Empire of Trebizond

   One of three Byzantine states created in exile after the fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade (qq.v.). From 1204-1461 the dynasty of the "Grand Komnenoi," founded by Alexios I Komnenos and David Komnenos (qq.v.), whose grandfather was Andronikos I Komnenos (q.v.), governed from the city of Trebizond in Pontos (qq.v.), which had an excellent harbor and was well fortified. Trebizond was too remote from Constantinople to be a serious competitor with either the Empire of Nicaea or the Despotate of Epiros (qq.v.). However, its remoteness contributed to it being the last bastion of Byzantine civilization to fall to the Ottomans (q.v.). The empire's history was recorded by the chronicler Michael Panaretos (q.v.).