The Second Komnenian Restoration and its Legacy Symposium

Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, 8-9th May 2026

Dr Maximilian Lau & Dr Georgios Theotokis

With special thanks to İbrahim Harun Demirel, Prof Günhan Börekçi and many others at Ibn Haldun University for their help organising and funding this event, in addition to Prof Peter Frankopan and the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research, the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford and the British Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies for funding this event.

Scholars have used the concept of the ‘Komnenian Restoration’ of Byzantium for many years, and yet the term has never received a critical analysis: what did the Komnenoi believe they were restoring? Did they achieve any of their aims, in what ways, and what was the legacy of their successes and failures?

The first symposium in Oxford last year highlighted a number of further themes that should be investigated, in addition to many other established and emerging scholars whose research is essential to enhancing our understanding of this crucial era of history, especially for Anatolia and the Balkans. Economic, Ecclesiastical, Foreign and Social History take centre stage in the sessions we have organized here. This second symposium, held in the most appropriate location of Istanbul itself, will therefore bring together the research and people in order that the proposed handbook of research on the Komnenian Dynasty can coalesce. Further, a Komnenian research network, co-hosted by Ibn Haldun and the University of Oxford, will be launched following this event.

This is a symposium that welcomes the contributions of all, whether prominent scholar, early career academic, or simply interested party of any other sort – I have long thought that whenever a question is asked prefaced by “this isn’t my field,” but…it can often throw new light on a subject, and so please do contribute your thoughts and questions during the event.

You can find the programme here. 2KomnenianLegacyBooklet

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