Syrgiannes Palaiologos
| Syrgiannes Palaiologos Philanthropenos | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1290 |
| Died | 1334 |
| Allegiance |
Byzantine Empire (until 1333) Serbian Kingdom (1333–1334) |
| Rank | megas doux |
| Battles/wars | Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328 |
Syrgiannes Palaiologos Philanthropenos (Greek: Συργιάννης Παλαιολόγος Φιλανθρωπηνός, c. 1290 – 1334) was a Byzantine aristocrat and general of mixed Cuman and Greek descent, who was involved in the civil war between Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328) and his grandson Andronikos III (r. 1328–1341). Loyal only to himself and his own ambitions, he switched sides several times, and ended up conquering much of Macedonia for the Serbian ruler Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1346) before being assassinated by the Byzantines.
Syrgiannes was born about 1290. He was named after his father or possibly grandfather, a Cuman leader who became Megas Domestikos (Commander-in-Chief of the Army) under Emperor Andronikos II. At the time there were many Cumans in the Empire, who settled during the reign of John III Doukas Vatatzes (r. 1221–1254). The elder Syrgiannes's original name was Sytzigan (from Cuman-Turkic Sïčğan, "mouse"); it was Hellenized to Syrgiannes ("master John") when he was baptized. The elder Syrgiannes rose in the hierarchy of the Byzantine army, eventually reaching the supreme rank of megas domestikos. The younger Syrgiannes's mother was Eugenia Palaiologina, a member of the ruling Palaiologos family and niece of Emperor Michael VIII (r. 1259–1282). Conscious of the prestige of his mother's family name, young Syrgiannes chose to use that in order to advance himself in the imperial hierarchy. Syrgiannes also had a sister, Theodora, who married Guy de Lusignan, later King of Armenian Cilicia as Constantine II. Syrgiannes makes his appearance in history in 1315, when he was placed as military governor of a Macedonian province near the Serbian border. Despite the existing treaties, and against his instructions, he resolved to attack both Serbia and Epirus. Relieved of his post, he rebelled, was captured and imprisoned. Sometime before 1320, however, he was eventually pardoned and appointed to a command in Thrace.
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