Michael Tarchaneiotes
Encyclopedia
Michael Tarchaneiotes was a Byzantine
aristocrat and general, active against the Turks and in the Balkans from 1278 until his death from disease in 1284.
, megas domestikos to John III Vatatzes, and Maria-Martha Palaiologina, the eldest sister of Michael VIII Palaiologos
. His family supported the rise of Palaiologos to the throne, and the new emperor rewarded Michael and his younger brother Andronikos with high offices: Michael was named protovestiarios
and Andronikos was made megas konostaulos.
In 1278, having risen to the post of megas domestikos, Tarchaneiotes accompanied his cousin, the young co-emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos
(r. 1282–1328) to an expedition against the Turks in Asia Minor
. The campaign was successful in driving the Turks out of the valley of the Maeander River
. Tarchaneiotes, on Andronikos' orders, rebuilt, fortified and repopulated the city of Tralles, which the young ruler intended to rename as Andronikopolis or Palaiologopolis. A few years later however the city, poorly supplied with water and provisions, was besieged and taken by the emir of Menteshe
.
In spring 1281, Tarchaneiotes led the Byzantine army that was sent to relieve the city of Berat
in Albania
, which was being besieged
by an Angevin
army. Tarchaneiotes' troops captured the Angevin commander, Hugh of Sully, in an ambush, whereupon his army panicked and was defeated with great loss by the Byzantines. In 1283, Tarchaneiotes was placed by Andronikos II at the head of the campaign against John I Doukas
of Thessaly
. Tarchaneiotes' forces marched to Thessaly, where they were joined by a Byzantine fleet and laid siege to the port city of Demetrias
. The city fell, but the outbreak of an epidemic (possibly malaria
) killed many soldiers, including Tarchaneiotes, and forced the remainder of the army to withdraw.
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
, Michael Tarchaneiotes had three children: an unnamed son who was given the rank of protosebastos, an unnamed daughter, and the famed general and rebel Alexios Philanthropenos
the Younger.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
aristocrat and general, active against the Turks and in the Balkans from 1278 until his death from disease in 1284.
Life
He was the son of Nikephoros TarchaneiotesNikephoros Tarchaneiotes
- Life :Nikephoros Tarchaneiotes was a scion of the Tarchaneiotes family, who were prominent members of the Byzantine military aristocracy since the late 10th century. Nikephoros first appears in the reign of John III Vatatzes, who named him his epi tes trapezes and in 1237 gave him command of the...
, megas domestikos to John III Vatatzes, and Maria-Martha Palaiologina, the eldest sister of Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
. His family supported the rise of Palaiologos to the throne, and the new emperor rewarded Michael and his younger brother Andronikos with high offices: Michael was named protovestiarios
Protovestiarios
Protovestiarios was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs.-History and functions:The title is first attested in 412, as the comes sacrae vestis, an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" , coming under the praepositus sacri cubiculi...
and Andronikos was made megas konostaulos.
In 1278, having risen to the post of megas domestikos, Tarchaneiotes accompanied his cousin, the young co-emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
(r. 1282–1328) to an expedition against the Turks in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. The campaign was successful in driving the Turks out of the valley of the Maeander River
Maeander River
The Büyük Menderes River ; , Ancient Greek: Μαίανδρος, Maíandros) is a river in southwestern Turkey. It rises in west central Turkey near Dinar before flowing west through the Büyük Menderes graben until reaching the Aegean Sea in the proximity of the ancient Ionian city Miletus...
. Tarchaneiotes, on Andronikos' orders, rebuilt, fortified and repopulated the city of Tralles, which the young ruler intended to rename as Andronikopolis or Palaiologopolis. A few years later however the city, poorly supplied with water and provisions, was besieged and taken by the emir of Menteshe
Menteshe
The Anatolian beylik of Menteş , with capital in Milas in southwest Anatolia and headquartered in Beçin castle near that city, was one of the frontier principalities established by Oghuz Turkish clans after the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. The Beylik was named after its founder, Menteş Bey...
.
In spring 1281, Tarchaneiotes led the Byzantine army that was sent to relieve the city of Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, which was being besieged
Siege of Berat (1280–1281)
The Siege of Berat in Albania by the forces of the Angevin Kingdom of Sicily against the Byzantine garrison of the city took place in 1280–1281. Berat was a strategically important fortress, whose possession would allow the Angevins access to the heartlands of the Byzantine Empire...
by an Angevin
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
army. Tarchaneiotes' troops captured the Angevin commander, Hugh of Sully, in an ambush, whereupon his army panicked and was defeated with great loss by the Byzantines. In 1283, Tarchaneiotes was placed by Andronikos II at the head of the campaign against John I Doukas
John I Doukas
John I Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268 to his death in 1289....
of Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. Tarchaneiotes' forces marched to Thessaly, where they were joined by a Byzantine fleet and laid siege to the port city of Demetrias
Demetrias
Demetrias was an ancient Greek city in Magnesia , near the modern city of Volos. It was founded by Demetrius Poliorcetes, one of the successors of Alexander the Great.-External links:*...
. The city fell, but the outbreak of an epidemic (possibly malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
) killed many soldiers, including Tarchaneiotes, and forced the remainder of the army to withdraw.
Family
By his wife, an unnamed daughter of the megas douxMegas Doux
The megas doux was one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of the later Byzantine Empire, denoting the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy. It is sometimes also given by the half-Latinizations megaduke or megadux...
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos was a Byzantine nobleman and distinguished admiral, with the rank of protostrator and later megas doux, during the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos .- Life :...
, Michael Tarchaneiotes had three children: an unnamed son who was given the rank of protosebastos, an unnamed daughter, and the famed general and rebel Alexios Philanthropenos
Alexios Philanthropenos
Alexios Philanthropenos was a Byzantine nobleman and notable general of the early Byzantine-Ottoman wars, scoring some of the last Byzantine successes against the Turkic emirates in Asia Minor.- Early life and family :...
the Younger.