Territorial Retrenchment and Cultural Innovation (1282–1328)

Abstract

Abstract This chapter covers the reign of Andronikos II Doukas Angelos Komnenos Palaiologos. Even though Andronikos obediently followed his father’s Unionist policy by signing all the relevant documents and sending his professions of the Catholic faith to Rome, Andronikos and his megas logothetes immediately reversed course and annulled the Union as soon as Michael VIII died. The chapter tackles the reign of Andronikos II and Andronikos III by referencing the regime of the Palaiologan administration. Moreover, the greatest loss suffered by the Romans under Andronikos was Anatolia which cost the region territories and revenues. The chapter then notes that the Palaiologan dynasty was extremely prone to division and internal conflict, which was unveiled by the first civil war.