Andronikos IV Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor from 1376 to 1379.
Background
Andronikos IV Palaiologos was the eldest son of Emperor John V Palaiologos by his wife Helena Kantakouzene. Although associated as co-emperor with his father since the early 1350s, Andronikos IV rebelled when the Ottoman sultan Murad I forced John V into vassalage in 1373.
Career
Reign
In July 1376, the Genoese helped Andronikos to escape from prison, whence he went straight to sultan Murad I, and agreed to return Gallipoli in return for his support. Gallipoli had been retaken by the Byzantines ten years before, with the assistance of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy. The sultan duly provided a mixed force of cavalry and infantry and with these, Andronikos was able to take control of Constantinople.
However, he made the mistake of favouring the Genoese too highly by awarding it Tenedos.
The governor there refused to hand it over, and passed it on to Venice. However, in 1379 John and Manuel escaped to sultan Murad, and with the assistance of the Venetians, overthrew Andronikos later in the year.
The Venetians restored John V to the throne, and Manuel World War II Andronikos fled to Galata, staying there until 1381, when he was once again made co-emperor and heir to the throne despite his earlier treachery. Andronikos IV was also given the city of Selymbria (Silivri) as his personal domain.
However, he predeceased his father there in 1385, never to rule as legitimate emperor.
John VII Palaiologos, emperor in 1390;
two daughters.