Alexios Apokaukos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ἀλέξιος Ἀπόκαυκος
Alexios Apokaukos |
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A painting of Alexios Apokaukos from the early 1340s. He is shown in his official uniform as a megas doux, wearing a special robe and a ceremonial hat.
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| Born | |
| Died | 11 June 1345 |
| Nationality | Byzantine Empire |
| Occupation | Statesman and military officer |
Alexios Apokaukos (Greek: Ἀλέξιος Ἀπόκαυκος) was a very important minister and the head of the navy in the Byzantine Empire. He served during the rule of emperors Andronikos III Palaiologos (1328–1341) and John V Palaiologos (1341–1357).
He first became powerful thanks to John VI Kantakouzenos. But later, Alexios Apokaukos became a main leader on the side of Emperor John V. He fought against his former friend Kantakouzenos in a big civil war that lasted from 1341 to 1347. Alexios Apokaukos died when he was attacked and killed by political prisoners. This happened while he was inspecting a new prison.
Biography
Early life
Alexios Apokaukos was born in the late 1200s in a place called Bithynia. He did not come from a rich or famous family. However, he studied hard and became a tax official.
By 1320, he was in charge of salt production. Later, he became a high-ranking official in the western parts of the empire. In 1321, he was made the imperial chamberlain, a very close assistant to the emperor.
His position was useful to John Kantakouzenos. Alexios joined a secret plan to remove the old Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos. They wanted his grandson, Andronikos III, to become emperor instead. After some threats of war, Andronikos III became the sole emperor in 1328.
Kantakouzenos became the chief minister. Alexios Apokaukos was given important jobs that Kantakouzenos used to have. He became the head of the imperial office and was in charge of the state's money. He used these jobs to become very rich. He even built a strong tower-house near Selymbria for his own safety.
In early 1341, just before Emperor Andronikos III died, Alexios received a very high title. He was made megas doux, which meant he was the supreme commander of the Byzantine navy. He used his own money to rebuild the fleet, spending a huge amount.
Civil war
When Emperor Andronikos III died, two groups formed in the royal court. One group supported Kantakouzenos. The other group was against him. This group was led by the Patriarch John XIV Kalekas and had the support of the emperor's widow, Anna of Savoy.
Kantakouzenos did not want to be emperor himself at first. He wanted to be the regent, meaning he would rule until the young Emperor John V was old enough. He had the support of the soldiers in the capital city. But Alexios Apokaukos joined the Patriarch's side. Kantakouzenos later wrote that Apokaukos had wanted him to become emperor. When Kantakouzenos refused, Apokaukos switched to the other side.
In July 1341, Kantakouzenos left Constantinople to fight enemies. Apokaukos then made his first moves. As head of the navy, he should have stopped Turkish ships from crossing into Europe. But he let them cross on purpose to cause trouble. Apokaukos also tried to kidnap the young Emperor John V. He failed and had to run away.
When Kantakouzenos returned, he forgave Apokaukos. Apokaukos pretended to be very loyal to Kantakouzenos. So, Kantakouzenos let him keep his jobs and return to Constantinople. Kantakouzenos then left for another military campaign.
Once back in the city, the Patriarch and Apokaukos took control. Kantakouzenos's family and friends were put in prison. Kantakouzenos's mother even died in prison. The Patriarch was made regent, and Empress Anna made Apokaukos the mayor of Constantinople.
Kantakouzenos reacted by declaring himself emperor in October 1341. His opponents then crowned John V as emperor in November. These two coronations started a civil war. This war lasted until 1347 when Kantakouzenos finally won.
The war badly damaged the empire. It also created a big split in society. Rich landowners usually supported Kantakouzenos. But the poorer people, especially those in cities, supported Apokaukos and the regency. Apokaukos used propaganda, saying that Kantakouzenos and the rich did not care about common people.
A few days after Kantakouzenos became emperor, the people of Adrianople rebelled. They supported the regency. Apokaukos sent his younger son, Manuel, to be the city's governor. In 1342, Thessalonica, the empire's second-largest city, was taken over by a group called the "Zealots". They were against the rich and supported the regency. Apokaukos himself came with 70 ships to help them. He made his older son, John Apokaukos, the governor of Thessalonica.
In the first years of the war, the regency was winning. In the summer of 1342, Kantakouzenos had to flee to Stefan Dušan of Serbia. But from 1343, Kantakouzenos started to win with help from his friend, Umur Beg. Kantakouzenos took back much of Macedonia. His Turkish allies helped him return to his stronghold in Thrace. Slowly, Apokaukos's supporters started to leave him. His own son, Manuel, even joined Kantakouzenos in 1344.
In early 1345, Apokaukos and the Patriarch refused peace offers. To try and keep his power, Apokaukos started arresting many people in the capital. He even ordered a new prison to be built for political prisoners. On June 11, 1345, Apokaukos decided to inspect this new prison. He went without his bodyguards. The prisoners immediately attacked and killed him.
The prisoners thought Empress Anna would reward them for getting rid of Apokaukos. But she was very upset about losing her main minister. She allowed Apokaukos's supporters to get revenge. As a result, all the prisoners, about 200 people, were killed.
Apokaukos's death did not end the regency right away. But it removed the main person who started the civil war. It also caused disagreements and people leaving the regency's side. This marked the beginning of the end of the war. Kantakouzenos entered Constantinople on February 3, 1347.
However, the war started again less than five years later. This second war removed Kantakouzenos for good. John V Palaiologos became the sole emperor again. This brought even more damage to the Byzantine Empire.
Family
Alexios Apokaukos had two brothers, John and Nikephoros. Not much is known about them. Alexios himself was married twice. His first wife was the daughter of a priest. His second wife, whom he married around 1341, was a cousin of a high-ranking general.
He had three children with his first wife and two with his second:
- John Apokaukos: He was a high official and governor of Thessalonica. He was killed there in 1345.
- Manuel Apokaukos: He was the governor of Adrianople. He joined Kantakouzenos in 1344.
- An unnamed daughter: She first married a general named Andronikos Palaiologos. After he died in 1344, she married John Asan.
- An unnamed daughter: She married the son of Patriarch John Kalekas in 1341.
- An unnamed daughter: She married the son of one of Empress Anna's Latin maids in 1341.
One of his sons also married a daughter of John Vatatzes.
See Also
- Byzantine Empire
- Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
- John VI Kantakouzenos
- John V Palaiologos
Images for kids
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A painting of Alexios Apokaukos.
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Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos.
