| Andronikos IV Palaiologos | |
|---|---|
| Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans | |
.png) 15th-century portrait of Andronikos IV (from a15th-century codex containing a copy of theExtracts of History byJoannes Zonaras) | |
| Byzantine emperor | |
| Reign | 12 August 1376 – 1 July 1379 |
| Predecessor | John V Palaiologos |
| Successor | John V Palaiologos |
| Proclamation | 1352as co-emperor |
| Byzantine emperor in Selymbria underJohn V Palaiologos | |
| Reign | May 1381 – June 1385 |
| Successor | John VII Palaiologos |
| Born | 11 April 1348 Constantinople,Byzantine Empire (nowIstanbul,Turkey) |
| Died | 25 or 28 June 1385 (aged 37) Selymbria,Byzantine Empire (nowSilivri,Istanbul,Turkey) |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Keratsa of Bulgaria |
| Issue | John VII Palaiologos |
| House | Palaiologos |
| Father | John V Palaiologos |
| Mother | Helena Kantakouzene |
Andronikos IV Palaiologos orAndronicus IV Palaeologus (Greek:Ἀνδρόνικος Κομνηνὸς Παλαιολόγος,romanized: Andrónikos Palaiológos;[1] 11 April 1348 – 25/28 June 1385[2]) was the eldest son of Byzantine EmperorJohn V Palaiologos.[3] Appointed co-emperor from 1352, he had a troubled relationship with his father: he launched a failed rebellion in 1373, usurped the throne in 1376–1379, and remained engaged in a bitter struggle with his father, John V, until his death in 1385.[2] This civil war depleted Byzantium's scarce resources and greatly facilitated theOttoman conquest of the Balkans, most notably through the cession ofGallipoli by Andronikos. He was also the father of John VII.[4]
Born on 11 April 1348, Andronikos IV Palaiologos was the eldest son of EmperorJohn V Palaiologos by his wifeHelena Kantakouzene.[1] In 1352 he was already associated as co-emperor with his father,[1] and when John V left for Italy in 1369 to affirm his submission to thePope, John left Andronikos behind inConstantinople asregent, while his younger sonManuel II Palaiologos was sent to governThessalonica.[5]
During his stay in Italy, John attempted to settle his accounts with theRepublic of Venice; this included not only John's own loans, but also the loan of 30,000ducats (and the associated interest) that his mother,Anna, had taken during theByzantine civil war of 1341–1347, with the Byzantine crown jewels ascollateral. John went in person to Venice, but he lacked the funds to pay off the loans, or even to secure a ship for his voyage home. As a result, he proposed to cede to the Venetians the island ofTenedos, strategically located at the entrance of theDardanelles, in exchange for further funds and six warships. The Venetians accepted, but when news reached Constantinople, Andronikos IV, likely urged by theGenoese, Venice's commercial rivals, refused to honour his father's agreement. This left John stranded in Venice, effectively as a captive debtor of the Republic; when he suggested that funds be raised to secure his release by selling precious objects from the churches, Andronikos again refused, claiming that this was impious. In the end, it was only the intervention of Manuel, who went from Thessalonica to Venice in person, that secured John's release. It was not until October 1371 that the emperor returned to Constantinople.[6]
Andronikos IV rebelled when theOttoman sultanMurad I forced John V intovassalage in 1373. On 6 May, Andronikos IV fled Constantinople and allied with Murad's sonSavcı Bey, who was rebelling against his own father. Both rebellions failed and Andronikos was imprisonedand blinded on 30 May, albeit only in one eye. His brother Manuel replaced him as heir.[7][1]
In July 1376, theGenoese helped Andronikos to escape from prison, whence he went straight to SultanMurad I, and agreed to returnGallipoli in return for his support. Gallipoli had been retaken by the Byzantines ten years before, with the assistance ofAmadeus VI, Count of Savoy; this strategically important bridgehead greatly improved the sultan's ability to attack Europe.[8] The sultan duly provided a mixed force of cavalry and infantry and with these, Andronikos was able to take control ofConstantinople. Here he was able to capture and imprison both John V and his sonManuel.
However, he made the mistake of favouring the Genoese too highly by awarding them Tenedos. The governor there refused to hand it over, and passed it on to Venice. In the same year, 18 October 1377, he was crowned emperor and also crowned his young sonJohn VII as co-emperor.[8] However, in 1379 John and Manuel escaped to Sultan Murad, and with the assistance of theVenetians, overthrew Andronikos later in the year. The Venetians restored John V to the throne, and Manuel II. Andronikos fled toGalata, staying there until May 1381, when he was once again made co-emperor and heir to the throne despite his earlier treachery. Andronikos IV was also given the approaches to Constantinople with the city of Selymbria (Silivri) as his personal domain.[1]
In 1385, he rebelled again, but died soon after, on 25 or 28 June, at Selymbria.[7] He was buried in thePantokrator Monastery in Constantinople.[1]
In 1356, Andronikos IV marriedKeratsa of Bulgaria, a daughter of EmperorIvan Alexander of Bulgaria. The couple had one son,John VII Palaiologos.[1]
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Andronikos IV Palaiologos Palaiologos dynasty Born: 2 April 1348 Died: 28 June 1385 | ||
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| Preceded by | Byzantine emperor 1376–1379 withJohn VII Palaiologos (1377–1379) | Succeeded by |
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