List of Trapezuntine usurpers

The following is a list of usurpers in the E mpire of Trebizond or the Trapezuntine Empire, from the start of the reign of Alexios I in 1204 to the fall of Trebizond in 1461.

Usurper Emperors

The following is a listing of Emperors/Empress of Trebizond who rose to the throne due to their own initiative through a revolt or coup d'état.

• John II
• Theodora
• Basil
• Irene Palaiologina
• Anna Anachoutlou
• John III
• Michael
• Alexios III
• John IV
• David

Unsuccessful usurpers in the Empire of Trebizond

John II: 1280-1297

• George Megas Komnenos (1284) – A former emperor attempted to take the throne from his brother, but failed and was beaten and sent into exile. ^[1]

Irene Palaiologina: 1340-1341

• Sebastos Tzanichites (1340) – A leader of the local nobility who rebelled against Irene in 1340 after the death of Basil, seeking to restore the Komnenian line's influence, but was crushed and defeated by John the Eunuch. ^[2]

Anna Anachoutlou: 1341-1342

• Michael Megas Komnenos (1341) – Attempted to take the throne from Anna with the help from Niketas Scholares after Irene was overthrown, but he was defeated and put into prison. ^[3]

Alexios III: 1349-1390

• Constantine Doranites (1351) – Rebelled against Alexios III without any success. ^[4]
• Theodore Doranites (1351) – Attempted to rebel and avenge his brother but was arrested and executed in July 1352. ^[5]
• Niketas Scholares (1353-1354) – Rebelled against Alexios III after no longer needing him as guidance, he held the city of Kenchrina until October 1354 when he surrenders and was forced to retire from politics. ^[6]
• Michael Megas Komnenos (1355) – Michael returned from exile and attempted to reclaim the throne, but he could gather no support and withdrew into exile. ^[7]
• John III Megas Komnenos (c.1357-1362) – Attempted to take the throne after escaping from Adrianople, he first landed in Sinope only to die in that city in 1362. ^[8]
• Kabasites family (1363) – Attempted to assassinate Alexios III with the help of some nobles but Alexios escaped the ambush and arrested the family members and loyal nobles. ^[9]
• Niphon of Trebizond (1363) – Was removed as metropolitan by Alexios III after alleged plot against him. ^[10]
• Michael Palaiologos (1373) – The son of John V Palaiologos, in November 1373, he set sailed to Trebizond, where he tried to force the deposition of the Emperor of Trebizond, Alexios III. His fleet of three ships laid at anchor outside the city's harbor for five days, when he sailed back in failure. He was murdered later in 1376/7 by his brother-in-law, Terter. ^{[11] [12]}

John IV: 1429-1460

• Alexander Megas Komnenos (1438) – Brother of John IV and son of Alexios IV, Alexander plotted to usurp the throne in c.1438 against his brother but nothing happened. ^{[13] [14]}

See also

• List of Roman usurpers
• List of Byzantine usurpers

References

1. Bryer, A. A. M. (1973-01-01). "The fate of George Komnenos, ruler of Trebizond (1266-1280)" . Byzantinische Zeitschrift. 66 (2). doi:10.1515/bz-1973-0205. ISSN   1868-9027.
2. Panagopoulos, Spyros P. (2021-05-19). "Rustam Shukurov, The Byzantine Turks, 1204-1461, coll. The Medieval Mediterranean 105, Brill, Leiden/Boston, 2016, XIII + 513 pp". De Medio Aevo. 10 (2): 551–552. doi: 10.5209/dmae.74768 . ISSN   2255-5889.
3. Morris, Rosemary (January 2005). "Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents" . Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. 29 (1): 107–109. doi:10.1179/byz.2005.29.1.107. ISSN   0307-0131.
4. "Byzantion. Epitaph of Eustathios, Byzantine period" . Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum. doi:10.1163/1874-6772_seg_a44_586 . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
5. "Byzantion. Epitaph of Eustathios, Byzantine period" . Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum. doi:10.1163/1874-6772_seg_a44_586 . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
6. Birdsall, J. Neville (1990). "A manuscript of the monastery of the Soumela, Trebizond, now at Selly Oak, Birmingham" . Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. 14: 240–246. doi:10.1179/byz.1990.14.1.240. ISSN   0307-0131.
7. "Trebizond" , Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, 2003, doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t086079, ISBN   978-1-884446-05-4 , retrieved 2025-12-10
8. "Trebizond" , Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, 2003, doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t086079, ISBN   978-1-884446-05-4 , retrieved 2025-12-10
9. "Michael Panaretos" . Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle. doi:10.1163/2213-2139_emc_emcsim_01833 . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
10. "Trebizond" , Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, 2003, doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t086079, ISBN   978-1-884446-05-4 , retrieved 2025-12-10
11. "Der historischen Klasse der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in München" , Johann von Müller, der Historiker, De Gruyter, pp. 3–4, 1809-12-31, doi:10.1515/9783111457895-001, ISBN   978-3-11-145789-5 , retrieved 2025-12-10
12. "Nachrichten von der historischen Commission bei der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Drittes Stück" . Historische Zeitschrift. 7 (1). 1862-01-01. doi:10.1524/hzhz.1862.7.jg.611. ISSN   2196-680X.
13. C., Cl.; Bryer, Anthony A. M. (October 1981). "The Empire of Trebizond and the Pontos" . Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 24 (3): 344. doi:10.2307/3631931. ISSN   0022-4995. JSTOR   3631931.
14. Finlay, George (2014-11-06). Tozer, H. F. (ed.). A History of Greece. doi:10.1017/cbo9781139924443. ISBN   978-1-108-07835-1.