Demetrius VII Comnenus

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search
Emperor Demetrius VII
demVII.jpg
Birth
2 April 1569
Accession
13 July 1589
Death
27 November 1601
Titles
Emperor of Pantocratoria, Caesar, Porphyrogenitus

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Demetrius VII was the second son of Emperor Constantine XIII and Empress Irene II. He was widely regarded as the better candidate to succeed his parents compared to his elder brother Constantine, who suffered from a disorder whose symptoms were consistent with a mild form of autism, but his parents, particularly his mother, felt that this was an intolerable insult to Constantine's position as the first born son. When his brother was crowned junior emperor before he was even old enough to be made Despot of New Constantinople, it must have been quite clear to Demetrius who was the chosen heir.

Nevertheless the young prince remained a potential candidate to be made a junior emperor, and he worked tirelessly in his studies to impress his tutors and parents. His efforts paid off in 1584 when his parents arranged a marriage between Demetrius and Theodora Comnenus, his cousin on his father's side. The match was extremely politically advantageous, and was followed in 1589 by a coronation as Emperor (Caesar) Demetrius VII.

Demetrius and Theodora had two children, a son named Constantine and a daughter named Helena (who became a nun when she was sixteen, and disappeared from history). Demetrius' influence increased dramatically after the death of his parents and elder brother. His brother's son, Constantine XVI was a mere child. The two Angeli co-emperors (Constantine XV and Constantine XVII) each ruled from New Constantinople, making it easy for Demetrius to ignore them in New Rome.

After the religious tensions under Constantine XV in New Constantinople which culminated in the Christmas Conjuration, Demetrius focussed his policy efforts on making it clear where Pantocratoria's religious loyalties lay. While the Greek rite remained in use, Demetrius felt, there was ambiguity whether the Pantocratorian Church was in communion with the Pope in Rome, or the Patriarch of Constantinople. Demetrius made a clean break and decreed that Pantocratoria should use the Latin rite in 1593. It was a monumentous step, and provoked open hostility to Demetrius, who remained firm on the issue.

He would spend the rest of his life putting down rebellions and defending his decision both spiritually and through the use of military force. The decision would also cost him the post he had coveted his whole life - that of senior emperor. In 1599, the new, pro-Greek rite Archbishop of New Rome, Ioannes Laskaris excommunicated Demetrius VII. In 1600, when young Constantine XVI died, he might have become the next Emperor Augustus but for the fact that no bishop could be found in all of Pantocratoria who would perform a coronation for the excommunicated Emperor. Demetrius was forced to yield his claim to his son, who duly ascended the throne as Emperor Augustus Constantine XVIII Comnenus. When Demetrius tried to continue ruling through his son, the sixteen year old senior emperor countered his influence by raising Demetrius' brother in law to the throne as Constantine XIX.

Cut out of rulership completely, Demetrius instead focussed his efforts on getting his excommunication lifted. He found that Archbishop Ioannes of New Rome couldn't be budged on the issue of the Greek rite, and therefore felt compelled to have the Archbishop kidnapped in his sleep, blinded by red-hot pokers to the eyes, and hung from a tree in front of the Cathedral of Christ Pantocrator. The demonstration had its desired effect - the Archbishop's successor rescinded the excommunication and duly adopted the Latin rite for fear of similar reprisals in 1601. But the unpopular co-emperor had gone too far, and his son and brother-in-law were compelled to bring his reign to an end by popular demand. Demetrius refused to yield his crown. In a few days he died, a victim of apparent poisoning. He was only thirty two, and the most reviled man in Pantocratoria.

Co-Emperor of Pantocratoria
1589-1601
Crowned by:
Constantine XIII Comnenus