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Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus
Isaac Komnenos (c. 1155–1196) was a member of a Byzantine imperial collateral branch who seized Cyprus in a coup in 1184, breaking away from imperial…
Timeline
- c. 1155–1183Constantinople · ConstantinopleClaiming descent from the Komnenos imperial family, he was active in the final years of Andronikos I's reign, becoming involved in court struggles around 1183 and at one point being imprisoned.
- 1184–1190Nicosia · NicosiaIn 1184, taking advantage of imperial disorder, he seized Cyprus, proclaimed himself emperor, controlled the entire island, and minted currency, maneuvering against the Byzantine center and neighboring powers.
- 1191–1196Syria · SyriaDuring the Third Crusade in 1191 he was defeated and captured by Richard I, and Cyprus passed into crusader hands; he died in captivity in 1196.
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium — Alexander P. Kazhdan (ed.) (1991)
- Isaac Comnenus of Cyprus — Encyclopaedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaac-Comnenus
- Cyprus under Isaac Comnenus — Peter W. Edbury (1991)