisoned in Constantinople Opel.

Eight years later, on July 18, 1203 he was taken on for six months from his dungeon, and once again lifted to the throne after the Fourth Crusade had reached the city. As he was weakened both physically and mentally by the captivity, his son Alexius IV took over the actual government. Isaac and Alexios was overthrown on January 25, 1204 because of their yielding against the Crusaders by an uprising of General Alexios Murtzouphlos, who himself came to the throne a few days later. Isaac died on 28 January under vice -clarified circumstances, probably he was poisoned.

Isaac II was one of the weakest and most brutal rulers to the Byzantine throne. Surrounded by slaves, mistresses and flatterers, he admitted it, that the kingdom was ruled by minions while he was spending the money that was extorted the provinces for construction works and gifts to the church. The result was the progressive decline of the Empire by sale of offices and tax usury.

Marriages and descendants

With his wife Irene Comnena, daughter of Emperor Andronikos I. He had the following children:

• Irene of Swabia (1172-1208), ∞ 1) 1191 Roger of Apulia ( † 1193 ) Hauteville, ∞ 2) 1197 Philip of Swabia (c. 1176-1208 ), German king ( Staufer )
• Alexios IV Angelos (1183-1204) Byzantine Emperor 1203/ 04

Isaac married in 1185, the ten -year-old Margaret of Hungary, daughter of Béla III. (Hungary ) and his wife Agnes de Châtillon. They had the following children:

• Manuel Angelos († 1212 )
• John Angelos († 1242 )
• Theodora Angels († 1246 ) ∞ 1203 Leopold VI. , Duke of Austria and Styria

• Kaiser ( Byzantium )
• Angels ( noble )
• Born in 1155
• Died in 1204
• Man