Anna of Savoy

   Daughter of Count Amadeo V of Savoy, and wife of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos (qq.v.), she played a major role in the civil war of 1341-1347 that concluded with the triumph of John VI Kantakouzenos (q.v.). Anna fought to protect the interests of her young son, Emperor John V (q.v.), for whom she was regent. She had strong supporters in Patriarch (q.v.) John XIV Kalekas and in Alexios Apokaukos (q.v.), and gained the support of the Serbian ruler Stefan Urosh IV Dushan (qq.v.). She even submitted to the pope (q.v.) in order to solicit western help, and pawned the crown jewels to Venice to purchase mercenaries, but all for naught. The crown jewels were never redeemed. Apokaukos died; she deposed the patriarch and was forced to accept John VI Kantakouzenos (q.v.) as co-emperor with her son.