Manuel VII Comnenus

Emperor Manuel VII Comnenus
Birth 17 August 1740 Accession 12 June 1746 Death 26 July 1801 Titles By the Grace of God, Emperor of Pantocratoria, Autocrator of the Romans, Caesar Augustus, Equal of the Apostles, God's Vicegerent on Earth, the Most Pious, Sebastocrator, King of Kings Ruling over those who Rule, Porphyrogenitus

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Manuel VII was the eldest son of Emperor Isaac IV. He ascended the throne at the age of 6 and reigned until the age of 60. Since he was a minor when he became Emperor, Pantocratoria was ruled over by a regency council elected jointly by the Imperial Parliament and the Empress Dowager, Helen d'Isakiosopolis. In his memoirs, he noted that one of his earliest memories was presiding over the opening of the Sixth Imperial Parliament as a boy of five shortly after his father's death, seated high atop a mountain of purple cushions embroided in gold with "M VII I" dressed in full regalia as the five hundred and forty members, all middle aged and elderly men, bowed and humbled themselves before him. The time in which he had not been emperor was lost, only a vague childhood memory.

Manuel didn't assume the responsibilities of his office until he reached the age of twenty one, when it became immediately apparent that he ended to rule as well as reign. His court moved about the whole empire, even the Exarchate of New Jerusalem, overturning local customs and courts and imposing in their place direct rule by the Emperor's governors. The nobles were obliged to attend the Emperor at his court (or otherwise be engaged directly in his service) for three out of four seasons of the year, to separate them from their lands and remove them as rivals to imperial authority. Instead of concerning themselves with the administration of their ancestral domains, Pantocratoria's nobility would henceforth concern itself with frivilous details as it vied for the Emperor's affection and favour.

He married his court's shining star, the beautiful and very sensual Helen Phocas, in 1767, although that didn't stop him from enjoying the company of Pantocratoria's most attractive artistocratic young ladies; Mademoiselle de Montmanuel, la Comtesse d'Isakiosopolis, and Madame d'Adrienople are just the most famous of his mistresses, who were reckoned by their dozens. His principle court of pleasure was the magnificent Château Chantouillet, whose breath-taking gardens were the scene of all manner of decadent spectacle.

He died of a stroke at the age of 60, and his article is not yet complete!