La reception du roi Amaury Ier de Jerusalem a la cour imperiale de Constantinople (1171)
The Reception of King Amalric I of Jerusalem at the Imperial Court of Constantinople (1171)

Summary/Abstract: The reception ceremonial of the foreign sovereigns at the imperial court in Constantinople was one of the main diplomatic strategies by which the Greeks claimed, symbolically, the superiority of their culture and civilization and the primary place in the hierarchy of the nations. As a full expression of the Byzantine ideology, the protocol highlights the privileged position of the emperor and of his officials in the terrestrial and cosmic order. The Receptions given by the successor of Constantine the Great were organized according to a strictly ceremonial; consisting in a precise sequence of steps intended to confirm the glory and holiness of the basileus, who was chosen by God himself. The present study aims to analyze one of the most significant episodes in terms of the audiences provided by the Greek ruler in the twelfth century, namely, the reception organized by Manuel I Comnenus during the visit of Amalric I, the king of Jerusalem, at the imperial court in Constantinople in 1171.

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