Background
Michael IX was the eldest son of Andronikos II Palaiologos and Anna of Hungary (1260-1281), daughter of Stephen V of Hungary.
Michael IX was the eldest son of Andronikos II Palaiologos and Anna of Hungary (1260-1281), daughter of Stephen V of Hungary.
Michael IX Palaiologos was acclaimed co-emperor in 1281 and was crowned in 1294 or 1295. In 1300, he was sent at the head of Alanian mercenaries against the Turks in Asia Minor, and in 1304–1305 he was charged with dealing with the rebellious Catalan Company. After the murder of the Catalan commander Roger de Flor, Michael IX led the Byzantine troops (augmented by Turks and 5–8,000 Alans) against the Catalans, but was defeated and wounded.
In 1311, Michael IX was defeated by Osman I. Michael IX eventually retired to Thessalonica, where he died in 1320.
A brave and energetic soldier willing to make personal sacrifices to pay or encourage his troops, Michael IX was generally unable to overcome his enemies and is the only Palaiologan emperor to predecease his father. Michael IX Palaiologos married Rita of Armenia (renamed Maria, later nun Xene), daughter of King Leo III of Armenia and Queen Keran of Armenia on 16 January 1294.
By this marriage, Michael IX had several children, including:
Andronikos III Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos, despotēs
Anna Palaiologina, who married Thomas I Komnenos Doukas and then Nicholas Orsini. Theodora Palaiologina, who married Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria and then Michael Asen III of Bulgaria.