Norman Sack of Rome 1084 - Norman Conquests DOCUMENTARY

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The Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the Normans and their conquests in the Mediterranean continues with the aftermath of the battle of Dyrrhachium of 1081 against the Byzantine empire. The campaign in Greece continues with a number of battles culminating at Larissa in 1083 between Bohemond of Taranto and Alexios I Komnenos. Afterward, the Normans under Robert Guiscard sack Rome in 1084.
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The video was created by Malay Archer bit.ly/2HjS2zP while the script was written by Leo Stone
This video was narrated by Officially Devin ( / @offydgg & / @gameworldnarratives )
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#Documentary #Rome #Normans

[@KingsandGenerals]

It is easy to lose hope or feel down, but know that every one of you is valued and that asking for help is fine.

[@jpstapylton]

The Oracle has spoken 💯👌🏻

[@solomonthefoolish]

I didnt expect to leave youtube dot com with a morale boost today. Thanks

[@denniscleary7580]

Thanks Kings

[@mihaiapostol4351]

Do a video of Michael the Brave and his dream of Greater Romania

[@RandomGuy-df1oy]

"Much of Anatolia" ? No need to romanticize and exaggerating.

[@LeoWarrior14]

I just gotta admire the determination of Alexios "I didn't hear no bell" Komnenos after getting his ass kicked over and over and over.

[@reyonXIII]

No wonder Anna was such a daddy's girl. Alexios was that much of a hardass

[@Harryjay6]

I thought of Randy Marsh, not Rocky.

[@goldxmonaco4117]

@Plamen Stoev lmfao sounds like a salty Bulgarian

[@thelibrarian1086]

Ha, double negative.

[@keithbrown7685]

He'd get the no bell prize then.

[@mazarajr]

Top 10 anime characters who never gave up on their goals 1. Alexios Komnenos

[@somberflight]

*Shounen protagonists liked that.*

[@nore5992]

*Cough* First Crusade *Cough* Siege of Antioch *Cough*

[@Ralampos]

​@@nore5992 *Cough* The Crusades were started by Alexios *cough*

[@angelmeier4382]

Hey let me dig this comment from 3 years ago. As an anime character who never gave up I always liked Alfred the Great.

[@kapoioskanenas2337]

Alexios: complex military tactics and tenacity. Norman knights: HaHa horses go brrrrrr

[@gameoflife9576]

Well,sometimes the best solutions are the simplest.

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

Until you get ambushed by horse archers. *FORESHADOWING INTENSIFIES*

[@ruraladventurer1884]

Did you actually watch the video?

[@Incubator859]

What he thought up wasn't even complex. I know hindsight is 20/20 but what Alexios thought up was on par with the most outlandish, over the top things you see in Japanese cartoons. They fantasize the most complex is the most effective (and they usually win) in the Japanese cartoon movies but the reality is when you overthink too much, you overlook the most simplest effective things. In coming up with these the failed complex tactics, Alexios forgot to: -secure his flanks -put infantry in the front without any support -no defensive barriers to even protect his infantry on the sides to funnel the Normans in the front -no supporting units Ironically, what won him the day was using the Turkish and steppe mounted tactics of feigned retreats and arrow harassment, lol.

[@Tomwithnonumbers]

Horses go neigh

[@saptsagn3697]

A few years later... *At the gates of Constantinople* Bohemond: I heard you needed some help with the Turks Alexios: Ah here we go again....

[@Luke_Danger]

But why let unprovoked acts of naked aggression and the near-unseating of the very ruler you are now supposed to go help get in the way of a good crusade?

[@Anonymous-vn1zh]

@@Luke_Danger Extra Credits!

[@darthveatay]

I don't think awkward begins to describe that conversation

[@nicogadea8044]

Bohemund: I can do the oath but why dont make me the leader of the crusade?

[@realtangerine4910]

me: **sees title is sack of rome** "ah, crap, here we go again"

[@SGT676]

@@Mishkola sadly they already died and Switzerland is going through the whole neutral phase they got going now

[@rocekth]

@@SGT676 The swiss were just neutral and isolated in the mountains, while the forced neutrality started in 1815

[@SGT676]

@@rocekth thx for ruining the joke

[@2008davidkang]

@@Mishkola *Fast forward to 1527*

[@heiko5129]

@@SGT676 dont be so sensitive. he didnt ruin the joke, just added historical context to it

[@supergkop5678]

Man, Alexios Komnenos was one iron willed man. Got defeated several times but never gave up and adapted. He is no Alexander level genius but man did he have some guts.

[@brrrrrtenjoyer]

Yeh he is considered one of the greatest Eastern Roman Emperors

[@Vini-zv3lr]

To be completely fair, their situations were worlds appart. Alexander had a great army, and was a great commander to boot, bullying some quabbling Greek states and a severely weakened Persia. Alexios was fighting several different fronts, against several different strong enemies, meanwhile having to keep the Empire together after a few gorrible emperors, civil wars and succession crisis. He didn't have the same absurd levels of success Alexander had, but Alexios pulled off a miraculous recovery all things considered. Absolutely legendary.

[@toygarakbulut4615]

Alexios Komnenos is more comparable to Seleucus or Ptolemy. Alexander the Great was a true military genius with few equals, in that sense Alexander's only equal in the East is Khalid ibn Walid, even Belisarius isn't comparable.

[@Shadow.24772]

@@Typhy7 dude, back then the technology and logistics where what you see is what you have. If instead of macedon, it was the romans with Caesar's level of logitics, armor, road and bridge construction, then yes a persia almost 300 years behind in tech, would have fallen in months. What Alexander accomplished, again, for his time period is a Great fit.(pun intended) You can argue attacking over a river in the first battle at Granicus was reckless and many died, but he had no way of going around since he had no supplies. his army would've starved and deserted or reinforments coming for the persians which would make the crossing even harder.

[@swaminathanbalakrishnan5182]

@@Typhy7 His conquests are no mean feat. The Greeks had a good army, the Romans had a good army, so did the Byzantines, the Ottomans (seriously OP at that), and yet none of them took the East - it was a logistical and tactical nightmare. The Achaemenid army's cavalry was also deadly, and was NOT outclassed. Not only did Alexander take care of that, he went beyond, campaigning in the Hindu Kush and the Indus valley, where nearly anyone else who went in with a phalanx got wrecked. While his father's reforms are significant, it was he who came up with half the other reforms (esp. logistics). I suggest you look up some academic sources; they go into details. Popular history oversimplifies it too much and makes it look easy.

[@Muhammed552]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different results Alexios : *YES*

[@Fenniks-]

Yeah Vaas would have liked Alexios

[@nomooon]

He did different things over and over again, but got defeated by the same move...

[@xusteve4820]

Normans: we attacked Rome. Asked others: which one? Normans: both. (Byzantine and the city)

[@SVanTha]

Gauls: Rome? A joke...we might just be barbarians, but we cracked that nut. Goths: Rome? A joke...we might just be barbarians, but we cracked that nut. Vandals: Rome? A joke...we might just be barbarians, but we cracked that nut. Huns: Rome? A joke...we might just be barbarians, but we cracked that nut. Normans: Rome? A joke...we might just be mercenaries, but we cracked that nut. Hannibal: I'm one of the greatest Generals of antiquity, just defeated the largest army Rome could muster on her soil, killed many Roman nobles and politicians, have the Romans shitting their pants, but Rome...Rome soooooooooooo scwary.

[@tpower1912]

@@SVanTha Normans weren't mercenaries

[@itnotmeitu3896]

@@SVanTha none of them outlasted Rome though 😉

[@resentfuldragon]

@@tpower1912 Actually they were mercenaries a lot of the time, they were very frequently used as mercenaries in italy and thats how they got so powerful in italy. We are watching after they made their own gains.

[@resentfuldragon]

@@itnotmeitu3896 The empire? sure they didn't outlast. The city that they were fighting at the time? Nope like half of them outlasted its greatness and it was sacked many times.

[@ReaperCH90]

Alexios is a true roman Emperor: he failed multiple times, but always came back and in the end he needed one win. Like Rome vs Hannibal.

[@konstantinos450]

He was a true Greek warrior

[@arawn1061]

@@shadow-qp2ns pechenegs?

[@mate5571]

@@konstantinos450 *roman

[@B4IRUTUARU16]

@@konstantinos450 Roman my brother

[@konstantinos450]

@@B4IRUTUARU16 ok

[@Godzilla52]

It's pretty impressive that Alexios inherited the Empire in such a weak state and in spite of facing crises after crisis, ended his reign by improving the Empire's footing on virtually every front (upgrading the army, expanding the empire's borders, filling the treasury, subduing most of the Empire's enemies etc.) If he had inherited the Empire in the state it was after the death of Basil II, Alexios's accomplishments would have been even more impressive.

[@timogamer5794]

If his father inherited the empire from his uncle Isaac I. in 1059 or if Isaac lived longer this would have happened.

[@user-zs3gd8fr3p]

In that scenario we would not talk about nowadays Turkey since the Seljuks couldn't have invaded Anatolia

[@RexGalilae]

Alexios was a true Roman to the core. Pragmatic. Relentless. Always willing to Adapt. The Alexiad deserves a series of its own IMO. He and his son John (probably Iovanness) Komnenos restored the Empire's prestige so it could live another half a Millenium in spite all the odds

[@RexGalilae]

@@SpartanLeonidas1821 You Greeks have served Rome well. Be proud :')

[@vasileiosmorossidis6857]

@@RexGalilae I don't believe that this statement is accurate since Eastern Roman Empire was a grekoroman empire.

[@RexGalilae]

@@vasileiosmorossidis6857 You justified my statement within your own by calling it what it was, a Greco-Roman Empire

[@RexGalilae]

@@SpartanLeonidas1821 Right on, brother!

[@keithbrown7685]

Don't forget his daughter Anna.

[@Liquidsback]

Those Roman Emperors need not worry you can always trust the Venetians. ALWAYS!!!!

[@martinrdh96]

Actually if you are a merc, it's better not to trust the Byzantines. Especially in it's late period. High chances you wouldn't get paid (Venetian, 4th Crusader, Turks) or worse you get stabbed in the back (Catalan).

[@user-xs5te5eb3b]

@@martinrdh96 My friend Catalan company sacked many many cities in anatolia and killed many Greeks on those cities , the eastern romans did killed the latins but only cuz they were insanly strong in money power and not helping the city of course not a reason to slaughter them but mostly were citizens that needed food and money.

[@martinrdh96]

Armies been sacking towns and slaughtering civilians since the ancient times. Many got away with that. But betraying your lord or vice versa is considered a serious offence to honor. No need to get annoyed to my post. I'm just telling the mindset of people of those times. It's true... Ask Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan.

[@darrenblack5541]

@@martinrdh96 it is true.But I don't think Genghis Khan is such a good role model

[@sto_karfi842]

@@martinrdh96 Plethon Gemistos describes the mercenary companies of the time.His main phrase is "It is sad we have to pay and rely on these untrustworthy criminals to defend our people".I don't think there any excuse for the catalan band, if the Varangian guard was present and well, they would have been put to the sword the moment they crossed into Thrace.

[@emresar6364]

Alexios is really master mind of their era. -Got helped by Seljuk Turks to beating Normans. -Still influential to Latin Catholic West even there was Great Schism happened yet. -Got helped by Normans in Crusades to save lands that Romans lost to Turks. -Old and still dangerous rival Bohemond beaten by Turks again plus captured and thrown into dungeon for a while. It is victory wherever you are looking from.

[@blacklight4720]

@@Fulcrox Lol. Pretty much sums up, Bohemond tactical prowess.

[@petros311]

the place were Guiscard died its remembered today in kephallonia with the name Fiskardo.

[@marto8044]

So Alexios used the turks to beat the normans, than used the normans to beat the turks...

[@shorewall]

It's all coming together. :D

[@Vini-zv3lr]

You gotta get creative when the last decades have been a disaster to your empire lmao

[@034_yoppyilhamramadhan8]

*then

[@user-so8kx7uj2x]

How to use the Normans? They were still Vikings in soul... They wanted power. Guiscard wanted to be the emperor, not being his vassal

[@joshuapatrick682]

Yeah…kind of sums it up.

[@JonLondrezos]

The empire strikes b... (cough!) The empire strikes b... (atchoooo!) The empire strikes b... (burp!) The empire strikes BACK! finally!

[@Manuel-qu3tc]

Guiscard just encontered what the Byzantine Empire had always encountered. Multiple enemies in multiple fronts, not a single target to charge at with your war horses. The Latin Emperors of later years realised that keeping Constantinople and the Empire required immense skill in dealing with multiple enemies all at once. It wasn't the same as ruling France or Britain.

[@zippyparakeet1074]

Western Europe is what it is today because of the Eastern Roman Empire, even if they're too proud to admit it. The Empire guarded Europe from the East for 800 years buying time for Europe to get back on its feet. What did it get in return? The fourth crusade. Barbarians gotta barbarian.

[@sabinecannon2836]

Alexios, first two battles: "Nooooo , you can't defeat my foot army over and over again by flanking their sides, you're supposed to charge into my lines and fall for my traps! Noooooooooo!!" Bohemond: "Haha, cavalry go brrrr"

[@anubisd613]

6:14 I am sure Alexios reaction at the Normans charge was " BRUH"

[@Mrdevs96]

Lololol runs right around the stupid traps

[@Bazerald777]

@GoodGirlKate At that time seeing armored cavalry charging at you standing on your feet must have been like seeing a speeding car going right at you. No wonder most units scattered before the charge even connected.

[@reyonXIII]

Man, no wonder Anna was such a daddy's girl. Alexios was a hardasss. And this is considering she had serious hots for the guy who kept beating him up.

[@nebsam7137]

Hots for the guy beating him up? I never heard of this,where does it say that?

[@Xfire209]

@@nebsam7137 You should look into her description of Bohemond.

[@nebsam7137]

@@Xfire209 I got her book The Alexiad right the same day I made the comment I will get to it and see for myself and I appreciate the heads

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

The Byzantines will need NordVPN so it won’t get caught by more ruthless foes.

[@rocekth]

Like Venetian crusaders or something

[@2008davidkang]

You mean Varangian Guards?

[@rocekth]

@@2008davidkang They were loyal to the Emperor so

[@Psychol-Snooper]

The Byzantine's main ruthless foe was other Byzantines.

[@Filipas-el9sp]

@@Psychol-Snooper wtf do you mean??? Byzantines are Greek people, nothing more, nothing less...

[@Scillamar]

Everybody's talking about Alexios, but I feel like Bohemond deserves some recognition here. The man was left to fill his father's shoes, with an army consistently outnumbered and deep in enemy territory. He was without any major reinforcements and always but a single battle away from total defeat while Alexios could try, try again every time he was beaten. Still he managed to outmanoeuvre his (very competent) foe again and again and even at Larissa it was Brienne who lost him the campaign, while Bohemond was clever enough to head back to camp. There's a reason even Alexios' own daughter recognised Bohemond as the emperor's greatest adversary.

[@provocateur83]

Number of troops didn’t play any significant role since the byzantine army at the time was in a catastrophic state and would require years of reforms to build it back to strength. So the Normans clearly had an advantage in all those battles against those low quality hastily lebied armies of untrained unskilled Romans and unreliable light mercenary troops.

[@antoine9098]

I thougt the same thing. People in comment seems to love Alexios and his abnegation but Guiscard and his son Bohemond did so much with less ressource. They are the definition of ambitious and talented warrior that gain everything by the sword and political machination. Even thought i like Alexios and his rivalty with Bohemond later, i think Guiscard and Bohemon are the impressive man. Sorry for my broken english.

[@umikousaka8158]

13:22 The Empire f****** strikes back, baby! Though given the date of this battle, I imagine the two's (Bohemond and Alexios) reunion during the First Crusade wasn't quite fun, was it?

[@creedjeremy]

His daughter, Anna Komnenos, had a huge crush on Bohemond though.

[@supergkop5678]

Yeah but I mean, why let unprovoked acts of naked aggression and the near unseating of the very ruler you're now supposed to help get in the way of a good crusade? (I love EH so much.)

[@lordvyse19]

@Marcelo Henrique Soares da Silva The secret that let him do it was called lying.

[@giod6266]

These Norman series were fantastic, I enjoy watching them a lot! And it was interesting to be told about battle plans, witch not always works as planned. Would love to see video/or series about how Romans retok Balkans later in same period..

[@Dustz92]

The History of Byzantium podcast is now covering this period, I highly recommend it as it is very good.

[@theodorosgkountoulidis2385]

Gio D / K&G: Do you want to see Rom... Me: YES

[@giod6266]

@@theodorosgkountoulidis2385 If I want to see what? Rom?

[@TyrannosaurusRex5027]

Damn, Alexios komnenos was probably one of the best Roman rulers. Where others may have given up and let the empire sink, Alexios refused to give up

[@antoinemonks4187]

'You wouldn't get this from any other guy.'

[@ari3903]

@@antoinemonks4187 I just wanna tell you how im ruling, gotta make you understand never gonna let it fall never gonna let it down, never gonna lose it's borders and end it.

[@RexGalilae]

And he was cunning and adaptable enough to have come out on top. A re-enactment of Romans vs Pyrrhus of Epirus

[@pornometanastis6014]

@Aki sartini YEA MAN. WORLD IS ALBANIAN BRO. MARS IS ALBANIAN. UNIVERSE IS ALBANIAN

[@ari3903]

@@RexGalilae Bro exactly but it was the opposite in this time.

[@yoloyolo8573]

8:52 “Buyurun” Nice tiny bit of detail haha! I am not aware the editor knows Turkish which written in Arabic.

[@KingsandGenerals]

It is important to be polite :-)

[@sakurt53]

K&G posted a post once to find teammates to help them in these language issues. Seems they found what they are looking for, for Turkish at least to say. :)

[@jafarov1987]

As I know producer and editors Ilkin Gambar and Nolan Karimov are Azerbaijanian descendants.

[@Horusian]

Written in Persian form of Arabic script*

[@Sendo664]

This whole campaign pretty clearly showed what mess was left behind after the theme system of the roman empire collapsed. If alexios would have had trained disciplined theme soldiers he would probably have won far sooner. What i like about the komnenids is that they saw in which catastrophic situation the army was and tried to reform the it. The komnenid army was maybe not on the same high discipline level like during the theme system was active, but he was successful into creating an semi discipline army which brought the komnenids many wins in their following campaigns.

[@barbiquearea]

I was going to ask where Alexios got chariots and charioteers from but then I remembered there should be a lot of them racing around the Hippodrome in Constantinople.

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

I was surprised though, I thought they'd disappeared from real warfare completely by this point

[@gorakoss]

i think they were simple carriages with flameable substances to be rolled down the hill to the Normans

[@realtangerine4910]

so the holy *roman* emperor abandoned *rome* to warlords who had just been defeated by the *roman* emperor?

[@BrunoLuizdeMello]

Ah! the Holy Roman Empire, Which was not holy not a empire and definitely not roman.

[@LusoPictures]

Marcelo Henrique Soares da Silva oh yes that’s how you show you’re winning an argument...invoking the other guy s mother...and remove the Portuguese royal crest from your profile.... you’re bringing shame to its good name

[@AhmedIbrahim-by9he]

@@BrunoLuizdeMello I know right so funny

[@EdricoftheWeald]

The Ungodly German Clusterfücken

[@magnajota4341]

@@BrunoLuizdeMello It was holy, roman and an empire. Just like the United States of America are United, States and American.

[@caesarplaysgames]

Alexios: Uses various anti-cavalry strategies in an attempt to negate the Norman heavy knights, including the use of fortifications and traps on his front line. Bohemond: Lets just go around them and hit them in the flanks again lol .

[@atrides7]

Alexios was a good general but at this time the majority of his army was mercenaries and therefore were unreliable

[@resentfuldragon]

Feels like how total war campaigns are. You can do all this planning for a battle to counter the enemy only for the ai to go "leeroy jenkins" right into your line.

[@user-kt1lh5sz1i]

Ah yes, another video about Alexios "Not gonna give up" Kommenos

[@AP-yx1mm]

I immagine him now singing never give up by Sia...

[@user-kt1lh5sz1i]

@@AP-yx1mm Lol, me too

[@user-kt1lh5sz1i]

@@AP-yx1mm Oh wait, its let me love you that im thinking about........still, there is a dont give up in there though

[@antoinemonks4187]

He did kinda invent Rickrolling lol

[@TheMrgoodmanners]

i feel bad for byzantium. they had to fend off attacks from every single side, amazing they survived as long as they did

[@joellaz9836]

TheMrgoodmanners Yeah these guys seemed to have been attacked by everyone. Muslims, Pagan Vikings and the catholic crusaders have all attacked them. Why did everyone like attacking them so much? Poor Byzantium. Couldn’t get a moment of peace from anyone.

[@Manuel-qu3tc]

@@joellaz9836 Wealth and prestige at that time resided in the Byzantine Empire. Everyone wanted a piece of it.

[@atrides7]

@@joellaz9836 take a look at the map! it was the passage of the west to the east and vice versa! also north to south! all goods from east to west passed through Byzantium! also possessed one of the most fertile and temperate regions of the eastern Mediterranean! It was a paradise on earth where everyone wanted to settle

[@kadaltokek3953]

@@atrides7 it was paradise on Europe not Earth, the audicity concluded the whole world. You forget China and India were much richer than Byzantine

[@davorpavlov184]

Me after watching a ton of other documentaries. I need a break. Kings and Generals posts a new video. Me: The break can wait. I need answers, now.

[@Mrpar-wh7od]

Same i saw this video and i was like life than wait for a few minutes

[@al-muwaffaq341]

Wow lol the Seljuks helped the Byzantines

[@Muhammed552]

*Irony*

[@Ghost-vi8qm]

With enough money you can make the Turks your allies.

[@enesbilgin937]

@@Ghost-vi8qm With enough money you can make anyone your ally

[@ari3903]

@@enesbilgin937 Not the ally you are looking for though, 1204.

[@BasileusRex]

Ironically enough they did so to avoid the possibility of fighting Latin forces, but in doing so helped the Byzantines hang on long enough for Alexios to rally support from the west and begin the Crusades little more than a decade later.

[@denniscleary7580]

Can’t deny the Normans definitely left a lasting impact on the world. Another great video Kings

[@jared0001]

> Normans in Italy > Normans sack Rome it was only a matter of time

[@maviebaby]

I feel like things between Beaumont and Alexios are gonna be "...a little bit awkward" by the time of the crusades.

[@Acolith]

but remember, this is Emperor Alexius Comnenus we're talking about, and he was always a crafty guy

[@kaizikenpinas]

To add to this, Alexios' daughter, Anna, had a huge crush on Bohemond as well.

[@lanceleader163]

Even though I’m pretty sure my ancestors are Norman, I cried tears of joy when Alexios surprise attacked them. Perhaps it’s because I like the Eastern Roman Empire, and the previous video where Alexios was wounded made me sympathetic to his cause. I’m glad Alexios’ reign was a good one for the Byzantines.

[@connorgolden4]

Same! Alexios was such a beast.

[@zippyparakeet1074]

If he had inherited a stronger empire I have no doubt the Romans would've had even reconquered Italy and the Levant.

[@resentfuldragon]

@@zippyparakeet1074 I doubt they would have got the levant. Their enemies weren't pushovers and it would have probably ended up causing a jihad, ergo bye bye byzantine gains almost immediately. Also people sleep on the sultanate of rum but nearly every invasion of them ended with total annihilation of their enemies. The first crusade had many different separate expeditions for example, and only 1 wasn't destroyed by the sultanate of rum.

[@zippyparakeet1074]

@@resentfuldragon the Sultanate of Rum wouldn't have existed in my hypothetical scenario where Alexios inherited a stronger empire i.e one that never lost Asia Minor. The Muslim world was deeply fractured at the time which is why the first crusade was so successful in the first place. A stronger Byzantine Empire would have easily wrested the Levant from the Fatimids like they took Syria under Basil. Alexios and his successors especially John (Ioannes) were military geniuses. With an access to the strong financially stable Roman state, with a large well equipped military they could have also taken Sicily and would have repelled the Normans, establishing a stronger foothold in Italy and more influence over the Pope while also keeping Venice in check as a Byzantine client state. They would have also continued the more prudent policies of Basil such as the continuing integration and Romanization of the Serbians as well as the subjugation of Hungary (which happened in our timeline as well), making them a Roman buffer state on the other side of the Danube frontier.

[@resentfuldragon]

@@zippyparakeet1074 The muslim world was fractured but that didn't stop the majority of crusade expiditions from failing. There is no real senario where the romans keep the levant if we are being real here. The prince's crusade was at the right place and right time. I don't doubt the romans could have taken the levant, but keeping it longterm is impossible. The fatimids were on their last legs so when the ayyubids got control or the zengids got strong it would have been over for the byzantines. Even if we assume both these colossal powers fail, the mamlukes would surely take over the levant after the mongol incursians through khwarism. This is also ignoring the various turkic powers in the middle east that almost defeated the crusaders, the romans ight not have even won there since it was the crusader armor and zealotry. The romans lacked that zeal and broke easily in battle after the 600s.

[@tonyhawk94]

Romans : No you can't just bypass our defences like that... Franco-norse : huhu horses go brrrr

[@zoetropo1]

Thank you for the detailed description of the course of the battle of Larissa. It nicely clarifies what Anna Komnene wrote in 'The Alexiad'. Pity that Brian didn't bring his own foot and horse archers: they worked a charm at Hastings.

[@mubarizunmedia6897]

Damn, I never realized how effective lightly armored Seljuk horse archers were, they were so versatile and had the advantage of both superior range and mobility.

[@lukmaanpratomo6866]

07:35 Let us give a standing applause to Larissa's city defenders and their captain Leo for holding out under siege by the Normans that long, buying just enough time for Alexios to muster his relieving army in order to lift the siege, especially when the siege happened during the winter season.

[@user-zs3gd8fr3p]

A great descendant of Alexander the Great and Constantine the Great

[@subutaykhan9387]

​@@user-zs3gd8fr3p Alexander was macedonian, Constantine was illyrian

[@Crosmando]

If this channel has taught me anything, it's that having a big wealthy city is both a blessing and a curse, as it inevitably attracts those wanting to take it's wealth.

[@Zantides]

Will you ever do a video about the Papal State? Origin and rise of power.

[@KingsandGenerals]

Will add to the list!

[@KingsandGenerals]

@@Sandouras yeah, but we can do more on the history of the Papal state, there are fun events there

[@Zantides]

@@Sandouras Todays Vatican City were a part of the Papal States, which means it sort of still exists to this date. So it's a massive subject afterall.

[@abeschreier]

yes!

[@portantesbeneficia6166]

Alexios: You can't just disregard my battle tactics. Bohemond: Haha horses go brrr

[@dogandemir602]

One of the most dedicated men of all times: Alexios

[@dbo514]

I think there is a mosaic of him in Hagia Sophia

[@pseudomonas03]

We need the Battle of Demetritzes, and the decisive defeat of the Normans by Alexios Branas.

[@billbillis4103]

"The Turks had a vested interest in ensuring that an army of zealous Latin Knights did not advance right into their doorstep". Boy oh boy, if you just knew what the next episodes of the Normans will be about Arslan

[@Apoasdf123]

What's going to happen next ?

[@calidone7661]

@@Apoasdf123 i think he means crusaders

[@billbillis4103]

@@Apoasdf123 if you want spoilers, google Bohemont and see the title he died with

[@paulobernardo8593]

@@Apoasdf123 the first crusade

[@exkal9722]

Even though Byzantine History is one of the biggest parts of Greek history lessons in Greek schools and Universities, i’ve never heard about the war between Robert Guiscard and Alexios Komnenos, yet I already knew who they were before this series. I think it’s about these minor conflicts of the past that we can better understand the character of the individuals that have participate in them and see their personalities unfold ⚔️🛡

[@amilitarymind]

The planned retreat at Lykosimion. It seemed like a certain Seljuk mercenary commander educated Alexios on the various types of feigned retreats and suggested that specicifc tactic in this engagement. Alexios learned and finally changed his tactics. Still, he lost way more battles than winning them.

[@oortiz915]

"Believe in the you that believes in me!" ~Alexios, probably

[@Vini-zv3lr]

''MY **_mercenary army and geographical knowledge_** WILL PIERCE THE HEAVENS!!'' ~Alexios, definitely

[@Monkonmunky]

This time period is just really awesome all around. It's one of the most exciting time periods in human history in my honest opinion. It's shocking how nobody really covers it in the mainstream today - even with just documentaries. This was the height of the Holy Roman Empire in my opinion. The electors, Princes and other palatine lords fought with each other constantly. Matilda of Tuscany, one of my favorite historical figures, was alive during this time period. She had skirmishes with Henry as well, in fact, at once point I think she even captured him and held him prisoner for a year in Tuscany LOL. Iberia was in a constant state of war between the Muslims and Christians. The Norman invasion saw the overthrow of Anglo-saxon England. The Byzantine Empire was still around defending itself from threats all around it. Honestly, someone could make an awesome show almost like Game of Thrones of this time period if they wanted to and I bet it would be a massive hit if it was promoted well. Too bad that will probably never happen though : (

[@xhuljanomuca4342]

K&G video: "posted 1 minute ago" Comments: "from 1 day ago"

[@Kevin-sq8sg]

I always wondered how that work. Do you know anything about it?

[@LAHFaust]

It's possible for channels to allow patreons to see videos early.

[@-et-8934]

If ur a patron, u get early access

[@Manuel-gu9ls]

Hellothere! If ur early you get a ❤️

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

The privileges of being a part of the K&G aristocracy

[@alsiyonealternate]

11:12 I felt like the Byzantines got the idea of missile fire with hit and run tactics from the Turks. This is one of the reasons they lost in the battle of Manzikert. Now with the Turks' help, they used this strategy to their advantage.

[@frater7576]

No, as the romans were faced with such tactics when doing battle against the persians.

[@maverikmiller6746]

@@frater7576 That was a 1000 years ago.

[@bulentbasaran3548]

Completely agree.

[@nkl7345]

The Byzantines always had a unique mix of Western and Eastern fighting styles. Their Kataphraktoi(heavy calvary) did fire arrows from horseback to soften an infantry line before a trotting charge

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

Basically they had employed before the Turkish a number of huns and according to legend General velisarius was the one who came to the idea of combining projectiles with heavy cavalry tactics although similar tactics were used also by the Persians

[@Slerro]

This truly needs to be followed by Sicilian history. From the rise of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily to Federich II, to the Vesper War... Guiscars just setted the base for what will follow in the next couple of centuries.

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

11:39 the animations of your total war edits is great,awesome.

[@johnypsilantis2442]

Their determination was amazing. The saddle and stirrup innovation really changed the game. The Kataphraktoi had been around for centuries and because they were fighting a wide range of different enemies, they kept their skills well rounded. But when faced with the Norman cavalry they knew they had to change their approach. In two generations they had added those innovations to their Kataphraktoi/Klibanarioi and the results were evident in the battle of Battle of Demetritzes, against the Hungarians and the Serbs, as well as the Crusader states and the German knights passing through Constantinople.

[@antfruit]

Not gonna lie, this would make a great l historical drama.

[@dbo514]

the entire Byzantine wars would make the best series of all time.

[@Fenniks-]

Robert Guiscard and Roger of Hauteville are some of the best conquerors of this timeperiod they were nearly always outnumbered

[@Kanfachan]

Bohemond was a worthy son of the former and nephew of the latter

[@JonatasAdoM]

Alexios is the definition of "You might have one a battle, but not the war!"

[@PcCAvioN]

"he returned to the main story mission" 😂

[@bluetigervisual9169]

Komnenos dynasty was the last Eastern Roman dynasty that ruled strong and united Byzantium. Great video once again

[@YoreHistory]

As always thanks for the hard work and inspiration! Appreciated!

[@SB-zc7vy]

It doesn matter how many times you fall, what it does matter how many times you RISE!!! each time you will be stronger and better than the last time ,Alexios !!!!

[@gbendicion7052]

If you know Alexios, you had to know he would surely get the final laugh through thick and thin. Great to see the Romans during this period doing well. Hope we see a docu about Anna Komnenos as well. uwu.

[@danielblom391]

I really like how Alexios was never seeking concessions or giving up the war, he always kept going, trying new creative things to counter the Normans. And finally succeeding when he just spammed horse archers.

[@trentondamm194]

thanks for making this video. I love it and I cant stop watching them.

[@El_Camino_Que_Recorres_Solo]

Alexios "Never gonna give you up , Never gonna let you down , Never gonna run around and desert you" Konmenos

[@FimbongBass]

The normans are such a random part of italian history, I love it

[@Drvol1]

Swabian Sicily - even more random

[@unseen23221]

This is the first time i see Skopje mentioned ever in a KNG video, feels good man. Please do Samuil vs Basil II next, that is one epic bloody battle.

[@erikeriksson3615]

The Normans where always using Scandinavian mercenaries in different campaigns both in France and in southern Europe. Byzantine Emperors also began a tradition of hiring mercenaries of Viking origin. The Byzantine mercenary entity of Rus, Scandinavians, Normans and Anglo- Norse became known as the Varangian Guard. The famous Viking king and general of the Varangian guard Harald Hardrade had cooperation with the Normans in South Italy against the Arabs in Sicily. The Normans will at last take Sicily. The Norwegian king Sigurd with a big Viking fleet will visit Norman king of Sicily in the 1120 ts in the effort to help the Normans in the holy land. Lebanon and Syria. Thanks for a great history about the Normans. Greetings from Scandinavia.

[@christianyepez1016]

Alexios is one of the most underrated emperors in Roman history. The east would have collapsed much sooner without him.

[@dbo514]

his son was even better.

[@christianyepez1016]

@Imperator Aureliano I think it was less about manpower and more about the enemy they faced. The English lost 1 decisive battle and lost but The Byzantines lost multiple decisive battles and won. The same Roman Tenacity that defeated Pyhrrus and Hannibal won this war as well.

[@paladinbob1236]

a story of norman knights , emperors of Byzantium and military history in all its glory! whats not to love about this episode [and the one before] :P

[@qwertyguy12345]

Best I've seen in awhile, great video!

[@dzpower189]

Thank you for this great work

[@FlorentPlacide]

Really nice series ! As a Norman I greatly enjoy our forebears adventures and epic deeds. Thanks for that amazing content :)

[@ricgunn1439]

No thing to be proud of 😡

[@mono_phthalamus]

2:18 "They see me rollin" 😂 😂 I see you are a man of culture..

[@deepsouth3319]

Gotta love the Byzantines, even at this late stage. Champions find a way.

[@Kanfachan]

If you take into account that this was Bohemond’s maiden campaign in independent command, then you can have nothing but admiration for his exploits; and understand why Guiscard chose to hand over leadership of this great army to his youthful son over elder commanders.

[@shudheshvelusamy7644]

Alexios here just feels like a cartoon villain who screams "I'll get you next time!" after every defeat, coming back again and again even as he keeps on getting defeated. Luckily, he actually succeeds, eventually.

[@Vini-zv3lr]

If you're sympathetic to his enemies. From the Roman side of things he is the goddamn medieval Rocky Balboa, and even if he gets beat down, he gets up again. And wins.

[@dminard1]

It's that Viking blood. They smell churches and it sends them into a fit of pillaging.

[@shorewall]

That's where all the gold is. :D And lightly defended too.

[@aimalnaveed4772]

Great work K and G 100 percent correct. And narrator voice is amazing.

[@kirklandbuchanan3647]

These vids are awesome by themselves, but the soundtrack choices make them even better. Nicely done

[@danielrosu5186]

Do you know the name of the soundtrack at the beginning?

[@AhmedIbrahim-by9he]

Norman's: We sack cities for fun! Stay in the city. The average Roman citizen: Sure I'm okay with that!

[@James-uu6xs]

No the Roman citizens were disrespectful to the Normans who came there to help.

[@AhmedIbrahim-by9he]

@Fahim Hussain What do you mean I don't get it.

[@TheSamuraijim87]

These tales certainly speak volumes regarding the efficacy of French Knights of this era, and how much the "couched lance" technique had altered cavalry tactics. Guiscard, his brother and their sons were truly remarkable figures. It's also an interesting social phenomenon to observe just how much the Comnenians sped up Turkic settlement in the Balkans, considering the number of Turkic troops they hired and settled throughout their dominions. Within 100 years of these events, the Greeks were calling the region around Thessaloniki a 'little Turkey'. Great video Kings and Generals!

[@intotheflood1]

I really enjoyed this!

[@RodolfoGaming]

2:17 - GG to whoever came with the 'they see me rollin' idea! it cracked me up, great video as always

[@ottskone]

"His little side quest of sacking the heart of the catholic world"

[@waqqas800]

Thank you for calling it what it was... Eastern Rome.

[@williamvalentino8788]

The Eastern Empire always considered them self Eastern Romans

[@MrTStat]

The feigned retreat reminded me of the Mamluk feigned retreat at Ain Jalut

[@EmporerAaron]

Another great video. Well done.

[@ilznidiotic]

Little known fact: Alexios was the historical inspiration for Wile E. Coyote.

[@ari3903]

"Don't trust things you read on the internet, it's not always true." - Abraham Washington

[@cherryares7754]

@@ari3903 " Abraham Washington has a smoll pp"-Obama

[@ari3903]

@@cherryares7754 "I am a hypocrite" - Also obama

[@Harryjay6]

Haha good ole Wile E.

[@EinFelsbrocken]

"What is my last name?" -Obama

[@dand7763]

8:52 Suleiman I said "Welcome!"

[@Drvol1]

Looking forward to more Norman history in Italy. I hope you discuss Frederick II who was the grandson of both Barbarossa and Roger II. Fantastic work.

[@chochlikkornwalijski]

Great video as always.

[@Dante-fb3ck]

I'm annoyed by Alexios incompetence, but damn his determination and willingness to change is unmatched and very respectable

[@Sendo664]

Why incompetence?? His strategy during the first battles wasnt bad tho. He just had bad luck (first someone revealed his plan to the normans and second who would knew that bohemond would repeat the same maneuvers?) Actually this campaign show pretty well that brain beats always muscles. Just look what a mess alexios created with his schemes against the normans

[@Dante-fb3ck]

@@Sendo664 he should have at least prepared for a possible pinsir movement. He could have put cavalry in reserve that could quickly move to the flanks (as he would not want to put them in the flanks at the start of the battle as this would deter the opponent from a straight charge) he could have also put spikes on his flanks, this would give him enough time to counter attack. His last strategy was genius

[@Zantides]

Great video, i didn't watch it yet but i don't have to to say it's great 😎😎😎

[@KingsandGenerals]

We appreciate it :-)

[@Zantides]

@@KingsandGenerals Pluss it's Norman's sacking Rome, can't not appreciate that. Skål/Cheers ;)

[@gillettematch3188]

5:35 normans: do you never learn your lesson old man!?

[@JahRandom]

One of the best channels on KZbin. Hands down.

[@KingsandGenerals]

Thanks!