Alamanikon facts for kids

The Alamanikon was a special tax collected in 1197 by the Byzantine emperor, Alexios III. It was also known as the “German tax.” This tax was created to gather a large amount of gold, 1,600 pounds (about 725 kg), to pay Henry VI, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.

Why the Tax Was Needed

Henry VI demanded a huge payment from Emperor Alexios III. This was because Alexios had taken the throne from his brother, Isaac II, in 1195. Henry VI had taken Isaac's daughter, Irene Angelina, under his care. She was the widow of Roger III of Sicily. Henry then arranged for Irene to marry his younger brother, Philip. Henry claimed he was protecting his brother-in-law's rights in the Byzantine Empire. He threatened to invade Alexios's empire if he didn't receive the money. Henry originally asked for 5,000 pounds of gold, but they agreed on 1,600 pounds.

How Alexios Tried to Collect the Money

Alexios III needed support to tax the people of Constantinople, the capital city. He called a meeting with the Senate, church leaders, and members of trade groups. He suggested a property tax, but they refused. They said it was against their usual customs.

After this plan failed, Alexios tried to collect gold and silver items from churches that were not used for religious services. The church leaders strongly disagreed with this idea. This was the only time they openly opposed Alexios during his rule.

Finally, Alexios gave up on taxing the capital city. Instead, he took gold and silver from the tombs of past emperors. Only the tomb of Constantine the Great was left untouched.

What Happened to the Tax

Even though the capital city was excused from the tax, the Alamanikon was still collected in other parts of the empire. In total, about 7,000 pounds (about 3,175 kg) of silver and some gold were collected. However, the money was never sent to Henry VI. He died on September 28, 1197, before the payment could be made.

Some historians later claimed that Henry's planned crusade was actually meant to conquer the Byzantine Empire. But there is no clear proof from that time to support this idea.

Sources

• Brand, Charles M. (1968). Byzantium Confronts the West, 1180–1204. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. LCCN 67-20872. OCLC 795121713. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.02893.
• Brand, Charles M. (1991). "Alamanikon". The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. 50–51.