Alexios Philanthropenos
Encyclopedia
Alexios Philanthropenos was a Byzantine
nobleman and notable general of the early Byzantine-Ottoman wars
, scoring some of the last Byzantine successes against the Turkic emirates in Asia Minor
.
and megas domestikos Michael Tarchaneiotes
. His mother, whose name is unknown, belonged to the noble family of the Philanthropenoi, which rose to prominence in the latter half of the 13th century. She was the daughter of prōtostratōr
and megas doux
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
, after whom Alexios was named. On his father's side, Alexios was also related to the imperial family, through his grandmother, Martha Palaiologina, a sister of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos
. Alexios married Theodora Akropolitissa, daughter of Constantine Akropolites and granddaughter of the historian George Akropolites. They had one child, Michael Philanthropenos.
(1282–1328) took an active interest in the defence of the Anatolian possessions of the Byzantine Empire against the encroaching Turkic emirates in the early 1290s, and appointed Alexios as doux
of the Thracesian theme
, awarding him the high court title of pinkernēs
. Alexios commanded all of the Byzantine possessions in Asia, except for the Ionia
n coast. During the next two years, based at Nymphaion, Alexios achieved several victories in the valley of the Maeander river, managing to stop the Turkish raids and advance into the Emirate of Menteshe
, recapturing the fortress of Melanoudion, as well as Miletus
and Achyraous. Many Turks joined his army, and so many prisoners were made during his campaigns, that the monk and scholar Maximus Planudes
, a friend of Alexios, wrote that "a sheep was more expensive to buy than a Muslim prisoner".
At this point, in the autumn of 1295, Alexios rose up against Andronikos. The exact circumstances and reasons for this move remain obscure, but the revolt was fueled by the discontent of the Asian provinces over high taxation and what many perceived as the neglect of the defence of Asia by the Palaiologoi. His rebellion certainly had the support of the people: as George Pachymeres
recounts, "in the monasteries [..], the name of the Emperor was no longer commemorated, but only that of Philanthropenos." Alexios seized Theodore Palaiologos, the Emperor's brother, but then prevaricated, giving time to the Emperor to react. Negotiations began, with Andronikos offering Alexios the title of Caesar
to lull him into a false sense of security, while he prepared to get rid of him. Around Christmas, the governor of Neokastra
, prōtovestiarios Livadarios, who was loyal to Andronikos, persuaded some Cretan
soldiers to seize and blind Alexios, the punishment usually meted
out to rebels.
, which had been long under siege and was ready to fall. He was given no army, but, according to the Byzantine chroniclers, the mere news of Alexios' approach, and the respect in which the Turks held him, was enough for the siege to be lifted. Alexios was appointed governor of the city, a position he retained until 1327.
, Domenico Cattaneo. Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos
raised a fleet of 83 ships to recover the island, which arrived in June 1336. The fleet disembarked an army, led by Alexios Philanthropenos, which swiftly secured the entire island except for the capital, Mytilene
. The siege lasted until November, when Domenico capitulated, returning Lesbos and Phocaea to the Empire. Alexios, exuberantly praised by contemporaries like Nikephoros Gregoras as the "Belisarius
of the Palaiologan era" was left by Andronikos III as governor of the island, where he lived until his death, which occurred probably in the 1340s.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
nobleman and notable general of the early Byzantine-Ottoman wars
Byzantine-Ottoman wars
The Byzantine–Ottoman Wars were a series of decisive conflicts between the Ottoman Turks and the Byzantine that led to the final destruction of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire....
, scoring some of the last Byzantine successes against the Turkic emirates in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
.
Early life and family
Alexios was born ca. 1270 as the second son of prōtovestiariosProtovestiarios
Protovestiarios was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs.-History and functions:The title is first attested in 412, as the comes sacrae vestis, an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" , coming under the praepositus sacri cubiculi...
and megas domestikos Michael Tarchaneiotes
Michael Tarchaneiotes
Michael Tarchaneiotes was a Byzantine aristocrat and general, active against the Turks and in the Balkans from 1278 until his death from disease in 1284.- Life :...
. His mother, whose name is unknown, belonged to the noble family of the Philanthropenoi, which rose to prominence in the latter half of the 13th century. She was the daughter of prōtostratōr
Protostrator
Prōtostratōr was a Byzantine court office, originating as the imperial stable master, which in the last centuries of the Empire evolved into one of the senior military offices...
and megas doux
Megas Doux
The megas doux was one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of the later Byzantine Empire, denoting the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy. It is sometimes also given by the half-Latinizations megaduke or megadux...
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos was a Byzantine nobleman and distinguished admiral, with the rank of protostrator and later megas doux, during the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos .- Life :...
, after whom Alexios was named. On his father's side, Alexios was also related to the imperial family, through his grandmother, Martha Palaiologina, a sister of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
. Alexios married Theodora Akropolitissa, daughter of Constantine Akropolites and granddaughter of the historian George Akropolites. They had one child, Michael Philanthropenos.
First command in Asia and uprising
Emperor Andronikos II PalaiologosAndronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
(1282–1328) took an active interest in the defence of the Anatolian possessions of the Byzantine Empire against the encroaching Turkic emirates in the early 1290s, and appointed Alexios as doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of the Thracesian theme
Thracesian Theme
The Thracesian Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Thracesians , was a Byzantine theme in western Asia Minor , comprising the ancient regions of Ionia, Lydia and parts of Phrygia and Caria....
, awarding him the high court title of pinkernēs
Pinkernes
Pinkernes was a high Byzantine court position. The term, deriving from the Greek verb , signified the Byzantine emperor's cup-bearer. The position is attested in Philotheos's Kletorologion of 899, where a pinkernes of the Byzantine emperor and of the Augusta are listed amongst the eunuchs of...
. Alexios commanded all of the Byzantine possessions in Asia, except for the Ionia
Ionia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
n coast. During the next two years, based at Nymphaion, Alexios achieved several victories in the valley of the Maeander river, managing to stop the Turkish raids and advance into the Emirate of Menteshe
Menteshe
The Anatolian beylik of Menteş , with capital in Milas in southwest Anatolia and headquartered in Beçin castle near that city, was one of the frontier principalities established by Oghuz Turkish clans after the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. The Beylik was named after its founder, Menteş Bey...
, recapturing the fortress of Melanoudion, as well as Miletus
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
and Achyraous. Many Turks joined his army, and so many prisoners were made during his campaigns, that the monk and scholar Maximus Planudes
Maximus Planudes
Maximus Planudes, less often Maximos Planoudes , Byzantine grammarian and theologian, flourished during the reigns of Michael VIII Palaeologus and Andronicus II Palaeologus. He was born at Nicomedia in Bithynia, but the greater part of his life was spent in Constantinople, where as a monk he...
, a friend of Alexios, wrote that "a sheep was more expensive to buy than a Muslim prisoner".
At this point, in the autumn of 1295, Alexios rose up against Andronikos. The exact circumstances and reasons for this move remain obscure, but the revolt was fueled by the discontent of the Asian provinces over high taxation and what many perceived as the neglect of the defence of Asia by the Palaiologoi. His rebellion certainly had the support of the people: as George Pachymeres
George Pachymeres
Georgius Pachymeres , a Byzantine Greek historian and miscellaneous writer, was born at Nicaea, in Bithynia, where his father had taken refuge after the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204...
recounts, "in the monasteries [..], the name of the Emperor was no longer commemorated, but only that of Philanthropenos." Alexios seized Theodore Palaiologos, the Emperor's brother, but then prevaricated, giving time to the Emperor to react. Negotiations began, with Andronikos offering Alexios the title of Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
to lull him into a false sense of security, while he prepared to get rid of him. Around Christmas, the governor of Neokastra
Neokastra
Neokastra was a Byzantine province of the 12th–13th centuries in north-western Asia Minor .Its origin and extent are obscure. According to Niketas Choniates, the theme was founded by Manuel I Komnenos between 1162 and 1173. Manuel I scoured the region around three cities—Chliara Neokastra was a...
, prōtovestiarios Livadarios, who was loyal to Andronikos, persuaded some Cretan
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
soldiers to seize and blind Alexios, the punishment usually meted
Political mutilation in Byzantine culture
Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a...
out to rebels.
Rescue of Philadelphia
Alexios was replaced as commander by John Tarchaneiotes, and disappeared from the scene for 30 years. His successors proved greatly inferior, and by 1323, Byzantine possessions in Asia had been greatly reduced. At that point, Patriarch Jesaias urged Andronikos to recall the aged general. A desperate Andronikos agreed and pardoned Alexios in 1324. Alexios was tasked with relieving the isolated exclave of PhiladelphiaAlasehir
Alaşehir, in Antiquity and the Middle Ages known as Philadelphia , i.e. " brotherly love" is a town and district of Manisa Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is situated in the valley of the Kuzuçay , at the foot of the Bozdağ...
, which had been long under siege and was ready to fall. He was given no army, but, according to the Byzantine chroniclers, the mere news of Alexios' approach, and the respect in which the Turks held him, was enough for the siege to be lifted. Alexios was appointed governor of the city, a position he retained until 1327.
Campaign in Lesbos
In 1335, the strategically important Byzantine island of Lesbos was seized by a Latin army under the Genoese Lord of PhocaeaPhocaea
Phocaea, or Phokaia, was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. Greek colonists from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia in 600 BC, Emporion in 575 BC and Elea in 540 BC.-Geography:Phocaea was the northernmost...
, Domenico Cattaneo. Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...
raised a fleet of 83 ships to recover the island, which arrived in June 1336. The fleet disembarked an army, led by Alexios Philanthropenos, which swiftly secured the entire island except for the capital, Mytilene
Mytilene
Mytilene is a town and a former municipality on the island of Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lesbos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the capital of the island of Lesbos. Mytilene, whose name is pre-Greek, is built on the...
. The siege lasted until November, when Domenico capitulated, returning Lesbos and Phocaea to the Empire. Alexios, exuberantly praised by contemporaries like Nikephoros Gregoras as the "Belisarius
Belisarius
Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
of the Palaiologan era" was left by Andronikos III as governor of the island, where he lived until his death, which occurred probably in the 1340s.
Sources
- George PachymeresGeorge PachymeresGeorgius Pachymeres , a Byzantine Greek historian and miscellaneous writer, was born at Nicaea, in Bithynia, where his father had taken refuge after the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204...
: History - Angelov, Dimiter: Imperial Ideology and Political Thought in Byzantium, 1204-1330, Cambridge University Press (2007), ISBN 0-521-85703-1
- Bartusis, Mark C.: The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society, 1204-1453, University of Pennsylvania Press (1997), ISBN 0-8122-1620-2
- Nicol, Donald M.: The Last Centuries of Byzantium 1261-1453, Cambridge University Press (1993), ISBN 0-521-43991-4