Manuel II of Trebizond
Encyclopedia
Manuel II Megas Komnenos (Greek
: Μανουήλ Β΄ Μέγας Κομνηνός, Manouēl II Megas Komnēnos) (c. 1324 – 1333) was Emperor
of Trebizond
for eight months in 1332. He was possibly the illegitimate son of Emperor Andronikos III of Trebizond
, whom he succeeded at the age of eight in January 1332.
The short reign of Manuel II was marked by the invasion of Bayram Beg, the Emir
of Chalybia, who decided to take advantage of the ruler's minority and invade Trebizond. Although the Turkmen
penetrated deep into Trebizond's territory, they were repulsed with heavy losses. In spite of this success, the position of the young emperor and his supporters was far from secure.
The crimes of his father had shocked the people to such a point that they had divided into rival factions, focused on the capital and the countryside. The pro-Byzantine party in the capital invited Manuel's uncle Basil
to return to Trebizond from Constantinople
and to take over the government. Manuel was deposed after a reign of eight months, and his supporters at court were executed, while he was confined. However, an unsuccessful revolt in his favor led by the megas doux John prompted Manuel's murder on the orders of his uncle in 1333.
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;...
: Μανουήλ Β΄ Μέγας Κομνηνός, Manouēl II Megas Komnēnos) (c. 1324 – 1333) was Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Trebizond
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
for eight months in 1332. He was possibly the illegitimate son of Emperor Andronikos III of Trebizond
Andronikos III of Trebizond
Andronikos III Megas Komnenos or Andronicus III , Emperor of Trebizond from 1330 to 1332. He was an eldest son of Emperor Alexios II of Trebizond and his Iberian wife, Djiadjak Jaqeli of Samckhe....
, whom he succeeded at the age of eight in January 1332.
The short reign of Manuel II was marked by the invasion of Bayram Beg, the Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Chalybia, who decided to take advantage of the ruler's minority and invade Trebizond. Although the Turkmen
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
penetrated deep into Trebizond's territory, they were repulsed with heavy losses. In spite of this success, the position of the young emperor and his supporters was far from secure.
The crimes of his father had shocked the people to such a point that they had divided into rival factions, focused on the capital and the countryside. The pro-Byzantine party in the capital invited Manuel's uncle Basil
Basil of Trebizond
Basil Megas Komnenos was Emperor of Trebizond from August 1332 to his death in 1340. Basil was a younger son of Emperor Alexios II of Trebizond and his wife Djiadjak Jaqeli...
to return to Trebizond from 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:...
and to take over the government. Manuel was deposed after a reign of eight months, and his supporters at court were executed, while he was confined. However, an unsuccessful revolt in his favor led by the megas doux John prompted Manuel's murder on the orders of his uncle in 1333.