Michael of Trebizond

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Michael Megas Komnenos (c. 1288 – after 1355) was Emperor of Trebizond from 3 May 1344 to 13 December 1349. He was the younger son of Emperor John II Megas Komnenos and Eudokia Palaiologina.

Around 1297 he was taken to Constantinople by his mother, and his life after that is unclear until the 1340s. In 1341 a group from Trebizond invited him back to seize the throne. When his ships arrived on 30 July 1341, Irene Palaiologina had already been deposed and his niece Anna Anachoutlou ruled. Michael was initially welcomed but soon imprisoned by the nobles. His son, John III Megas Komnenos, later became emperor in 1342, while Michael remained in custody. He was freed in 1342 by Niketas Scholares and others, and Michael was crowned emperor on 3 May 1344.

As emperor, Michael granted Niketas Scholares the title megas doux and promised to consult him on official matters. The people, unhappy with this loss of authority, revolted. Michael arrested Niketas in 1345 and moved his son to Constantinople and then Adrianople to keep him safe.

TreBizond faced serious troubles: Turkmen raids in 1346, the Black Death in 1347, and renewed pressure from Genoa. In 1348 the Genoese seized Kerasous in retaliation for earlier massacres, and in May 1349 a Genoese expedition from Caffa destroyed Trebizond’s small fleet; Trebizond then had to cede the fortress of Leonkastron. By this time Michael’s grip on power was weak, and he was deposed on 13 December 1349 by Niketas, who installed his nephew on the throne as Alexios III. Michael became a monk at St Sabas and was sent to Constantinople in 1351. He was released by Emperor John V Palaiologos in 1355 and tried to return to Trebizond, but was not allowed in and died in Constantinople soon after.

Michael had married Acropolitissa, daughter of Constantine Acropolites, and they had a son, John III Megas Komnenos. The name of their daughter is not known.