Demetrius IV of Diadochia

Demetrius IV Komnenos of Diadochia (Greek: Δημήτριος IV Κομνηνός, Di̱mí̱trios IV Komni̱nós) (October 11, 1220 – May 12, 1273) was Diadochian Emperor from 1248 until his death. Also known as Kalodi̱mi̱trios ("Demetrius the Good") and Omorfodi̱mi̱trios or "Demetrius the Beautiful and Handsome"), he was the eldest son of Emperor Manuel I of Diadochia and Helena Doukaina. Demetrius IV was a pious and dedicated monarch.

Accession to the throne

Demetrius IV succeeded his father as ruling Emperor in 1248. While Emperor Manuel I lay dying, a palace coup ensued. The Dowager Empress Helena Doukaina wished to make her daughter Anna Komnene and her husband Romanos Dalassenos co-rulers with herself as regent.

The allies of Demetrius IV acted quickly to ensure his accession to the throne. Demetrius and his brother John Komnenos stole into the monastery were the Emperor Manuel I lay dying and took the imperial signet ring from their dying father's hand and immediately took up arms riding to the Imperial Palace with support of the citzenry who acclaimed Demetrius IV emperor. The new Emperor's mother Helena Doukaina was taken by surprise and had no time to act or convince Romanos to act against her son. Induced by the Dowager Empress Helena, the palace guards refused to admit the new Emperor without proof of the old Emperor's wishes; an outraged mob loyal to Demetrius IV forced their entry into the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor showed the signet ring and the guards went over to Demetrius IV's side.

The Emperor Manuel I died the following day. Demetrius IV despite his mother's urging did not take part in his father's funeral procession because his hold on power was not strong enough. After reigning for one year a conspiracy to overthoow him and place his brother-in-law on the throne was discovered which implicated two of the three most important women in his life, his mother and sister. The Emperor's sister Anna Komnenos was stripped of her property, and lands. Demetrius and his sister were later to reconcile when his brother in law who took no part in the conspiracy arranged a meeting between the two. The Empress Dowager Helena retired to a monastery.

Foreign policies

The central tenet of the foreign policy of Demetrius IV was to use skillful diplomacy were it was needed and to exploit the weaknesses of his Muslim neighbors.

Demetrius IV involved himself in the affairs of the Kingdom of Magaria. Demetrius IV's interfering with his wife's family, the rulers of Magaria, was very problematic. The Imperial Court welcomed the many claimants of the Magarian throne in Atlantis as a useful insurance policy and source of political leverage. However, the Magarians hated this interference, and often fought the Diadochian Emperor.

Military and civil administration

Demetrius IV unlike his father Manuel I who had used the Imperial Family and its many connections to fill almost all the senior senior administrative and military posts, appointed men from outside the Imperial family to high offices. The Emperor chose his appointees based on merit and not their connection to the imperial family and related aristocratic clans. Throughout his whole reign Demetrius IV did not allow his family to interfere too much in the affairs of his government. Demetrius IV raised many 'new men' to high posts and offices much to the anger of the old Diadochian nobility

Military exploits

Throughout his reign Demetrius IV personally conducted over fifty sieges. The Emperor's main military strategy was to hold fortified settlements and construct defensible frontiers.

Petsenégoi destruction

In 1248-1250 Demetrius defeated his Muslim neighbors of Turkish origin. In 1252 Demetrius was forced to transfer his troops to the frontier near the Donaris river to counter a Petsenégoi invasion. Demetrius and his government used a surprise attack to crush the Petsenégoi. The Battle of Verias was a long and bloody affai; Demetrius IV was wounded in the leg, but by the end of the day the Imperial army had dealt the Petsenégoi a crushing defeat, effectivly destroying them as a nation. Demetrius IV led the Varangian Guard, composed of Northern Europeans, in the decisive blow where they used their famous axes to hack the enemy to pieces.

War with the Magarians and Dalmatians

Demetrius IV married a Magarian princess, Piroska (Helena of Magaria). Demetrius IV used this as an excuse to involve himself in the dynastic struggles of the Kingdom of Magaria when he supported Prince Almos giving him asylum. The Magarians outraged by this act invaded Diadochia in 1257. In 1258, in a response to the Magarian attack, Demetrius IV launched a punitive attack on the Dalmatians, who had allied with the Magarians against him. Demetrius IV captured many Dalmatians settling them in different parts of the empire as military colonists. In the aftermath of this defeat Dalmatia was forced to once more recognize Diadochian suzerainty.

When the Magarians attacked Singidunum, Nissa and Sofia; Demetrius, who was near Philippopolis in Thrace, counterattacked, supported by a naval flotilla of 200 ships, operating on the Donaris river. After a rough and bloody campaign, the emperor managed to defeat the Magarians and their remaining Dalmatian allies at the fortress of Chara at the Battle of Chara.

Campaigns in Cilicia and Isauria

Throughout his reign, Demetrius IV sought to re-inforce Diadochian claims to suzerainty over its neighbors. In 1267 the Emperor conquered Tarsus, Adana, and Mopsuestia from the Kingdom of Cilicia. The high point of the emperor's Cilician campaign was when, the Emperor's forces captured Leon I of Cilicia and brought him and most of the Cilician royal court to Atlantis as hostages and captives.

The invasion of Cilicia paved the way for a huge invasion of Isauria. In 1270 the Emperor claimed suzerainty over all of Isauria, including the Isaurian nations: Principality of Antiocheia, Pincipality of Edessa, County of Tripolis.

Physical appearance and character

Demetrius IV's complexion was so dark that he was known to his people as 'the moor'. Demetrius was also known for his physical beauty and his strong muscular physique. Demetrius parents were both extraordinarily pious, Demetrius however surpassed them in this realm. Demetrius was very conservative and frugal, making his courtiers discuss only serious topics only. During his reign the Imperial Court was quite frugal a sharp contrast to his father and sons reigns. Demetrius was a very affectionate father who held his children to high standards, a lovingly faithful husband, and a just ruler. Despite his personal disdain for the luxuries of the Imperial Court, Demetrius in keeping with the imperial role would often appear ceremonial splendor when it was needed. Demetrius goodness earned him the love and respect of his millions of subjects, who honoured him above all earthly men.

Demetrius was remarkably just and was world famous for his piety and charitable ways. Historians state that not once in his twenty five years on the throne did Demetrius IV resort to cruelty nor did he order the execution of mutilation of a single subject. Demetrius IV was gifted with great self-control, kindness, personal courage, and above all else he was an excellent strategist who helped preserve the Diadochian empire.