Page "Andronikos I Komnenos" Paragraph 15

His short reign was characterized by strong and harsh measures.

He resolved to suppress many abuses, but above all things, to check feudalism and limit the power of the nobles, who were rivals for his throne.

The people, who felt the severity of his laws, at the same time acknowledged their justice and found themselves protected from the rapacity of their superiors who had grown corrupt under the safety and opulence of Manuel I rule.

However, as Andronikos ' rule went on, the Emperor became increasingly paranoid and violent – in September 1185, Andronikos ordered the execution of all prisoners, exiles and their families for collusion with the invaders – and the Byzantine Empire descended into a terror state.

The aristocrats in turn were infuriated against him.

There were several revolts, the stories of chaos leading to an invasion by King William of the Norman Sicilians.

William ( with a fleet of 200 ships ) landed in Epirus with a strong force ( 80, 000 men including 5, 000 knights ), and marched as far as Thessalonica, which he took and pillaged ruthlessly ( 7, 000 Greeks died ).

Andronikos hastily assembled five different armies to stop the Sicilian army from reaching Constantinople, but none of these five smaller armies would stand against the Sicilian forces and retreated to the outlying hills.

Andronikos also assembled a fleet of 100 ships to stop the Norman fleet from entering the Sea of Marmara.

The invaders were finally driven out in 1186 by his successor, Isaac Angelos.