Matthew Kantakouzenos

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Matthew Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus (Greek: Ματθαίος Ασάνης Καντακουζηνός, Matthaios Asanēs Kantakouzēnos) (c. 1325–1383 or 1391). Byzantine Emperor from 1353 to 1357.

[edit] Life

Matthew Asanes Kantakouzenos was the son of Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos by Eirene Asanina. In return for the support he gave to his father during his struggle with John V Palaiologos, he was allowed to annex part of Thrace under his own dominion and, in 1353, was proclaimed joint emperor.

From his Thracian domain, he led several wars against the Serbians. An attack, which he prepared in 1350, was frustrated by the defection of his Turkish auxiliaries. In 1357, he was captured by his enemies, who delivered him to the rival emperor John V Palaiologos. Compelled to abdicate, he moved to Morea, in 1361, and assisted his brother Manuel Kantakouzenos in its government.

After his brother's death in 1380, Matthew Asanes Kantakouzenos governed Morea until the appointment of the new governor Theodore I Palaiologos, in 1381, and his arrival in 1382. Before full transition of power in Morea from family Kantakouzenos to that of Palaiologos Matthew has resign his power in Morea to son Demetrius I Kantakouzenos.

[edit] Family

By his wife Eirene Palaiologina, Matthew Asanes Kantakouzenos had several children including:

John Kantakouzenos, despotēs
Demetrios Kantakouzenos, sebastokratōr
Theodora Kantakouzene
Helena Kantakouzene, who married Count Luis Fadrique of Salona
Maria Kantakouzene, who married John Laskaris Kalopheros

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, 1991.

Palaiologos dynasty
Preceded by John V Palaiologos and John VI Kantakouzenos	Byzantine Emperor 1353–1357 with John V Palaiologos (1341–1376) John VI Kantakouzenos (1347–1353)	Succeeded by John V Palaiologos