John III of Trebizond

John III. Komnenos (c. 1321, † 1362 ) was from 1342 to 1344 and Emperor of Trebizond Großkomnene.

Life

John was the son of Trebizond Emperor Michael and a noblewoman from the family of Akropoliten.

Until 1342 he spent most of his life in Constantinople Opel. Thither Michael had after the death of his brother, the Emperor Alexios II, and the assumption of power of his nephew Andronikos III. , Who wanted to kill all potential rivals to the throne, to flee with his family. The short tyranny Andronikos III. ushered in a period of instability in Trebizond. After several changes on the imperial throne was found for Michael in 1341 the possibility of Empress Anna Comnena to make the throne from. While briefly succeeded him after his return from exile, taking over the throne, but he was immediately overthrown by Anna's followers and imprisoned by the governor of Lymnia.

The influential General Nicetas, who had supported Michael against Anna, did not accept the re- acquisition of the throne by Anna. He therefore went to Constantinople in 1342 and convinced the Opel remaining there John, even to try to seize power in Trebizond. John sailed with five ships, three of which were manned by Genoese mercenaries, to Trebizond. Once there, succeeded his men to take the city after a short, hard battle. After that, John had himself crowned emperor, strangled his predecessor Anna and their supporters to death.

However, John soon proved to be a weak ruler who only indulged his pleasures, reveling in luxury. In addition to that, he showed no interest, to free his father, Michael, who was still being held in Lymnia. 1344 marched dissatisfied with the situation Nicetas with some men to where he succeeded in freeing Michael. Along with this, he returned to Trebizond. Upon their arrival in the city of St. John was deposed and raised his father again to the emperor.

John was forced to enter a convent and finally managed to exile in Adrian Opel.

Swell

• W. Miller: Trebizond: The Last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era. Chicago, 1926.

• Kaiser ( Trebizond )
• Born in the 14th century
• Died in 1362
• Man