Manuel Kantakouzenos

Manuel Kantakouzenos (or Cantacuzenus) (

Despotate of Morea or the Peloponnese

Life

Manuel Kantakouzenos was the second son of Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos and Irene Asanina. Donald Nicol believes he was born around 1326 or slightly later.^[1]

Manuel is first mentioned in March 1342 when he and his brother

war of 1348–1349.^[2]

At the conclusion of the war with Genoa, Manuel was named governor of Morea by his father, and arrived in his province on 25 October 1349. Manuel was the first of a series of long-ruling governors of the province who bore the title of despotēs and were closely related to the emperors at Constantinople. Manuel established order in his province by crushing the opposition of local notables (Archontes). His success was such that when John VI Kantakouzenos was forced to abdicate by his son-in-law John V Palaiologos, Manuel was able to resist the attempt to replace him as governor by the emperor's appointees. Eventually Manuel was recognized as governor of Morea by the new regime. Following the abdication of his father John Kantakouzenos, who was now the monk Josaph, the rest of his family joined Manuel in the Morea. Some of Manuel's enemies circulated a rumor that his older brother, the former Emperor Matthew Kantakouzenos, plotted to replace him as governor, but when he was persuaded the rumor was false, the two worked together in the administration of the province, although Nicol observes "Matthew played no more than a secondary role."^[3]

For the larger portion of his reign, Manuel maintained peaceful relations with his Latin neighbors and secured a long period of prosperity for the area. Greco-Latin cooperation included an alliance to contain the raids of

Bailli of Achaea, and the town of Gardiki (modern Anavryto). He set off with an army consisting of 1000 knights and 2000 infantry, which was crushed by Sansverino; Manuel managed to escape with the survivors of his army. Eventually the Frankish knights tired of besieging Gardiki and abandoned the enterprise.^[5]

Moreover, Manuel encouraged the immigration of Albanians to settle in the depopulated province as a source of economic and military manpower.

On his death in 1380, Manuel was succeeded as governor by his older brother, Matthew. Nicol believes Manuel was buried in Mystras.^[5]

Family

Manuel was betrothed to Isabelle (or Zampea-Maria) de Lusignan (ca or after 1333 – in

subsequent civil war, Manuel took pains to point out no vows had been made in this second engagement, so his marriage to Isabelle would not be irregular. She followed him to Morea in 1349, living with him there until his death; Nicol speculates that, although there is some evidence she administered the Despotate following his death, she moved to Cyprus where she had family.^[6] They had no children.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Nicol 1968, p. 122.
^ Nicol 1968, p. 123.
^ Nicol 1968, pp. 123–125.
^ Nicol 1968, p. 125.
^ ^a ^b ^c Nicol 1968, p. 127.
^ Nicol 1968, p. 124.

Sources

OCLC 390843
.

ISBN 978-0-521-43991-6
.

ISBN 9780521522014
.

ISBN 0-19-504652-8
.

Regnal titles
Manuel Kantakouzenos Kantakouzenos dynasty Born: c. 1326 Died: 10 April 1380
New creation	Despot of the Morea 1354–1380	Succeeded by Matthew Kantakouzenos

[FOOTNOTENicol1968122-1] Nicol 1968, p. 122.

[FOOTNOTENicol1968123-2] Nicol 1968, p. 123.

[FOOTNOTENicol1968123–125-3] Nicol 1968, pp. 123–125.

[FOOTNOTENicol1968125-4] Nicol 1968, p. 125.

[FOOTNOTENicol1968127-5] Nicol 1968, p. 127.

[FOOTNOTENicol1968124-6] Nicol 1968, p. 124.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[5]

[6]