On The Western Frontier Crisis Of Byzantine Empire: 1081-1085 Byzantine-Norman Wars

During the11th century, with the coming of different powers, the Mediterranean Sea was trapped in a more and more complicated political situation. Meanwhile, as the former greatest power in the Sea, Byzantine Empire was presented with severe conflict from inside.Besides, its frontier was facing pressures from outside, which led it to decrease. At this moment, Normans, the hardest power from north, invaded the western frontier of Empire and gave a heavy strike to it.In the beginning of the 11th century, Normans came to southern Italy, and grew up through marriages and military conquests. Soon they became an important power who could threaten the security of Byzantine Empire. In 1070s, they conquered all the lands of Empire in southern Italy. Again, during 1081-1085, they invaded Balkan of Empire. Under the leadership of Alexiusâ… , Normans were defeated, which was with the help of Alexius's active diplomatic means and military resistance. However, the 1081-1085 wars between Byzantines and Normans were the most serious crisis faced by Empire since the invasion of Asia Minor by Turks.1081-1085 was only a short-period in the civilization clash of Mediterranean, but the wars at least lead to four aspects of consequences: Firstly, it made Byzantine western frontier limited to the eastern bank of Adriatic Sea; Secondly, it exposed the problems of Empire, and Comnenus Dynasty was pressed to take economic and military reform; Thirdly, it promoted the development of the Commercial Republics, such as Venice, and then, the Mediterranean trade was flourishing. Fourthly,with the foundation of new Kingdom of Sicily, the safety of Byzantine Empire was in danger. Seen from a longer time, the Normans'invasion is the signal of the Crusading movement, and it also reveals the necessity of the fall of Byzantine Empire.