Eric Manuel Dalassenos, 20th Duke of Ellis

Eric Manuel, Légitimé de Diadochia, 20th Duke of Ellis (4 November 1660– 22 December 1697) was the eldest surviving son of Eric III of Diadochia and his mistress Louise Marie Dalessene. He was sometimes known as Eric Manuel de Ellis. He was an Imperial Bastard or Légitimé de Diadochia, a child born out of wedlock to a reigning Diadochian monarch. His father recognized him as his son, soon after his birth in 1660, even legitimizing him and placing him and his sister as well as his other half-illegitimate siblings in the line of succession behind all legitimate members.

He died at the age of thirty seven, passing his dukedom to his maternal first cousin and wife Anna, who remained as Duchess until her son came of age and was recognized as head of the family and its dukedom and titles.

Biography

Eric Manuel was born at the Hebdomon Palace on 4 November 1660. He was named after his father the Emperor. Like his elder sister, Anna Maria, he was given the surname of his maternal family that of Dalessenos (but he was also called Eric Manuel Komneno-Palaiologos) as a result of his illegitimacy.

As a child, he called his mother Belle mère or (beautiful mother) because of her great beauty. Eric Manuel was legitimised in 1662, at the age of two, and was given the title of Earl of Triphylia and was made honorary Megas Doukas Navarchos the Lord High Admiral of the Imperial and Royal Navy.

After his mother moved to a nunnery, Eric Manuel lived at the Pontus Palace in Atlantis with his uncle, Michael of Diadochia, Duke of Pontus, and his second wife Théodora Eleonora, Duchess of Pontus. While staying at the Pontus Palace, he became very close to his aunt despite her notorious disdain and dislike of her brother-in-law Eric III's bastards. The affection between aunt and nephew would never diminish during their respective lifetimes.

While he was at the court of his libertine and openly homosexual uncle, he met Chevalier Philippos Rossen of Lusitania, his uncle's most famous lover. It is said that the young Earl was seduced by the older chevalier and his set (including the Prince of of Megalopolis) and began practicing "le vice sodomie" or sodomy.

In order to cover up the sex scandal, it was suggested that the boy be married off as soon as possible; a bride was quickly chosen. His spouse was to be Anna Dalassene, his maternal first cousin. After a hasty marriage in 1676 the couple were exiled from court that same year.

While in exile, Eric Manuel fell ill. Despite his illness, Eric Manuel was desperate to regain his father's love and continued to assert himself to great extremes even going so far as to joust in honour of his father the Emperor. If it wasn't for the intersessions of his aunt he would have died, but she visited him in exile and nursed him back to health. After this his father the Emperor allowed him to return to court in 1679, because of the persuasion of his aunt, the powerful Duchess of Pontus he was allowed back at court in 1679. His father greeted him with much joy at his return.

Soon after this Eric Manuel and his wife Anna settled into married life. The couple produced four daughters in succession, Anna Maria (1679), Maria Theodora (1681), Maria Irene (1683), Maria Constantina (1684), before the hoped for heir, Alexander Dalassenos was born in 1686.

While at court, during the last eighteen years of his life, Eric Manuel was considered one of the most handsomest men at court. His affections were sought after by many women at court (because he was the spitting image of his father, tall, handsome, and shared many of his father's features) but remained steadfast and loyal to his wife alone, unlike his father who was never faithful to any one woman.