Reforms of Emperor Alexios
The military successes of the Imperial Army have allowed Alexios to reform many key parts of Imperial government over the course of his reign. Most of these reforms, however, should not be seen as a revolutionary break from the policies of the Macedonian dynasty, but as further evolution of the government in a larger, richer Empire.
Coinage reform
This was the first major reform of Alexios, enacted just after the situation on the eastern frontier stabilized. The solidus, somewhat debased by Michael VII, was returned to its traditional weight, purity and shape. The miliaresion was struck at 100 to the pound, and its silver content was returned to the levels from the reign of Basil II. These reforms formed the basis of economic stability and the prosperity of the Empire under Alexios’ successors.
Imperial succession
In 1094, near the end of his reign, Alexios formalized the previously tumultuous process of Imperial succession. Henceforth, the Emperor was to be selected by the Senate out of the last Emperor’s adult sons. This system, however, did not outlive Alexios for long, as his son, Emperor Eusebios, only had one son, Theodoros (known as Caligula II), who, characteristically, took the law to mean that he had the right to order the Senate which one of his male descendants to crown Emperor, and bypassed his son in favor of his grandson. Many past historians have blamed Alexios for the quick disintegration of his system, and laid the blame for the tumultuous years following the death of St. Zeno II at his feet. This interpretation, however, ignores the fact that that was the only succession crisis for several centuries after Alexios’ death, and that the only other violation of the letter of his law was the removal and subsequent elimination of Basil III the Mad.
Administrative reforms
The major reform of Alexios has to deal with administration of the themes. Under him, the office of the Praetor became more and more powerful, until, towards the end of the reign, Praetors gained the right to appoint the strategos of the theme themselves, although the appointment was still subject to the Emperor’s approval. The office of the Praetor also began its transformation to a hereditary office under Alexios. In theory, the Emperors still retained the right to appoint and remove Praetors at will, but in practice this right was exercised less and less under the Komnenian emperors. Notable exceptions include cases of inheritance of several posts by one man: one of the themes in question would then be reassigned to another man (usually a relative of the Emperor, particularly after Theodoros). Thus, while the Empire underwent some feudalization in the 11th – 13th centuries, the degree of feudalization was nowhere near that of Frankish Europe, as there were no feudal contracts and no possibility of a powerful vassal assembling a feudal army that could threaten the Emperor’s rule. Rebellions happened, of course, but none ever reached the severity of the civil wars that periodically shook the Eastern Frankish Empire.
On the night of 18th March 1107, Emperor Alexios died quietly in his sleep. Two days later the Senate proclaimed his son Eusebios Emperor.
