Manuel Kantakouzenos (Morea)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manuel Kaktakouzenos was a rebel who started a revolt against the Palaiologos family in Morea.

He was the grandson of Demetrius I Kantakouzenos, the last Kantakouzenos governor of Morea. After realizing that the Constantinople and its Emperor, Constantine XI, were about to be conquered, Manuel organized the revolt against Morea's rulers, Thomas and Demetrius II. It was public knowledge that the two hated one another, and using this situation to his advantage, Manuel launched his revolt in 1453.

In the beginning, his situation was favorable, but that quickly changed. Turkish Morea's overlord made the decision that the province would stay in the hands of Thomas and Demetrius II. Because of this, any power fighting against Morea would face the wrath of the Turkish Empire. With minimal Turkish support, the brothers ceased their hostilities and joined together to fight Manuel. With this assistance, the revolt was overpowered and put down the next year, in 1454.