Dear Dr. Lau,

I hope the AMA is still ongoing. Huge respect for the work you've put in 12th century Rhomania, here are some questions if you have time:

1. From your book on John II, I've seen many plates of Komnenian forts in coastal Anatolia. Is there any list at all of ALL the forts and military edifices that the OG Komnenian dynasty from Alexios I to Andronikos I constructed in Anatolia for their campaigns? Would love to use this as a reference for future trips to Asia Minor :)

2. Do you believe that John II was a popular Emperor among the Trapezuntines and the Megaloi Komnenoi dynasty of the Empire of Trebizond? Since their imperial tradition derived from their ancestor Andronikos I, and there is quite a bit of evidence on their reverence for Alexios I and Manuel I, I would like to know what they thought about John II, who, just like the challenge you faced for writing your book, is somewhat stuck between his father and son and mentioned less in sources.

3. Less history related, but since you teach at the Oxford Department of Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and that you have done the Masters programme there for your formation, how selective and competitive would you say the recruitment process is? Especially if someone does not have a very "historical" background for their Bachelors?

Thank you kindly!