John II Komnenos’s Campaign on the Levant and Cilicia in 531-532 AH/ 1137-1138 AD

Abstract

Abstract:

 The Byzantine Crusader conflict emerged due to the first Crusader campaign, and John II’s campaign included the Levant and Cilicia as an extension of the Byzantine campaigns on the areas belonging to the Byzantine state in Little Armenia and the Levant, especially Antioch. This campaign is studied in two ways: the Byzantine Crusader conflict and the Byzantine and Seljuk conflict, especially Danishmendids. John II’s campaign had several reasons. In Armenia, the campaign coincided with the emperor's desire to secure the borders with Anatolia, while in Antioch, John II took the Davul Treaty as an excuse to declare its belongingness to the Byzantines and to eliminate its influence in Cilicia. Imad al-Din Zangi’s efforts were behind the Crusaders ’congestion in Byzantium, which agreed with John II’s ambition to achieve a Crusader-Byzantine’s project aimed at forming a Crusader emirate in the north of Antioch in exchange for the abdication of Antioch for Byzantium.  

 Keywords: John II- Antioch- Cilicia- Imad al-Din Zangi