Alexander of Trebizond

Alexander Komnenos or Skantarios Komnenos (Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος/Σκαντάριος Κομνηνός) was a co-emperor of the Empire of Trebizond, first with his father Alexios IV of Trebizond then, after several years in exile, with his brother John IV.

Alexander was the second son of Emperor Alexios (reigned 1417–29) and of his wife, Theodora Kantakouzene. During his father's reign his older brother John attempted to depose Alexios, and failing fled to Georgia; Alexios appointed Alexander co-emperor. However, in 1429 John returned to Trebizond and seized control of the Empire. Alexios was assassinated by John's supporters, and Alexander was banished from Trebizond; he went to Constantinople to live with his sister Maria. When the Venetian traveller Pero Tafur met him in October 1429 at Constantinople, he recorded the gossip "they say that his [Alexander] relations with her are dishonest."

From Constantinople, Pero Tafur traveled to Trebizond (where he met Alexander's brother the Emperor John), then traveled to Kaffa before beginning retracing his steps to Venice. On his return trip, Tafur stopped at Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, where he encountered Alexander again. At this visit he found Alexander had married Maria, a daughter of the Genoese lord of Lesbos, Dorino I Gattilusio; according to Tafur Alexander "was preparing ships to set out for Trebizond against his brother." Tafur shared with him the news to Alexander that John had concluded an alliance with "the Turk", which had been sealed with John's marriage to "a daughter of a Turk", and that it would be detrimental to all to make war.

That Alexander was planning to overthrow his brother is confirmed by other reports. The Genoese archives contain a copy of a letter sent to Dorino Gattilusio urging that he do what he could to bring peace between Alexander and his brother the emperor, and offering Alexander a pension if he did allowing him to live where ever he wanted to, Mytilene, or Constantinople. The Republic of Genoa had business interests in Trebizond that might be harmed in a civil war between the brothers.

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