Syrgiannes Palaeologos

Syrgiannes Palaeologos or Palaiologos was a military governor and intriguer who attempted to rise by switching sides in war under the Emperors Andronicus II and Andronicus III of the Byzantine Empire.

Syrgiannes was born about 1290. His father was a Cuman also named Syrgiannes who had risen to the Byzantine rank of Grand Domestic. [Kazhdan, Alexander P.,ed. "The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium" (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) vol. 3, p. 1997] [Norwich, John Julius. "Byzantium: The Decline and Fall" (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) p. 277] His mother was a member of the Palaeologos family, and since this family also included the Emperor, young Syrgiannes felt that he could advance more with his mother's family name and so used it.

Prior to 1321 Syrgiannes has bought a governorship in Thrace. He worked with John Cantacuzenus to start a rebellion. At the time of Easter in 1321 they were joined by the man they were seeking to Install on the trhone Andronicus III. After a few months a peace was negotiated, separating the empire with Andronicus II ruling from Constantinople and Andronicus III ruling from Edirne. [Norwich. "Byzantium" p. 277]

Syrgiannes felt he was not being given enough power in the new system so late in 1321 he switched sides to being a supporter of Andronicus II and then convinced him to resume the war. [Norwich. "Byzantium". p. 278]

However even this did not suite Syrgiannes, and he soon was involved in a plot to murder Andronicus II which was foiled and Syrgiannes was then sentenced to life inprisonement. [Norwich. "Byzantium" p. 282] [Kazhdan. "Dictionary of Byzantium". p. 1997]

When Andronicus III overthrew his grandfather, he freed Syrgiannes and made him the governor of Thessalonika. He was suspected of another plot and arrested, but managed to escape and joined the forces of Stephen Dushan. [Norwich. "Byzantium". p. 283-284] [Kazhdan. "Dictionary of Byzantium". p. 1997]

Serving Dushan Syrgiannes took many Byzantine cities, including Kastoria but he was eventually murdered by Sphrantzes on the 23rd of August, 1334 at Galykos. [Kazhdan. "Dictionary of Byzantium" p. 1997]

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