Philanthropenos
Encyclopedia
Philanthropenos feminine form Philanthropene (Φιλανθρωπηνή), was the name of a noble Byzantine Greek
family which appeared in the mid-13th century and produced a number of high-ranking generals and officials until the end of the end of the Byzantine Empire
. Their name derives from the monastery of Christ Philanthropos ("Christ Friend of Man") in Constantinople
. Some members of the family use the composite surname Doukas
Philanthropenos, and may, according to D. Polemis, constitute a distinct branch of the family.
The first known member of the family is Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos
, first attested ca. 1255 as a commander at Ohrid
. He is usually equated with the distinguished admiral of the same name, who rose to the rank of protostrator
and eventually megas doux
. He died ca. 1275. His daughter Maria married Michael Tarchaneiotes
. Their second son was the pinkernes
Alexios Philanthropenos
, a general celebrated for his successes against the Turks, who rose up unsuccessfully against Andronikos II Palaiologos
in 1295. He was pardoned in the 1320s and was again active in the field until 1334. A Michael Doukas Philanthropenos, epi tes trapezes
and uncle of Andronikos II, is attested from 1286 to 1304, when he was sent to defend Magnesia
from the Turks. A number of Philanthropenos women are known only from short references: Theodora Doukaina Philanthropene married John Komnenos Akropolites, perhaps a son of the historian George Akropolites; Eirene Komnene Doukaina Philanthropene Kantakouzene, who died on 8 August 1292; and Eirene Komnene Philanthropene Doukaina, who died on 7 September 1303. Others are just known by their surname.
In the 14th century, a John Philanthropenos, megas droungarios tou ploimou, is attested in a synodal decision of 1324. George Doukas Philanthropenos, megas hetaireiarches and governor of Lemnos
, is attested in 1346. The megas stratopedarches Michael Philanthropenos, a cousin of John V Palaiologos
, is attested in 1350. Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos
and Manuel Angelos Philanthropenos
are attested in the 1380s and 1390s. Alexios ruled Thessaly
with the title of Caesar
from ca. 1382 to 1389, and was succeeded by Manuel (either his son or his brother), who ruled until the Ottoman
conquest in 1393/1394.
In the 15th century, the two most prominent members of the family are George Doukas Philanthropenos, mesazon
to John VIII Palaiologos
, and Alexios Laskaris Philanthropenos, megas stratopedarches, governor of Patras
in 1445 and a friend of Bessarion.
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
family which appeared in the mid-13th century and produced a number of high-ranking generals and officials until the end of the end of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Their name derives from the monastery of Christ Philanthropos ("Christ Friend of Man") in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. Some members of the family use the composite surname Doukas
Doukas
Doukas, latinized as Ducas , from the Latin tile dux , is the name of a Byzantine Greek noble family, whose branches provided several notable generals and rulers to the Byzantine Empire...
Philanthropenos, and may, according to D. Polemis, constitute a distinct branch of the family.
The first known member of the family is 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 :...
, first attested ca. 1255 as a commander at Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
. He is usually equated with the distinguished admiral of the same name, who rose to the rank of protostrator
Protostrator
Prōtostratōr was a Byzantine court office, originating as the imperial stable master, which in the last centuries of the Empire evolved into one of the senior military offices...
and eventually megas doux
Megas 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...
. He died ca. 1275. His daughter Maria married Michael Tarchaneiotes
Michael Tarchaneiotes
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.- Life :...
. Their second son was the pinkernes
Pinkernes
Pinkernes was a high Byzantine court position. The term, deriving from the Greek verb , signified the Byzantine emperor's cup-bearer. The position is attested in Philotheos's Kletorologion of 899, where a pinkernes of the Byzantine emperor and of the Augusta are listed amongst the eunuchs of...
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 :...
, a general celebrated for his successes against the Turks, who rose up unsuccessfully against 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...
in 1295. He was pardoned in the 1320s and was again active in the field until 1334. A Michael Doukas Philanthropenos, epi tes trapezes
Epi tes trapezes
The epi tēs trapezēs was a Byzantine court post, responsible for the imperial banquets.-History:The office, more fully known as the domestikos tēs basilikēs trapezēs , epi tēs basilikēs trapezēs or epi tēs trapezēs tou despotou , is first mentioned as extant...
and uncle of Andronikos II, is attested from 1286 to 1304, when he was sent to defend Magnesia
Magnesia ad Sipylum
Magnesia ad Sipylum , was a city of Lydia, situated about 65 km northeast of Smyrna on the river Hermus at the foot of Mount Sipylus...
from the Turks. A number of Philanthropenos women are known only from short references: Theodora Doukaina Philanthropene married John Komnenos Akropolites, perhaps a son of the historian George Akropolites; Eirene Komnene Doukaina Philanthropene Kantakouzene, who died on 8 August 1292; and Eirene Komnene Philanthropene Doukaina, who died on 7 September 1303. Others are just known by their surname.
In the 14th century, a John Philanthropenos, megas droungarios tou ploimou, is attested in a synodal decision of 1324. George Doukas Philanthropenos, megas hetaireiarches and governor of Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
, is attested in 1346. The megas stratopedarches Michael Philanthropenos, a cousin of John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
, is attested in 1350. Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos
Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos
Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos was a Byzantine Greek nobleman who ruled Thessaly from 1373 until ca. 1390 with the title of Caesar....
and Manuel Angelos Philanthropenos
Manuel Angelos Philanthropenos
Manuel Angelos Philanthropenos was a Byzantine Greek nobleman who ruled Thessaly from ca. 1390 until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1393, as a Byzantine vassal with the title of Caesar....
are attested in the 1380s and 1390s. Alexios ruled 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....
with the title of Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
from ca. 1382 to 1389, and was succeeded by Manuel (either his son or his brother), who ruled until the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest in 1393/1394.
In the 15th century, the two most prominent members of the family are George Doukas Philanthropenos, mesazon
Mesazon
The mesazōn was a high dignitary and official during the last centuries of the Byzantine Empire, who acted as the chief minister and principal aide of the Emperor.- History and functions :...
to John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus , was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.-Life:John VIII Palaiologos was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš...
, and Alexios Laskaris Philanthropenos, megas stratopedarches, governor of Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
in 1445 and a friend of Bessarion.