Andronikos IV Palaiologos
Encyclopedia
Andronikos IV Palaiologos (or Andronicus IV Palaeologus) (Greek
: Ανδρόνικος Δ' Παλαιολόγος, Andronikos IV Paleologos) (April 2, 1348 – June 28, 1385) was Byzantine Emperor from 1376 to 1379.
by his wife Helena Kantakouzene
. His maternal grandparents were John VI Kantakouzenos
and Irene Asanina
.
Although he was associated as co-emperor by his father since the early 1350s, Andronikos IV rebelled when the Ottoman
sultan Murad I
forced John V into vassal
age in 1373. Andronikos IV had allied with his lover Savcı Bey
, Murad's son who was rebelling against his own father, but both rebellions failed. Murad I blinded his son and demanded that John V have Andronikos IV blinded as well, but John V blinded Andronikos in only one eye.
helped Andronikos to escape from prison, whence he went straight to sultan Murad I
, and agreed to return Gallipoli
in return for his support. Gallipoli had been retaken by the Byzantines ten years before, with the assistance of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy
. The sultan duly provided a mixed force of cavalry and infantry and with these Andronikos was able to take control of Constantinople
. Here he was able to capture and imprison both John V and his son Manuel
.
However, he made the mistake of favouring the Genoese
too highly by awarding them Tenedos
. The governor there refused to hand it over, and passed it on to Venice. In the same year, 1377, he crowned his young son John VII
as co-emperor. However in 1379 John and Manuel escaped to sultan Murad, and with the assistance of the Venetians
overthrew Andronikos later in the year. The Venetians restored John V to the throne, with Manuel II. Andronikos fled to Galata
, and stayed there until 1381, when he was once again made co-emperor and heir to the throne despite his earlier treachery. Andronikos IV was also given the city of Selymbria (Silivri
) as his personal domain. However, he predeceased his father there in 1385, never to rule as legitimate emperor.
(nun Makaria), a daughter of Emperor Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
and his second wife Sarah-Theodora, Andronikos IV had three children:
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Ανδρόνικος Δ' Παλαιολόγος, Andronikos IV Paleologos) (April 2, 1348 – June 28, 1385) was Byzantine Emperor from 1376 to 1379.
Life
Andronikos IV Palaiologos was the eldest son of Emperor John V PalaiologosJohn V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
by his wife Helena Kantakouzene
Helena Kantakouzene
Helena Kantakouzene was the Empress consort of John V Palaiologos in the Byzantine Empire.-Family:She was a daughter of John VI Kantakouzenos and Irene Asanina.She was a sister of Matthew Kantakouzenos and Manuel Kantakouzenos...
. His maternal grandparents were John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
and Irene Asanina
Irene Asanina
Irene Asanina was the Empress consort of John VI Kantakouzenos of the Byzantine Empire.-Family:Asanina was a daughter of Andronikos Asen and his wife Tarchanaiotissa.Her paternal grandparents were Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria and Irene Palaiologina...
.
Although he was associated as co-emperor by his father since the early 1350s, Andronikos IV rebelled when the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Murad I
Murad I
Murad I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1361 to 1389...
forced John V into vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
age in 1373. Andronikos IV had allied with his lover Savcı Bey
Savcı Bey
Savcı Bey was an Ottoman prince who participated in a joint rebellion with a Byzantine prince against their fathers in 1370s. Savcı was the youngest of Murat I's three sons. The name of his mother and birth year are unknown. In Ottoman tradition all princes were required to work as provencial ...
, Murad's son who was rebelling against his own father, but both rebellions failed. Murad I blinded his son and demanded that John V have Andronikos IV blinded as well, but John V blinded Andronikos in only one eye.
Reign
In July 1376 the GenoeseRepublic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
helped Andronikos to escape from prison, whence he went straight to sultan Murad I
Murad I
Murad I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1361 to 1389...
, and agreed to return Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
in return for his support. Gallipoli had been retaken by the Byzantines ten years before, with the assistance of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy
Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy
Amadeus VI , nicknamed the Green Count was Count of Savoy from 1343 to 1383. He was the eldest son of Aimone, Count of Savoy and Yolande of Montferrat....
. The sultan duly provided a mixed force of cavalry and infantry and with these Andronikos was able to take control of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. Here he was able to capture and imprison both John V and his son Manuel
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
.
However, he made the mistake of favouring the Genoese
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
too highly by awarding them Tenedos
Tenedos
Tenedos or Bozcaada or Bozdja-Ada is a small island in the Aegean Sea, part of the Bozcaada district of Çanakkale province in Turkey. , Tenedos has a population of about 2,354. The main industries are tourism, wine production and fishing...
. The governor there refused to hand it over, and passed it on to Venice. In the same year, 1377, he crowned his young son John VII
John VII Palaiologos
John VII Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor for five months in 1390.-Life:...
as co-emperor. However in 1379 John and Manuel escaped to sultan Murad, and with the assistance of the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
overthrew Andronikos later in the year. The Venetians restored John V to the throne, with Manuel II. Andronikos fled to Galata
Galata
Galata or Galatae is a neighbourhood in the Beyoğlu district on the European side of Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Galata is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn, the inlet which separates it from the historic peninsula of old Constantinople. The Golden Horn is crossed by...
, and stayed there until 1381, when he was once again made co-emperor and heir to the throne despite his earlier treachery. Andronikos IV was also given the city of Selymbria (Silivri
Silivri
Silivri is a city and a district in Istanbul Province along the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, outside of metropolitan Istanbul, containing many holiday and weekend homes for residents of the city. The largest city in the district is also named Silivri...
) as his personal domain. However, he predeceased his father there in 1385, never to rule as legitimate emperor.
Family
By his wife Keratsa of BulgariaKeratsa of Bulgaria
Keratsa-Maria of Bulgaria was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and his second wife, a converted Jewess, Theodora.-Marriage:On 17 August 1355 Keratsa was betrothed to the future Emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos...
(nun Makaria), a daughter of Emperor Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander , also known as John Alexander, ruled as Emperor of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The date of his birth is unknown. He died on February 17, 1371. The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history...
and his second wife Sarah-Theodora, Andronikos IV had three children:
- John VII PalaiologosJohn VII PalaiologosJohn VII Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor for five months in 1390.-Life:...
, emperor in 1390 - two daughters
Ancestry
Further reading
- Harris, Jonathan, The End of Byzantium. Yale University Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-30011786-8
- Nicol, Donald M., The Last Centuries of Byzantium. Cambridge University Press, 1993, 2nd edition. ISBN 0521 43991 4
- Oxford Dictionary of ByzantiumOxford Dictionary of ByzantiumThe Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium is a three volume historical dictionary published by the English Oxford University Press. It contains comprehensive information in English on topics relating to the Byzantine Empire. It was edited by the late Dr. Alexander Kazhdan, and was first published in 1991...
. Oxford University Press, 1991.