Andronikos Palaiologos

1190 – 1247 · Generation XXXIII · Palaiologos

Andronikos Palaiologos served the Empire of Nicaea as its commander-in-chief, the megas domestikos, and was the father of Michael VIII, the first emperor of the Palaiologan dynasty. Born about 1190, his parents were the megas doux Alexios Palaiologos and Irene Komnene. Nothing is known of his youth.

In 1224 he was sent to organise the newly recovered region of the Scamander river. He was made megas domestikos, probably by John III Vatatzes soon after his accession, and in 1233 he forced Leo Gabalas, the semi-independent ruler of Rhodes, to accept Nicaean overlordship. He campaigned with John III in Macedonia in 1241, and after Thessalonica was finally taken in December 1246 he was left there as governor of all the new Nicaean lands in Macedonia, with his son Michael serving under him.

Around 1213 he married Theodora, whose parents were the despot Alexios Palaiologos and Irene Angelina, eldest daughter of the emperor Alexios III, a marriage that carried imperial blood to their children: Maria, Irene, Michael and John. After Theodora died he married again and had a son, Constantine. His death was long dated to 1247, but more recent research places it between 1248 and 1252. His son-in-law Nikephoros Tarchaneiotes succeeded him as commander-in-chief.

Place in the family

• Andronikos Palaiologos married Theodora Palaiologina, a great-great-great-granddaughter of Alexios I Komnenos.
• The archive records 20 of his descendants, across 8 generations.

One of 19 people of Palaiologos (1190–1503) in this archive. The last and longest-lived house — it retook the city in 1261 and lost it in 1453.

Read more on Wikipedia

Partners

• Married Theodora Palaiologina (1200 – ?) in 1213 — one child together

Children

• Michael VIII Palaiologos (1223 – 1282)

Life

• 1190 — Born
• 1213 — Married Theodora
• 1247 — Died

Sources

1. Andronikos Palaiologos (megas domestikos) · Wikipedia
2. Michael VIII Palaiologos · Wikipedia