1. Biography

Alexios II Grand Komnenos was born in Trebizond in 1283. He was the son of the emperor of Trebizond, John II Grand Komnenos (1280-1285/1287-1297) and Eudokia Palaiologina, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos (1261-1282); he was also brother of the future emperor of Trebizond, Michael Grand Komnenos (1344-1349). In 1301¹ he married Pekai, daughter of Bekha Jaqeli, ruler of Samtskhe, a subject of the king of Iberia (Georgia), and had three children, Eudokia Grand Komnene and the future Emperors Andronikos III Grand Komnenos (1330-1332) and Basil Grand Komnenos (1332-1340). He also had two children, Michael and the future empress, Anna Anachoutlou (1341-1342), from his second marriage to the daughter of Anachoutlou, ruler of the Laz. Finally, from his third marriage with the otherwise unknown Sargale he had one son, George Achpougas. In 1297 he succeeded his father John II to the throne of Trebizond. He died on 3 May 1330, while the funeral oration composed in his honour by Constantine Loukites has been preserved.

2. Reign

2.1. Policy concerning his allies

In 1297, Alexios II Grand Komnenos succeeded his father to the throne. His mother Eudokia and his youngest brother Michael were sent to Constantinople, while Alexios himself was placed under the regency of his uncle, the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (1282-1328). Andronikos’ policy was to separate Alexios from his mother and marry him to Irene, daughter of the epi tou kanikleiou Nikephoros Choumnos. Alexios, however, in an effort to avoid internal troubles in Trebizond, refused this proposal and married Pekai.²

2.2. Policy toward his enemies

During his reign, Alexios II Grand Komnenos (1297-1330) successfully challenged the Turcomans, who had occupied the area of Chalybia and the city of Cerasous; later on he also confronted the Genoese. In September 1301³ he won an important battle against the Turcomans in the environs of Cerasous, where their leader Koustogannes was captured. After this battle he did not remain idle, decisively organising the area’s defence. He also confronted the Genoese merchants, who after establishing their first colony around 1250, in the area of Kaffa in Taurike, they aimed to gain a monopoly in the transit trade of Pontos. Alexios remained firm toward the Genoese demands in 1306 for relief from custom duties and did not back down, despite their importance for the trading activity in the area and their threats to depart from the Empire of Trebizond. This discord between the two parties resulted in the destruction of the Genoese warehouses in Trebizond and their temporary submission to the emperor. However, soon afterwards, open war broke out. The Genoese were dominant in the sea and forced Alexios to sign a peace treaty in 1314, and to issue several privileges for them in 1316. In 1319 he also gave privileges to the Venetians.

2.3. Internal affairs

Alexios II Grand Komnenos greatly contributed in the strengthening of the defence of Trebizond. He established the lower city of Trebizond, extended the walls until they reached the sea, and he reconstructed and strengthened the fortifications. His work on this aspect is commemorated in reliefs and inscriptions from a rectangular tower he built in the western wall. In addition, he introduced a night guard corps, called the nyktolalioi, while he also reorganised the army and the navy. Alexios was also the benefactor of the monasteries of Panagia Soumela and St Eugenios, where he is also depicted. He is also considered responsible for the renewal of the cult of St Eugenios and the establishment of a feast in the saint’s honour on 24 June, which he organised as part of his economic policy.⁴

During his reign, the Empire of Trebizond was at its peak: Alexios II Grand Komnenos was a patron of art and science, especially astronomy and mathematics, and he was surrounded by a court of intellectuals, who taught in the schools of the monasteries of St Sophia and St Eugenios: the priest Manuel, the protovestiarios Constantine Loukites and the monk Gregory Chioniades, who was assigned with composing the hymn of the 24^th of June feast in honour of St Eugenios’ birthday. This great surge of power in the Empire during his reign had been commemorated by the metropolitan Joseph Lazaropoulos in his encomiun to the emperor, which was part of his homily for the birthday of St Eugenios.⁵

2.4. Ecclesiastical policy

During the reign of Alexios II Grand Komnenos the relations of the Church of Trebizond with the Patriarchate of Constantinople were generally good and the two hierarchs collaborated well. In 1317 the Patriarch asked Alexios to allow the newly-elected Metropolis of Amaseia Kallistos to live and guide his flock from Limnia, until he could be allowed to return to his seat, which was under Muslim rule.