Background
Manuel was the son of Emperor Andronikos III, whom he succeeded at the age of eight in January 1332. Number information is provided about his mother, who conceivably could have acted as regent, nor even if there was a regency.
Manuel was the son of Emperor Andronikos III, whom he succeeded at the age of eight in January 1332. Number information is provided about his mother, who conceivably could have acted as regent, nor even if there was a regency.
He was the only child known to hold the office of Emperor of Trebizond. The primary source for Manuel"s reign, the chronicle of Michael Panaretos, strikingly omits many facts about Manuel or his reign, despite that both occurred during living memory of Panaretos" writing. All Panaretos tells us about his short reign is that Bayram Beg, the Emir of Chalybia, invaded Manuel"s territory.
His Turkmen penetrated as far as Asomatos, where the Trapezuntine army defeated them on 30 August 1332, inflicting many casualties and capturing many of their horses.
The Byzantine party invited Manuel"s uncle Basil to return to Trebizond from Constantinople and to take over the government. Basil reached Trebizond 22 September 1332.
Manuel was deposed after a reign of eight months and imprisoned. Manuel"s execution was unusual for many reasons.
Of the four Emperors deposed during the existence of the Empire of Trebizond, Manuel was the only one to be killed after being removed from power.
In the other three cases, it was sufficient that the former ruler be exiled. That Manuel"s father Andronikos III killed Manuel"s two uncles may have influenced Basil"s decision to order Manuel"s death.