РАЗЛОЗИ ПОБУНЕ АНДРОНИКА IV ПАЛЕОЛОГА 1373. ГОДИНЕ
REASONS FOR THE ANDRONICUS IV PALAIOLOGOS’ REBELLION IN 1371

Summary/Abstract: Andronicus IV Palaiologos’ rebellion against his father Emperor John V in 1373 is mentioned by many sources, but they are fragmented and confusing which resulted in diff erent interpretations of the cause, course and consequences of the riots. Most sources say only that Andronicus rebelled against his father in order to come to the throne. It is not clear why Andronicus, who had already been declared for the emperor and heir to the throne, would raise the rebellion in order to get something that certainly belonged to him. We believe that Andronicus was prompted to take that step driven by fear and suspicion that Emperor John V intended to leave the throne to his younger son Manuel who was his favourite son. Th e grounds for suspicion we fi nd primarily in the charter by which John V gives to Manuel those Macedonian cities, which were discharged from the Serbian authorities, after the Battle of Maritsa in 1371. It implicitly suggested that John V believed that Manuel has all the virtues for a good ruler and that his rule was therefore justifi ed. Also, in a Demetrius Cydones’ letter, addressed to Manuel Palaiologos, during 1371–1372, was alluded to the John V intention to crown Manuel. It should be added that Manuel, unlike Andronicus, he had real power over part of the imperial territory – Thessaloniki and other Macedonian cities under Greek rule. Blindness penalty, to which Andronicus was subjected, together with his little son later Emperor John VII also indicates that John V wanted not only to punish the usurper, but to get rid of him and his descendant as pretenders to the throne and thus ensure a smooth rule for his favourite son.

• Details
• Contents