Editing John VI Kantakouzenos

{{short description|Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354}}
{{Hatnote|"John Kantakouzenos", "John Cantacuzenus", etc. redirect here. For other people with the same name, see [[John Kantakouzenos (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = John VI Kantakouzenos
| full name    = John Angelos Palaiologos Kantakouzenos<br/>{{lang|grc|Ἰωάννης Ἄγγελος [Κομνηνός] Παλαιολόγος Καντακουζηνός}}
| image        = John VI Kantakouzenos.jpg
| image_size   = 200px
| caption      = John VI presiding over a synod, {{circa|1370–1375}}
| succession   = [[Byzantine emperor]]
| reign        = 8 February 1347 –<br/>10 December 1354
| cor-type     = [[Coronation of the Byzantine emperor|Coronation]]
| coronation   = 21 May 1347
| predecessor  = [[John V Palaiologos]] (alone)
| successor    = [[John V Palaiologos]]<br/>(alongside [[Matthew Kantakouzenos|Matthew]])
| regent       = [[John V Palaiologos]]<br/>[[Matthew Kantakouzenos]]
| reg-type     = Co-monarch
| spouse       = [[Irene Asanina]]
| issue        = [[Matthew Kantakouzenos]]<br/>[[Manuel Kantakouzenos]]<br/>[[Theodora Kantakouzene, wife of Orhan|Theodora Kantakouzene]]<br/>[[Helena Kantakouzene]]<br/>Andronikos Kantakouzenos<br/>Maria Kantakouzene
| house        = [[Kantakouzenos]]
| father       = [[Michael Kantakouzenos (died 1316)|Michael Kantakouzenos]]
| mother       = Theodora Palaiologina Angelina
| birth_date   = 1292
| birth_place  = [[Constantinople]], [[Byzantine Empire]]
| death_date   = 15 June 1383 (aged 90/91)
| death_place  = [[Despotate of the Morea]]
| religion     = [[Greek Orthodox]]|
| title        = [[List of Byzantine emperors|Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans]]
}}
'''John VI Kantakouzenos''' or '''Cantacuzene'''{{sfnp|''EB''|1911|p=438}} ({{langx|el|{{lang|grc|Ἰωάννης Ἄγγελος Παλαιολόγος Καντακουζηνός}}}}, ''Iōánnēs Ángelos Palaiológos Kantakouzēnós'';<ref>[https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/portal/files/29187058/2017mclaughlinbsphd.pdf McLaughlin (2017)], p. 14. "Kantakouzēnos inherited the names of [[Angelos]] and [[Palaiologos]] from his mother, and was occasionally addressed as [[Komnenos]] too."</ref> {{langx|la|Iohannes Cantacuzenus}};{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} {{circa|lk=no|1292}}&nbsp;– 15 June 1383<ref>{{Britannica|304830|John VI Cantacuzenus}}</ref>) was a [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantine Greek]] [[Byzantine aristocracy|nobleman]], statesman, and [[Byzantine army|general]]. He served as [[grand domestic]] under [[Andronikos III Palaiologos]] and [[regent]] for [[John V Palaiologos]] before reigning as [[Byzantine emperor]] in his own right from 1347 to 1354. Deposed by his former ward, he was forced to retire to a monastery under the name '''{{nowrap|Joasaph Christodoulos}}''' ({{Langx|el|Ἰωάσαφ Χριστόδουλος}}) and spent the remainder of his life as a monk and historian. At age 90 or 91 at his death, he was the longest-lived of the Roman emperors.

{{anchor|Biography|History}}

==Early life==
Born in [[Constantinople]],{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} John Kantakouzenos was the son of [[Michael Kantakouzenos (died 1316)|Michael Kantakouzenos]], governor of the [[Morea]]; [[Donald Nicol]] speculates that he may have been born after his father's death and raised as an only child.{{sfn|Nicol|1968|p=35f}} Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was related to the then-reigning house of [[Palaiologos]].{{sfn|Nicol|1968|p=30f}} He was also related to the imperial dynasty through his wife [[Irene Asanina]], a second cousin of Emperor [[Andronikos III Palaiologos]].{{sfn|Nicol|1968|p=104}} Kantakouzenos became a close friend to Andronikos III and was one of his principal supporters in Andronikos's [[Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328|struggle]] against his grandfather, [[Andronikos II Palaiologos]]. On the accession of Andronikos III in 1328, he was entrusted with the supreme administration of affairs and served as [[grand domestic]] throughout his reign. He was named regent to Andronikos's successor, the 9-year-old [[John V Palaiologos|John V]], upon the emperor's death in June 1341.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}

Kantakouzenos apparently began with no imperial ambitions of his own, having refused several times to be crowned [[co-emperor]] by Andronikos III. After the death of the emperor, Kantakouzenos again refused to take the throne, insisting on the legitimacy of John V's claim and contenting himself with overseeing the empire's administration until the boy came of age: according to the history written by John VI himself. Whether he would have remained loyal is unknowable but, despite his professed devotion to John V and his mother [[Anna of Savoy|Anna]], she came to suspect him of treason.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} His close friendship with the late emperor and power over his successor had aroused the jealousy of his former protégés, Patriarch [[John XIV of Constantinople]] and [[Alexios Apokaukos]];{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} after a series of failed attempts, they succeeded in overthrowing his regency in September 1341 while he was out of the capital readying an army against the [[Frankokratia|Crusader principalities]] that still held parts of the [[Morea|Peloponnesus]]. He attempted to negotiate with the usurpers, but this was rebuffed and his army was ordered to disband. Further, his relatives in Constantinople were driven into exile or imprisoned, with their property confiscated by the new regents. His mother Theodora died owing to the mistreatment she suffered while under house arrest.<ref>History of John VI Kantakouzenos, Book II.</ref> His army ignored the new regents' orders and proclaimed Kantakouzenos emperor at [[Didymoteichon]] in [[Thrace]] as John VI.{{sfnp|''EB''|1911|p=439}} He accepted this, while continuing to style himself as the junior ruler to John V.

==Civil war==
{{main|Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347}}
The [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347|ensuing civil war]] lasted six years; calling in foreign allies and [[mercenary|mercenaries]] of every description, the two sides completely disrupted and almost ruined the empire.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} At first, {{nowrap|John VI}} marched to [[Thessalonica]], which the ruling families planned to hand over to him. Apokaukos anticipated this move and sent a fleet to reinforce the city, obliging John to flee to [[Serbian Empire|Serbia]], where [[Stefan Dušan]] sheltered him and lent him military support. This proved largely ineffectual, and only the intervention of John's old friend and ally [[Umur of Aydin]] broke the regency's siege of his headquarters at [[Didymoteicho]]n.

During another attempt on Thessalonica the following year, the Serbians switched sides to support the regency, leaving John stranded once more before that city. Yet again, Umur came to his rescue, and their combined forces broke out of Macedonia to return to Didymoteichon. The war dragged on another four years as neither side could dislodge the other, although time was on {{nowrap|John VI}}'s side. He struck a bargain with the [[Ottoman Turkey|Ottoman Turks]], giving [[Orchan|Orhan Bey]] his daughter, [[Theodora Kantakouzene, wife of Orhan|Theodora]], for his [[harem]] and permitting him to take [[Greek Orthodoxy|Greek Christians]] as [[Slavery in the Ottoman Empire|slaves]]. The Greco-Turkish force prevailed and {{nowrap|John VI}} entered Constantinople in triumph on 8 February 1347.<ref name=PL />{{sfnp|''EB''|1911|p=439}}{{efn|His entry into the city later formed the subject of [[Constantine Cavafy]]'s poem "John Kantakouzenos Triumphs".}} Empress Anna and John VI agreed that the latter would rule as senior emperor for ten years, after which John V would reach seniority and share power as an equal to Kantakouzenos. The formal coronation of John VI took place on 21 May.<ref name=PL>''[[Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit|PLP]]'', "[https://archive.org/details/ErichTrappProsopographischesLexikonDerPALAIOLOGENZEIT/page/n2046/mode/1up Kantakauzenos, Ioannes VI.]"</ref><ref name=O>''[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|ODB]]'', p. [https://archive.org/details/odb_20210521/page/1050/mode/2up 1050]</ref>

==Reign==
[[File:156 - John VI Kantakouzenos (Mutinensis - color).png|thumb|left|290x290px|15th century portrait of John VI Kantakouzenos from the [[Mutinensis gr. 122|codex mutinensis]].]]
During John's reign, the empire—already fragmented, impoverished, and weakened—continued to be assailed on every side.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}

The [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]], disregarding the terms of [[Treaty of Nymphaeum (1261)|the treaty]] which permitted their colony at [[Galata]], began fortifying and arming it. Their customs dues undercut the Byzantines and meant that as much as 87% of the revenue from control of the [[Bosphorus]] went to them instead of the empire. {{nowrap|John VI}} attempted to rebuild the shattered [[Byzantine navy]] in preparation for the war he expected to follow a reduction of Constantinople's own customs dues. He was able to borrow enough to construct 9 fair-sized ships and about 100 smaller ones before he lowered the rates and began siphoning off Genoa's income. When they [[Byzantine–Genoese War (1348–1349)|did declare war]], however, they were able to sink or capture his fleet by early 1349. The Genoese were forced to negotiate after major areas of Galata were burnt, including its wharves and warehouses, but the Byzantine Empire thenceforth was forced to turn to an alliance with the [[Republic of Venice]] for naval protection. This led to their involvement in Venice's [[Venetian–Genoese Wars#War of 1350.E2.80.9355|1350 war]] against Genoa, but [[Paganino Doria]] was able to force {{nowrap|John VI}} (and the twelve ships he had fielded) out of the war by a Pyrrhic victory off Constantinople the next year.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In 1351, Kantakouzenos oversaw the [[Fifth Council of Constantinople]], wherein [[Gregory Palamas]]' mystical [[Hesychasm|hesychastic theology]] was declared [[Eastern Orthodox Christian theology|Orthodox]] over the objections of [[Barlaam of Calabria]] and other Byzantine philosophers.{{sfn|Sherrard|1966|pp=74–75}}

By this time, [[Stefan Dušan]] had taken [[Byzantine Albania|Albania]], [[Macedonia (region)#Medieval Macedonia|Macedonia]], and [[Epirus]]. {{nowrap|John VI}} secured help against further incursions by again allying with the Turks. Following an earthquake, they annexed Callipolis ([[Gallipoli]])—their first foothold in Europe—in partial payment of his many debts in 1354.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}

He made his son [[Matthew Kantakouzenos]] another co-emperor in 1353,{{sfn|Teteriatnikov|2013|p=67}} but {{nowrap|John VI}}'s attempts to expand taxation to repay the government's debts had long been displeasing. He was soon removed from power by {{nowrap|John V}}, becoming a monk on 10 December 1354.{{efn|Some sources give the date as 3/4 December, such as in the ''[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]]''.<ref name=O/> However, 9/10 December is most definitely the correct date.<ref>Failler, Albert (1976). «[https://www.persee.fr/doc/rebyz_0766-5598_1976_num_34_1_2046 Nouvelle note sur la chronologie du règne de Jean Cantacuzène]». [[Revue des études byzantines]] '''34''': 119–124.</ref> The ''[[Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit]]'' gives 9 December,<ref name=PL/> the day in which John announced his abdication. The actual ceremony took place the day after, during sunrise.}}

==Retirement==
[[File:Meister der Schriften des Johannes VI. Cantacuzemos 001.jpg|thumb|John VI as emperor (''left'') and monk (''right'')]]
Kantakouzenos retired to a [[monastery]], where he assumed the name of Joasaph Christodoulos and occupied himself with literary labors, which have been called eloquent.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} His 4-volume ''History'' of the years 1320–1356 served as an apologia for his actions. They are therefore not always trustworthy, including defects in matters where he was not personally involved, but are supplemented by the contemporary work of [[Nicephorus Gregoras]].{{sfnp|''EB''|1911|p=439}} It is nevertheless remarkable for being the only surviving account any Byzantine emperor gave of his own reign.

In 1367 Joasaph was appointed the representative of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] to negotiate with the [[Latin Patriarch of Constantinople|Latin Patriarch]] [[Paul, Latin Patriarch of Constantinople|Paul]] to attempt a reconciliation of the Eastern Orthodox and [[Catholic]] churches. They agreed to call a grand ecumenical council to be attended by the [[Pope]] and all the patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops of both the eastern and western churches.<ref>Norwich, John Julius. ''Byzantium: The Decline and Fall'' (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) p. 332</ref> This plan was subsequently refused by [[Pope Urban V]] and eventually nothing came of it.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Kantakouzenos withdrew to the [[Peloponnese]] as a monk. There is no record of Kantakouzenos's burial, but it is possible that he was buried in one of the monasteries established by his son [[Manuel Kantakouzenos|Manuel]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Melvani |first=Nicholas |date=2018 |title=The tombs of the Palaiologan emperors |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/byzantine-and-modern-greek-studies/article/tombs-of-the-palaiologan-emperors/C5079928DCB842457C4BA712151A15F8 |journal=Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies |language=en |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=245 |doi=10.1017/byz.2018.7 |issn=0307-0131}}</ref>

==Family==
By his wife [[Irene Asanina]], a daughter of [[Andronikos Asen]] (son of [[Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria]] by [[Irene Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria]], herself daughter of [[Michael VIII Palaiologos]]), John VI Kantakouzenos had six children:
* [[Matthew Kantakouzenos]] ({{Circa|1325}}–1383), co-emperor 1353–1357, later [[Despot of the Morea]]. 
* [[Manuel Kantakouzenos]] ({{Circa|1326}}–1380), Despot of the Morea. 
* [[Theodora Kantakouzene, wife of Orhan|Theodora Kantakouzene]] ({{Circa|1330}} – {{Circa|1396}}), who married Sultan [[Orhan]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{sfn|Sugar|1996|pp=15–16}} 
* [[Helena Kantakouzene]] (1333–1396), who married [[John V Palaiologos]]. 
* Andronikos Kantakouzenos ({{Circa|1334}} – {{Circa|1347}}), who died in the [[Black Death]] epidemic. 
* Maria Kantakouzene (dead after 1379), who married [[Nikephoros II Orsini]] of Epirus.

==Works==
Kantakouzenos's four-volume ''History'' was published by [[Johannes Isacius Pontanus]] in 1603, by [[Ludwig Schopen]] at Bonn as part of the ''Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae'' {{circa|lk=no|1830}}, and by [[Jacques Paul Migne]] at Paris.<ref>{{citation |editor-last=Migne |editor-first=Jacques-Paul |editor-mask=Migne |editor-link=Jacques-Paul Migne |title=Patrologia Graeca |volume=CLIII & CLIV |language=la}} & {{in lang|el}}</ref> He also wrote a commentary on the first five books of [[Aristotle]]'s ''[[Ethics (Aristotle)|Ethics]]'' and several controversial theological treatises, including a defense of [[Hesychasm]] and a work titled ''Against Mohammedanism'' printed in Migne.<ref>{{citation |editor-last=Migne |editor-first=Jacques-Paul |editor-mask=Migne |editor-link=Jacques-Paul Migne |title=Patrologia Graeca |volume=CLIV |language=la}} & {{in lang|el}}</ref>{{sfnp|''EB''|1911|p=439}}

==See also==
{{portal|Byzantine Empire}}
{{Wikiquote|John VI Kantakouzenos}}
*[[Demetrios Kydones]]
*[[List of Byzantine emperors]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
<!--references sources-->
*{{cite EB9 |mode=cs2 |wstitle=Johannes Cantacuzenus |volume=5 |ref={{harvid|''EB''|1878}} |page=27 }}
*{{cite EB1911 |mode=cs2 |wstitle=John VI or V |volume=15 |ref={{harvid|''EB''|1911}} |pages=438–439 }}
*{{citation |title=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=1991 }}
<!--secondary sources-->
*{{citation |first=Jonathan |last=Harris |title=The Lost World of Byzantium |location=New Haven |publisher=Yale University Press |date=2015 }}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Migne |editor-first=Jacques-Paul |editor-mask=Migne |editor-link=Jacques-Paul Migne |title=Patrologia Graeca |volume=CLIII & CLIV |language=la}} & {{in lang|el}}
*{{The Byzantine Family of Kantakouzenos}}
*{{The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453|edition=Second}}
*{{Cite book|last=Nicol|first=Donald M.|author-link=Donald M. Nicol|title=The Reluctant Emperor: A Biography of John Cantacuzene, Byzantine Emperor and Monk, c. 1295–1383|year=1996|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521522014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7bXGTfK_ogAC}}
*{{cite book |first=Philip |last=Sherrard |title=Byzantium |publisher=Time Life Education |year=1966 }} pp.&nbsp;74–75
*{{cite book |first=Peter F. |last=Sugar |title=Southeastern Europe Under Ottoman Rule, 1354–1804 |publisher=University of Washington Press |year=1996 }}
*{{Cite journal|last=Teteriatnikov|first=Natalia|title=The Mosaics of the Eastern Arch of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople: Program and Liturgy|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/669685 |journal=Gesta |year=2013 |volume=52|pages=61–84|doi=10.1086/669685|s2cid=188005589|via=The University of Chicago Press Journals }}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Kantakouzenos]] dynasty||1292|15 June|1383}}
{{S-reg|}}
{{S-bef|before=[[John V Palaiologos]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Byzantine emperors|Byzantine emperor]]|years=1347–1353
|regent1=[[John V Palaiologos]]|years1=1341–1376
|regent2=[[Matthew Kantakouzenos]]|years2=1353–1357}}
{{S-aft|after=[[John V Palaiologos]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Roman emperors}}
{{Byzantine historians}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:John, 06, Kantakouzenos}}
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