Andronikos Komnenos, born early in the twelfth century, around 1118, is endowed by nature with the most remarkable gifts both of mind and body: he is handsome and eloquent, but licentious; and, at the same time, active, hardy, courageous, a great general and an able politician.
Andronikos' had spent his early years alternately in pleasure and in military service.
Taken captive by the Seljuq Turks in 1141, he had remained in their hands for a year.
On being ransomed, he had gone to Constantinople, where was held the court of his cousin, the Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, with whom he is a great favorite.
Here the charms of his niece, Eudoxia, attract him and she becomes his mistress.
Accompanied by Eudoxia, he had set out for an important command in Cilicia in 1152.
Failing in his principal enterprise, an attack upon Mopsuestia, he returned, but was again appointed to the command of a province.
This second post he seems also to have left after a short interval, for he appears again in Constantinople, and narrowly escaped death at the hands of the brothers of Eudoxia.
About this time (1153) a conspiracy against the Emperor, in which Andronikos participated, had been discovered and he was thrown into prison.
There he had remained for about twelve years, during which time he made repeated but unsuccessful attempts to escape.
At last, in 1165, he is successful in escaping.
After passing through many dangers, he reached the court of his cousin Yaroslav Osmomysl of Galicia.
While under the protection of Yaroslav, Andronikos brings about an alliance between him and the Emperor Manuel I, and so restores himself to the emperor's favor.
With a Galician army, he joins Manuel in the invasion of Hungary and assists at the siege of Semlin.
