Trapezuntine Civil War

Trapezuntine Civil War
Empire of Trebizond and surrounding territory in the 1300's.
Date 1340–1349 Location City of Trebizond and Lazia Result Alexios III Megas Komnenos becomes emperor
Belligerents
Irene Palailogina Amytzantarioi John of Limnia Byzantine mercenaries Venetian & Genoese fleet	Michael Komnenos John III Scholarioi Manuel II of Trebizond †	Anna Anachoutlou † Lazic nobility Georgian mercenaries

The Trapezuntine Civil War was a series of conflicts fought in the 1340s for the succession of the throne of the Empire of Trebizond.

Several opposing parties had formed: first was that of Irene Palaiologina, supported by the Amytzantarioi family and her Byzantine mercenaries provided courtesy of her father, Andronikos III Palaiologos; second was of the opposing archons under the sebastos Tzanichites, the captain-general of the Scholarioi and a part of the imperial bodyguard loyal to the memory of the late Emperor Basil of Trebizond; the third party was that of the megas doux John the Eunuch, who held the fortress of Limnia; and the fourth was Anna Anachoutlou, who was backed by the Laz nobility.

On 6 April 1340, after the death of Basil Grand Komnenos, the governance of the empire was assumed by Irene Palaiologina, the illegitimate daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos (r. 1328–1341). Irene Palaiologina, who was universally considered as the lawful wife of Basil, was suspected of having had some share in causing his death. She was found prepared for the event, and had already organised the movements of a party which placed her on the throne. After her ascension to the throne of Trebizond, Irene attempted to consolidate her power with the help of the Amytzantarioi and other notable aristocrats. However, the controversy between the Amytzantarioi and the Scholarioi, who at the time formed the two major parties of the local aristocracy, had become very complicated due to personal disputes. In the absence of an heir to the throne, as well as due to the inability of the empress to assert her authority, the two sides conflicted bitterly as they each intended to impose its sociopolitical beliefs. As a result, the Scholarioi family reacted immediately and revolted against the empress. Therefore, when the Scholarioi, supported by the Meizomates, Doranites, Kabasites and Kamachenos families, turned against the empress, the Amytzantarioi took sides with Irene and helped her gain control over the situation.

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