John Spyridonakes was a Byzantine governor and rebel in the region of Macedonia during the reign of Emperor Alexios III Angelos.
Background
Spyridonakes was born in Cyprus.
Career
Originally a low-born handicraftsman, he secured the favour of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and rose to the post of head of the imperial privy purse (the oikeiakon vestiarion). Subsequently, he was appointed governor of the theme of Smolena in eastern Macedonia. In 1201, he rebelled against the Byzantine emperor, taking advantage of a series of raids and rebellions – such as those of Dobromir Chrysos and Ivanko – then occurring in the Byzantine Empire"s Balkan provinces.
