Cantacuzenus

the name of one of the most illustrious of the Byzantine families. It is probable that the Cantacuzeni belonged to the nobility at Constantinople long before the time of its supposed founder, who lived in the latter part of the eleventh and the early part of the twelfth century. There are at present several Greek nobles who style themselves princes Cantacuzeni, but it is very doubtful whether they are descended from the imperial Cantacuzeni, of whom, however, there are probably descendants living in Italy, although they have dropt the name of their ancestors.

1. The first Cantacuzenus who became distinguished in history was the commander of the Greek fleet in the reign of Alexis I. Comnenus. He besieged Laodiceia, and was victorious in Dalmatia in the war with Bohemond in 1107.

2. Joannes Cantacuzenus, the son or grandson of No. 1, married Maria Comnena, the daughter of Andronicus Comnenus Sebastocrator and the niece of the emperor Manuel Comnenus, and was killed in a war with the Turks-Seljuks about 1174.

3. Manuel Cantacuzenus, son of No. 2, blinded by the emperor Manuel.

4. Joannes Cantacuzenus, perhaps the son of No. 3, blinded by the emperor Andronicus Comnenus, but nevertheless made Caesar by the emperor Isaac Angelus, whose sister Irene he had married. He was killed in a war with the Bulgarians after 1195.

5. Theodorus, perhaps the brother of the preceding, was one of the most courageous opponents of Andronicus I. Comnenus; he was killed in 1183.

There are several other Cantacuzeni conspicuous in Byzantine history, whose parentage cannot be correctly established. (Du Cange, Familiae Byzanlinae, p. 258, &c.) [W.P]