Andronicus

Andronicus, the name of four Byzantine emperors.—Andronicus I., Comnenus, grandson of Alexius I., was one of the most conspicuous characters of his age, which produced no man more brave, more profligate, or more perfidious. In his youth he served against the Turks, in 1141 was for some time a prisoner, and was afterwards appointed to a military command in Cilicia, but was unsuccessful. Having engaged in a treasonable correspondence with the king of Hungary, he was thrown into prison by his cousin, the Emperor Manuel; but after twelve years he succeeded in making his escape, and reached Kiev, the residence of Prince Jaroslav. He regained the favour of his cousin by persuading Jaroslav to join him in the invasion of Hungary, and by his gallantry in that war; but soon incurred his displeasure again, and was sent in honourable banishment to Cilicia. After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and his scandalous seduction of Theodora, the widow of Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, he settled among the Turks in Asia Minor, with a band of outlaws, making frequent inroads into the province of Trebizond; but at length made his peace with the emperor, and was sent to Cœnoe in Pontus. After the death of Manuel in 1182, he was recalled to become, first guardian, then colleague, of the young Emperor Alexius II. Soon after, he caused the empress-mother to be strangled, and afterwards Alexius himself, with whose youthful widow he contracted an indecent marriage. His reign, though short, was vigorous, and restored prosperity to the provinces; but tyranny and murder were its characteristics in the capital. At last, a destined victim, Isaac Angelus, one of his relatives, having fled to the Church of St Sophia for sanctuary, a crowd gathered, and a sudden insurrection placed Isaac on the throne, whilst Andronicus, now 73 years of age, was put to death by the infuriated populace, after horrible mutilations and tortures, on September 12, 1185.—For other monarchs of the name, see BYZANTINE EMPIRE.