Michael of Trebizond

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Michael Megas Komnenos (Greek: Μιχαήλ Μέγας Κομνηνός, Mikhaēl Megas Komnēnos), (1285– after 1355), Emperor of Trebizond for one day, July 30, 1341 and from May 3, 1344 to December 13, 1349. He was a younger son of Emperor John II of Trebizond and Eudokia Palaiologina. His wife was an unnamed daughter of the nobleman Constantine Akropolites, and from this marriage he had a son, John III.

In c. 1297, he was brought to Constantinople by his mother Eudokia, and probably remained in the Byzantine capital until 1341. In theat year he was dispatched by the regency for John V Palaiologos to claim the throne of Trebizond at the invitation of the Scholarioi faction, led by Niketas and Gregory. Michael was also intended to marry the deposed Empress Irene Palaiologina.

When Michael's three ships reached Trebizond on July 30, 1341, he found Irene deposed and his own niece, Anna Anachoutlou ruling as empress. As the legitimate male descendant of the ruling family, Michael received the support of much of the populace and was acclaimed emperor. Some of the nobility, led by the Metropolitan Akakios received him as their lord and escorted him into the palace. As soon as night fell, however, the nobles imprisoned Michael, not wishing to be ruled by a mature and forceful monarch. Anna's Lazic troops dispersed Michael's supporters and plundered his ships. The following day he was sent off to Oinaion and then Limnia, where he was held captive by the Grand Duke John the Eunuch.

When Michael's own son, John III, became emperor in September 1342, Michael remained in prison. John's incompetent rule infuriated his chief supporters, and Niketas who marched with the army to Limnia (where John the Eunuch had recently been slain), freed Michael and returned with him to Trebizond. John III was deposed, sent to the monastery of St Sabas under a Byzantine guard and the nobles supporting him were killed. Michael was crowned on May 3 1344.

Michael granted Niketas the title of Grand Duke (megas doux) and was forced to sign the document which gave Niketas and his ministers almost all power in the Empire, promising to seek their counsel in all official actions. This constitutional experiment was short-lived, because the greatest opposition came from the people of Trebizond. They were infuriated to see the Emperor stripped of his effective authority and rose up in revolt against the oligarchy of the Scholarioi. Michael swiftly took advantage of the opportunity, and arrested and imprisoned Niketas in 1345. Also, he sent his son John off to Constantinople and then Adrianople where he was to be kept prisoner to prevent him from becoming a further focus for the discontented nobles of Trebizond.

Taking advantage of the instability in Trebizond, the Turkmen attacked the Empire in 1346, taking Hagios Andreas and Oinaion. In September 1347, hovewer, the Black Death struck Trebizond and raged for seven months. Another Turkmen invasion in 1348 was repulsed after a battle that lasted for three days. This victory did little to strengthen Michael's regime.

In 1348, the Genoese seized Kerasous, the second most important city of the Empire in revenge for a massacre of Genoese by the Trapezuntines some years earlier. In May 1349, a Genoese expedition from Caffa was launched against Trebizond. The small Trapezuntine fleet under Michael Tzanichites was destroyed and the people of Trebizond responded by killing any Westerner they found in the capital. Eventually, peace was reached with the Genoese, but in exchange for Kerasous they were given the fortress of Leontokastron. From now on Trebizond's commercial capacity was lessened even further, as the Genoese came to increasingly command the lucrative Black Sea trade of the port.

At that time the ailing Michael was both discredited and completely unable to govern the crumbling Empire. He was deposed on December 13, 1349 by the Grand Duke Niketas, whom he had been forced to release from prison. Niketas and his supporters placed on the throne John, the son of Emperor Basil, under the name Alexios III. Alexios III was sent to Trebizond by the Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos and arrived on December 22.

The deposed Emperor Michael was forced to become a monk at the cave monastery of St Sabas. In 1351, he sent to Constantinople. Michael was released by Emperor John V Palaiologos in 1355 and headed for Trebizond, hoping to recover his throne. His attempt failed and he returned to Constantinople, dying some time later.

[edit] References

• W. Miller, Trebizond: The Last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era, Chicago, 1926.

Michael of Trebizond Komnenid dynasty Born: 1285 Died: unknown
Regnal titles
Preceded by Anna	Emperor of Trebizond 1341	Succeeded by Anna
Preceded by John III	Emperor of Trebizond 1344–1349	Succeeded by Alexios III