8 – Empire of the Trebizond (1204 – 1461)
The so-called ‘empire’ of the Trebizond was one of the several kingdoms that formed in the aftermath of the Sack of Constantinople in 1204. It survived the longest of any Byzantine successor state. The empire was formed when Alexios Komnenos and his brother, David, captured the city of Trebizond when the Crusaders were busy focusing on Constantinople. The brothers also took the province of Chaldia with the aid of troops from their relative, Tamar of Georgia.
Alexios and David occupied Trebizond in April 1204, and Alexios was proclaimed emperor. According to Alexander A. Vasiliev in History of the Byzantine Empire, 324 – 1453, Alexios intended to create a buffer state to protect Georgia from the Seljuks rather than trying to reclaim Constantinople. The kingdom spent most of the thirteenth century in conflict with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum and the Ottomans.
While it wasn’t much of an ‘empire,’ Trebizond was located close to the Black Sea and had much of the trade infrastructure used during the Byzantine Empire. Manuel, I became the leader in 1238 and was known as an excellent military commander. One of his best achievements was the capture of Sinope in 1254. When Baghdad was destroyed in 1258, Trebizond benefitted tremendously as it was used as a starting point for journeys into Asia. Marco Polo is one of the most famous visitors to the city.
By the end of the thirteenth century, Trebizond gave up its claim on Constantinople and forged links with the restored Byzantine Empire. The kingdom enjoyed a fantastic period of prosperity in the early fourteenth century and even occupied the city of Erzurum for a short while. The kingdom started to crumble after the death of Alexios II in 1330. A combination of internal stability with several people fighting to become ruler, sieges by the Turks, and the Black Death, almost brought Trebizond to its knees.
Alexios III became leader in 1349 and restored a semblance of order and once again, the kingdom enjoyed a prosperous period marked by increased trade and artistic accomplishment. The empire was under severe threat from the Ottomans in the fifteenth century, and while it was protected by the Mongols for a short period, it was soon under constant pressure. Sultan Murad II tried to take Trebizond in 1442, but rough seas prevented him from landing.
While the Ottomans failed to take the city in 1456, the writing was on the wall. David took over as leader of the Empire of the Trebizond in 1459 and appealed for help in Europe. Sultan Mehmed II captured Sinope in 1461 and turned his attention to Trebizond itself. He isolated the city and besieged it for a month. Finally, the city surrendered on August 15, 1461. Its fall marked the end of the last remnant of the Byzantine Empire.