Andronikos III of Trebizond

Andronikos III of Trebizond, born in 1310, ascended to the throne as Emperor of Trebizond in 1330, following the death of his father, Emperor Alexios II. His reign, though brief, lasted for fifteen months, with a notable interregnum of five months between his father's passing in May and his own coronation in October of the same year.

As the eldest son of Alexios II and Djiadjak Jaqeli of Samckhe, Andronikos was steeped in a legacy that connected him to the illustrious Komnenos dynasty. Historian Rustam Shukurov posits that both Andronikos and his son Manuel were named in homage to their distant ancestors, Andronikos I Komnenos and Manuel the Sebastokrator, whose portraits adorned the Imperial palace.

One of Andronikos' first and most controversial acts as emperor was the execution of his two younger brothers, George Azachoutlou and Michael Achpougas. Meanwhile, his brother Basil managed to flee to Constantinople, likely seeking refuge with their uncle Michael.

Tragically, Andronikos III's reign was cut short when he succumbed to bubonic plague on January 8, 1332, mirroring the fate of his father. Following his death, his son, Manuel II, briefly succeeded him, but the details surrounding Andronikos' short reign remain largely undocumented.