The Empire of Trebizond was an offshoot of the Byzantine Empire that existed from 1204 to 1461 CE, ruled by the Megas Komnenos Dynasty, descendants of the Komenos Byzantine emperors. The Empire of Trebizond has been far less researched than the Byzantine Empire, let alone the Roman Empire, yet it was the last real surviving descendant of those empires. Famed for its lucrative trade and beautiful princesses, Trebizond was at the edge of the medieval world, located on the southern side of the Black Sea surrounded by powerful empires.
More about: Empire of TrebizondDefinition
Timeline
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1202 - 1204The Fourth Crusade is formed to recapture Jerusalem for Christendom. Instead, the Crusaders attack Constantinople.
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1204Empire of Trebizond is founded by Alexios I Megas Komnenos and his brother David, with help from their aunt, Queen Tamar of Georgia.
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1204 - 1461The Empire of Trebizond rules along the southern coast of the Black Sea.
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1204 - 1222Reign of Alexios I Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1214An army from the Empire of Nicaea defeats the Empire of Trebizond, marking the latter's furthest point of western expansion.
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1214The Seljuks capture Sinope from the Empire of Trebizond.
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1238 - 1263Reign of Manuel I Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1254Manuel I Megas Komnenos recaptures the city of Sinope for the Empire of Trebizond.
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1280 - 1297Reign of John I Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1282John II Megas Komenos of the Empire of Trebizond formally renounces his claim to the Byzantine Empire.
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1297 - 1330Reign of Alexios II Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1340 - 1349Trapezuntine Civil War.
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1340 - 1341Reign of Irene Palaiologina, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1341 - 1342Reign of Anna Anachoutlou, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1342 - 1344Reign of John III Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1344 - 1349Reign of Michael I Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1349 - 1390Reign of Alexios III Megas Komnenos, ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1442Ottoman Sultan Murad II besieges Trebizond.
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1456Ottoman forces besiege Trebizond.
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1460 - 1461Reign of David Megas Komnenos, last ruler of the Empire of Trebizond.
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1461Ottoman forces under Sultan Mehmed II capture Trebizond, ending the Empire of Trebizond.
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1461David Megas Komnenos, the last Emperor of Trebizond, is deposed by the Ottomans.
