Michael IX Palaiologos

Michael IX Palaiologos
Michael IX Palaiologos
Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
Reign	1294 or 1295 – 12 October 1320
Coronation	1294 or 1295
Predecessor	Andronikos II Palaiologos (alone)
Successor	Andronikos II Palaiologos (alone), Andronikos III (usurper in Macedonia, from 1321-1325)
Co-monarch	Andronikos II Palaiologos
Born	17 April 1277 Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Died	12 October 1320 (aged 43) Thessalonica, Byzantine Empire
Spouse	Rita of Armenia
Issue	Andronikos III Palaiologos Manuel Palaiologos, Despotes Anna Palaiologina, Despoina of Epirus and Countess of Cephalonia Theodora Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria
House	House of Palaiologos
Father	Andronikos II Palaiologos
Mother	Anna of Hungary

Michael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Μιχαήλ Θ΄ Παλαιολόγος, Mikhaēl IX Palaiologos), (17 April 1277 – 12 October 1320, Thessalonica, reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320. Michael IX was the eldest son of Andronikos II Palaiologos and Anna of Hungary (1260-1281), daughter of Stephen V of Hungary.

Life

Michael IX Palaiologos was acclaimed co-emperor in 1281 and was crowned in 1294 or 1295. In 1300, he was sent at the head of Alanian mercenaries against the Turks in Asia Minor, and in 1304–1305 he was charged with dealing with the rebellious Catalan Company. After the murder of the Catalan commander Roger de Flor, Michael IX led the Byzantine troops (augmented by Turks and 5–8,000 Alans) against the Catalans, but was defeated and wounded.

Michael IX was also ultimately unsuccessful against Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria in 1307, concluding peace in 1307 and marrying his daughter to the Bulgarian emperor. In 1311, Michael IX was defeated by Osman I. Michael IX eventually retired to Thessalonica, where he died in 1320.

A brave and energetic soldier willing to make personal sacrifices to pay or encourage his troops, Michael IX was generally unable to overcome his enemies and is the only Palaiologan emperor to predecease his father. Michael IX's premature death at age 43 was attributed in part to grief over the accidental murder of his younger son Manuel Palaiologos by retainers of his older son and co-emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos.

Family

Michael IX Palaiologos married Rita of Armenia (renamed Maria, later nun Xene), daughter of King Leo III of Armenia and Queen Keran of Armenia on 16 January 1294. By this marriage, Michael IX had several children, including:

• Andronikos III Palaiologos
• Manuel Palaiologos, despotēs
• Anna Palaiologina, who married Thomas I Komnenos Doukas and then Nicholas Orsini.
• Theodora Palaiologina, who married Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria and then Michael Asen III of Bulgaria.

Ancestry

Family of Michael IX Palaiologos

16. Alexius Doukas Palaiologos               8. Andronikos Doukas Komnenos Palaiologos                       17. Eirene Komnene               4. Michael VIII Palaiologos                             18. Alexius Komnenos Palaiologos               9. Theodora Angelina Palaiologina                       19. Eirene Komnene Angelina               2. Andronikos II Palaiologos                                   20. Isaac Doukas Vatatzes               10. John Doukas Vatatzes                       5. Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina                             22. John Komnenos Angelos               11. Eudokia Angelina                       1. Michael IX Palaiologos                                         24. Andrew II of Hungary               12. Béla IV of Hungary                       25. Gertrude of Merania               6. Stephen V of Hungary                             26. Theodore I Laskaris               13. Maria Laskarina                       27. Anna Komnena Angelina               3. Anna of Hungary                                   14. Unknown Cuman chieftain (Kuthen?)                       7. Elizabeth the Cuman

References

• Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 1991.

Michael IX Palaiologos Palaiologos dynasty Born: 17 April 1277 Died: 12 October 1320[aged 43]
Preceded by Andronikos II Palaiologos	Byzantine Emperor 1294–1320 with Andronikos II Palaiologos (1272–1328)	Succeeded by Andronikos II Palaiologos and Andronikos III Palaiologos