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Byzantine Empire
Andronicus II
, Palaeologus – Byzantine Emperor: 11 December 1282 – 24 May 1328
A.D.
Bronze Trachy 19mm (0.79 grams) Thessalonica mint
Reference: Sear 2380
St. Demetrius standing facing.
Andronicus standing, holding large cross and labarum-headed scepter.
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Saint
Demetrius of
Thessaloniki
(Greek:
Άγιος Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης) is a
Christian
martyr
of the early 4th century AD.
During the
Middle Ages
, he came to be revered as one of
the most important Orthodox
military saints
, often paired with
Saint George
. His
feast day
is 26 October for Eastern Orthodox
Christians following the
Gregorian calendar
and 8 November for those
following the
Julian calendar
. The Roman Catholic church has
no feast day for Saint Demetrius
Andronikos II Palaiologos (25
March 1259
,
Nicaea
–
February
13
, 1332
,
Constantinople
) — also Andronicus II Palaeologus — reigned as
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
.
//
Andronikos II Palaiologos was acclaimed co-emperor in 1261, after
his father Michael VIII recovered
Constantinople
from the
Latin
Empire
, but he was crowned only in 1272. Sole emperor from 1282, Andronikos
II immediately repudiated his father’s unpopular Church union with the
Papacy
(which he had been forced to support while his father was still
alive), but was unable to resolve the related schism within the Orthodox clergy
until 1310. Andronikos II was also plagued by economic difficulties and during
his reign the value of the Byzantine
hyperpyron
depreciated precipitously while the state treasury accumulated less than one
seventh the revenue (in nominal coins) that it had done previously. Seeking to
increase revenue and reduce expenses, Andronikos II raised taxes and reduced tax
exemptions, and dismantled the Byzantine fleet (80 ships) in 1285, thereby
making the Empire increasingly dependent on the rival republics of
Venice
and
Genoa
. In 1291, he hired 50-60 Genoese ships. Later, in 1320, he tried to
resurrect the navy by constructing 20 galleys, but unfortunately he failed.
Andronikos II Palaiologos sought to resolve some of the problems facing the
Byzantine Empire
through diplomacy. After the death of his first wife, he
married
Yolanda (renamed Eirene) of Montferrat
, putting an end to the Montferrat
claim to the
Kingdom of Thessalonica
. Andronikos II also attempted to marry off his son
and co-emperor
Michael IX Palaiologos
to the Latin Empress
Catherine I of Courtenay
, thus seeking to eliminate Western agitation for a
restoration of the
Latin
Empire
. Another marriage alliance attempted to resolve the potential
conflict with Serbia
in
Macedonia
, as Andronikos II married off his five-year old daughter
Simonis
to
King
Stefan Milutin
in 1298.
In spite of the resolution of problems in
Europe
,
Andronikos II was faced with the collapse of the Byzantine frontier in
Asia Minor
. After the failure of the co-emperor Michael IX to stem the
Turkish advance in Asia Minor in 1300, the Byzantine government hired the
Catalan Company
of
Almogavars
(adventurers from Aragon
and
Catalonia
)
led by
Roger
de Flor
to clear Byzantine Asia Minor of the enemy. In spite of some
successes, the Catalans were unable to secure lasting gains. They quarreled with
Michael IX, and eventually turned on their Byzantine employers after the murder
of Roger de Flor in 1305, devastating
Thrace
,
Macedonia, and Thessaly
on their road to Latin Greece. There they conquered the
Duchy of Athens
and
Thebes
. The Turks continued to penetrate the Byzantine possessions, and
Prusa
fell in 1326. By the end of Andronikos II’s reign, much of Bithynia
was in the hands of the
Ottoman Turks
of Osman I and his son and heir
Orhan
. Also,
Karesi
conquered Mysia
region with Paleokastron
after 1296, Germiyan conquered
Simav
in 1328,
Saruhan captured Magnesia
in 1313 and
Aydınoğlu
captured Symirna
in 1310.
The Empire’s problems were exploited by
Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria
, who defeated Michael IX and conquered much
of northeastern Thrace in c. 1305-1307. The conflict ended with yet another
dynastic marriage, between Michael IX’s daughter Theodora and the Bulgarian
emperor. The dissolute behavior of Michael IX’s son
Andronikos III Palaiologos
led to a rift in the family, and after Michael
IX’s death in 1320, Andronikos II disowned his grandson, prompting a
civil war
that raged, with interruptions, until 1328. The conflict
precipitated Bulgarian involvement, and
Michael Asen III of Bulgaria
attempted to capture Andronikos II under the
guise of sending him military support. In 1328 Andronikos III entered
Constantinople in triumph and Andronikos II was forced to abdicate. He died as a
monk in 1332.
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