EN
This contribution is about the eastern policy of the famous Byzantine emperor, John II. Komnenos (1118 – 1143) and his relations with crusaders in the Near East. In the first part the author briefly describes the political situation in the Near East in the 11th century after the accession of the Emperor Alexios Komnenos in 1081 and the development of the city of Antioch. Antioch was one of the most important cities for the Byzantines and to acquire it was a major goal for the Emperor Alexios and his son John II. The main part of this article chronologically describes two campaigns of John II. to Antioch and their results. The sudden death of the Emperor in Cilicia (1143) put a stop to the Byzantine offensive and saved Antioch from occupation.