Michael IV Autoreianuos of Constantinople

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Michael IV Autoreianuos of Constantinople, (Greek: Μιχαήλ Ἀυτωρειανός) was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the early thirteenth century from 1208 to 1214, during the exile of the imperial government after the fall of Constantinople to the Latins of the Fourth Crusade.

Life

Little is known of his early life. Michael was well educated and was a member of the circle of literary friends around Abp. Eustathius of Thessalonica in the late twelfth century. He advanced in the ecclesiastic hierarchy of the patriarchate of Constantinople, reaching the post of megas sakellarios (finance minister) at the time of the fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade in 1204.[1]

After the fall of Constantinople, Theodore I Laskaris established a successor state in Bithynia in Asia Minor, commonly called the Empire of Nicea, and, in 1205, proclaimed himself emperor. In 1206, he tried to persuade Patr. John X (Camateros) to join him in Nicea, but he refused because of old age. John died shortly afterward in 1206. [2]

In 1208, emperor Theodore I continued the Constantinople patriarchate in Nicea when he appointed Michael patriarch of Constantinople. There after, on March 20, 1208, Patr. Michael IV crowned Theodore I Laskaris emperor. Michael also took the highly unusual move, contrary to both Byzantine tradition and Orthodox doctrine, of promising remission of sins for Laskaris' soldiers who fell in battle.

Patr. Michael died in the city of Nicea on August 26, 1214.[3]

References

  1. A. Kazhdan (1991), p. 1365
  2. A. Kazhdan (1991), pp. 1055, 1365, 2039–2040
  3. A. Kazhdan (1991), pp. 1365, 2040
Succession box:
Michael IV Autoreianuos of Constantinople
Preceded by:
John X (Camateros)
List of Patriarchs of Constantinople
1208-1214
Succeeded by:
Theodore II Eirenicus
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