Manuel II of Trebizond
| Manuel II Megas Komnenos | |
|---|---|
| Emperor and Autocrat of all the East, of the Iberians and of Perateia | |
Komnenos | |
| Father | Andronikos III Megas Komnenos |
Manuel II Megas Komnenos (Greek: Μανουήλ Μέγας Κομνηνός, Manouēl Megas Komnēnos) (c. 1324–1333) was Emperor of Trebizond for eight months in 1332. Manuel was the son of Emperor Andronikos III, whom he succeeded at the age of eight in January 1332.[1]
Biography
The primary source for Manuel's reign, the chronicle of
According to William Miller, the crimes of his father had shocked the people to such a point that they had divided into rival factions: one based on the capital, which he describes as "the Byzantine party"; the other on the countryside, which he describes as "representing the original Pontic aristocracy". The Byzantine party invited Manuel's uncle
Manuel's execution was unusual for many reasons. Of the four Emperors deposed during the existence of the Empire of Trebizond, Manuel was the only one to be killed after being removed from power; in the other three cases, it was sufficient that the former ruler be exiled.[4] Further, during the existence of the Byzantine Empire execution of underage rivals for the Imperial throne was rare; even the ruthless Michael VIII Palaiologos was satisfied with merely blinding the deposed and imprisoned John IV Laskaris, who was about Manuel's age. That Manuel's father Andronikos III killed Manuel's two uncles may have influenced Basil's decision to order Manuel's death.
References
- ^ William Miller, Trebizond: The last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era: 1204-1461, 1926 (Chicago: Argonaut, 1969), p. 43
- ^ Anthony Bryer identifies Asomatos with a locale in the upper Matzouka valley, SSW of Trebizond. Bryer, "Greeks and Türkmens: The Pontic Exception", Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 29 (1975), p. 144 n. 131. This paper also provides a translation of the relevant passage from the chronicle of Michael Panaretos that mentions this incursion.
- ^ Miller, Trebizond, p. 44
- ^ These other three Emperors being George Komnenos, Michael Megas Komnenos, and John III Megas Komnenos.
External links
- Vougiouklaki Penelope, "Manuel II Grand Komnenos", Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World: Asia Minor