Andronicus Iii Palaeologus
Andronicus III Palaeologus, Emperor Byzantine from 1328 to 1341 , born 1296 , died on 15 June 1341 , son of Michael IX Palaeologus , Emperor partner, and Rita of Armenia.
The historians describe him as having more taste for battle as for administration, loving to lead his men into battle and loving especially hunting and equestrian games, entertainment imported to Constantinople by the entourage of Jeanne de Savoie.
Summary |
Domestic policy
Backed by his cousin John Cantacuzino, he struggles against his long grandfather Andronicus II , he forced to abdicate in 1328. Became sole emperor, he tried to raise the empire with the help of John Cantacuzino , but busy defending its European positions against the Bulgarians and the king Serb Stefan Uro III Deanski , he can not oppose the Turks in Asia Minor.
In 1329 , Andronicus III undertakes a sweeping reform of the judicial hierarchy. He appoints judges and Supreme 4, 2 and 2 religious laity, called "Universal Judges of the Romans" which were granted extensive powers in particular to ensure enforcement of laws with corrupt officials.
Unfortunately, these four justices were themselves involved in corruption cases, 3 of them were then brought to justice in 1337 and exiled.
Other judges, however, were appointed in their place and the institution remained in place until the end of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. It was then extended to all provinces of the Empire.
On the religious level, Andronicus III outlines a policy of religious unity but it is served by the schism hesychast between 1333 and 1339 : to defeat this ideology, he convened a council 10 June 1341 , in Constantinople, but it ends the victory of hesychasts.
Foreign policy
The reign of Andronicus III is marked by the struggle against the Serbs, Bulgarians and Turks.
Reconquest of European territories
In 1328 , the Bulgars invade Thrace and walk up Adrianople but the Tsar Michael Sisman of Bulgaria , before a Byzantine army reorganized prefers to negotiate and sign, in 1330 , a peace treaty, after which the Bulgarians abstained any military incursion during the reign of Andronicus III.
Chio. In 1329 , broke out in Chios insurrection against Martin Zaccaria led by Leon Kalothtos. It manages to take the government of the island and Andronicus sends a fleet of emergency. Zaccaria was arrested, brought into captivity in Constantinople while Kalothtos was given the island government, which became imperial domain.
Thessaloniki. In 1333 , he arrested Syrgianns , a former comrade of John Cantacuzino he had appointed governor of Thessaloniki and whose loyalty seemed in doubt. It nevertheless managed to escape and endorses Stephen Dushan , King of Serbia. Decided to strengthen its positions in Thessaloniki, Andronicus III allows one of its officers, Sphrantzs Palaeologus , to contact Syrgianns, he kills, thus allowing the Byzantine emperor to obtain the signature of the Serbian king of a treaty in August 1334 , by which the Byzantine Empire recovered all the places conquered by the Serbs.
Thessaly. Macedonia, Andronicus III comes into Thessaly , whose government had become vacant following the death of sebastokrator Gabrielopoulos Etienne.
Epirus. In 1337 , in favor of unrest which shook the dynastic family Orsini , he managed to regain the Epirus , aided by her cousin Anne Palaeologus, who had married in 1323 John II Orsini of Epirus Despot. Refusing to compromise, the Emperor demanded a complete surrender and annexation of Epirus to the Empire, a provision which was accepted willingly by Epirots.
Unfortunately, the young Orsini Nicephorus III , heir to the despotate, managed to flee and take refuge in Taranto , with Catherine of Valois , titular Empress Latin. From 1339 , he went to Thomokastron where he tries to raise the people against the Emperor. In 1340 , Andronicus III Nicephorus III and conclude an agreement, the heir Latin panhypersebastos obtaining the title and the hand of Maria Cantacuzino.
The anti-Turkish League (1327)
His policy of expansion in the Mediterranean, however, is opposed by the Latins (Knights of Rhodes , kings of Cyprus , Venetians, Genoese) who had interests to defend in the Aegean.
If, in 1327, the Venetians had considered creating a league of Christian states to include the Byzantine Emperor, it was Pope John XXII , who took it upon himself to organize it and decided to exclude the Byzantines. Formed in Avignon in 1334 , the anti-Turkish league admitted however, the principle of an interest but remained Byzantine led Latin. The participation of the Byzantines was subordinated to the league, by John XXII and his successors, abandonment of orthodoxy by the Emperor, qu'Andronic III refused, not wanting to persecute his subjects as had formerly Michel VIII Palaeologus.
In 1335 , Benedetto Zaccaria tries to regain Chios, soon followed by Domenico Cattaneo, lord of Genoa Phocaea. In retaliation, Andronicus III took an expedition that allows him to resume Lesbos and Phocaea in 1336. It does this by seeking the help of the emirs Saruhan and Umur.
Internal divisions between Latin and Byzantine went this league very active, allowing the Turks to resume operations of piracy.
Loss of Asian territories
Andronicus III was less successful in its fight against the Turks: they, after having conquered Bursa in 1326 and making it their capital, mobilized in May 1329 an army of 8,000 men along the Bosphorus. Andronicus III and John Cantacuzino 2000 succeeded in arming mercenaries, who were defeated on June 11, 1329 Plkanon.
Before the conquests of the Turks, Andronicus must be resolved to propose to Orhan signed in 1333 , a treaty under which he had to pay the sultan an annual tribute of 12,000 hyperpres order to retain the land last Byzantine Bithynia.
Family and descendants
Andronicus III Spouses:
- in 1318 , Adelaide of Brunswick (died 1324), daughter of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, and Agnes of Meissen, which gives him a son, born and died in 1321;
- in 1326 , Joan of Savoy (1306-1360), daughter of Amadeus V , Count of Savoy, and Marie de Brabant, who had five children:
- Irene (1327 - after 1356), married at Adrianople in 1336 with Michael Asen , Tsar of Bulgaria (d. 1354);
- John V (1332 - 1391);
- Michel (1337 - 1370);
- Theodore, who died after 1405, Governor of Lemnos;
- Mary, married in 1355 with Francis Gattilusio, Archon of Lesbos (died 1384).
Bayalun, illegitimate daughter of Andronicus as reported by Mihail-Dimitri Sturdza References Preceded by Andronicus III Palaeologus Followed by Andronicus II Palaeologus 
Byzantine Emperor 1328 - 1341 John V Palaeologus
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