The death of the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos (1087-1143).

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to give a brief account of the life of John II Komnenos, his reign and to clarify the events and causes surrounding his death.

METHODS: A thorough search of the literature was undertaken in PubMed and Google Scholar as well as in history books through the internet and in History and Medical University libraries.

RESULTS: The death of the king cannot be attributed to poisoning from an injured hand by arrow poison. The long period of time before the presentation of symptoms should be attributed to their being caused by an infection. The failure of both conservative anti-inflammatory treatment and surgical drainage point towards an anaerobic infection or a septic inflammation.

CONCLUSION: The death of the emperor John Komnenos was caused by a severe infection of the hand of unknown agent leading to septicaemia. This conclusion is based on the fact that death came a week or more after the injury of the hand and it was not caused by the poison of the arrow which would have been fatal within several hours.