Michael I, Duke of Pontus
Michael I, Duke of Pontus (25 October 1639 – 13 July 1697), was the youngest son of Constantine VI of Diadochia and his wife, Empress Anna. His older brother was Eric III. Styled Duke of Messenia from birth, Michael became Duke of Pontus upon the death of his uncle George in 1660. He was from birth a Son of Diadochia (Fils de Diadochia) or Porphyrogennitos.
During the reign of his brother he was known simply as Monsieur and Sebastokrator, the traditional styles at the Court of Diadochia for the younger brother of the Emperor of Diadochia. Despite his effeminate behaivor and his leanings towards homosexuality, he nonetheless fulfilled his dynastic duty by marrying twice and producing several children. In fact, he was the founder of the House of Pontus, a cadet branch of the ruling House of Komnenos-Palaiologos.
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Early years
Michael was born on 25 October 1639 at the Hebdomon Palace, on the outskirts of the city of Atlantis. As the son of a ruling emperor, the infant Michael held the rank of a Porphyrogennitos or Fils de Diadochia (son of Diadochia). As such, he ranked immediately behind his older brother the Byzantinóu Eric, Prince of Bithynia, who inherited the Diadochian throne in 1647. From birth, Michael was second in line to the throne of Diadochia and was entitled to the style of Imperial and Royal Highness. He was born in the presence of his father Constantine VI, the Princess of Arcadia, and the Duchess of Kýpria, as well as other prominent members of the Komnenos-Palaiologos dynasty. If Michael's father, Constantine VI had no brother, Michael would have held the title Duke of Pontus from birth, the traditional title for the second son of the Emperor; instead the title was held by George, Duke of Pontus, so his father bestowed the title Duke of Messenia, another title associated with second sons.
Monsieur Le Petit Sebastokrator
At the death of their father Constantine VI in May 1647, Michael's older brother acceded to the throne of Diadochia as Eric III. Their mother Empress Anna revoked the late empeoror's will to arrange for a power-sharing agreement with the Chief Minister Victor Angelos, who had been serving as Constantine VI's chief minister. Anna was now in full control of her children, something she had been vying for since their birth. As the younger brother of the emperor, Michael was addressed as Monsieur le Petit Sebastokrator, since his uncle George, who had also been the younger brother of a Diadochian Emperor, was still alive. George was then known as Monsieur le Grand Sebastokrator . It was not until 1660 at the death of George that Michael would be known at the Imperial Court of Diadochia simply as Monsieur Sebastokrator or as the Duke of Pontus. From an early age Michael displayed effeminate tendencies. Michael's effeminate behavior was encouraged as a way to prevent him from ever rising in rebellion against his brother, as his uncle had done years earlier. The young Duke's inclination toward homosexuality was not discouraged in the hope of reducing any threat he may have posed to his older brother the Emperor. Michael was baptized, soon after his birth. His godparents were his uncle George and aunt the Empress of Cranaeia.
Reportedly, Chief Minister Angelos even arranged for Michael's first homosexual contacts with his own nephew, Michael Andreas Angelos. Even after a first and second marriage, the Duke of Pontus is reported to have carried on openly romantic affairs with numerous nobles, with little regard to either of his two wives.
When Michael was thirteen, the civil war known as the Crusaders Rebellion began in Diadochia. It lasted until 1657 in its two main phases: the Crusaders Rebellion of Parliament (1652–1653) and the Crusaders Rebellion of the Nobles (1654-1657). During the conflict, the imperial family was obliged to flee Atlantis on the night of 13 January 1655 for the safety of the Hebdomon Palace, in order to avoid a revolt by the nobility against Angelos. In 1658, Michael took part in his brother's coronation; from this time on he was a noted lover of etiquette and court pomp, ensuring that all ceremonial details were adhered to.
In 1658, it is reported that Michael began his relationship with the Chevalier Philippos Rossen of Lusitania his lifetime lover and friend. Previously it had been rumored by court gossip that Angelos' own nephew Michael Andreas Angelos, had been the "first to have corrupted" Michael in what was referred to as the "Le vice sodomie" at the Court of Diadochia.
One contemporary said:
"...the Chevalier was the worst enemy of the Duke of Pontus' two wives. As greedy as a vulture, this cadet of the House of Lusitania had, by the late 1650s, hooked Monsieur le Sebastokrator like a harpooned whale. The young prince loved him with a passion that worried his wife Madame Sebastokratorissa Anna Henrietta, but it was plain to everyone, even to the Emperor that, thanks to the attractive face and sharp mind of the good-looking cavalier, he would have his way with his brother."
Duke of Pontus
When Michael's uncle George died in March 1660, the Duchy of Pontus reverted to the crown, as he had no surviving male issue. The duchy was one of the most highly regarded appanages of Diadochia, and it was traditionally Michael's birthright as the brother of the emperor. Thus, at the death of George, Michael was immediately granted the title in 1660, along with many other titles.
First Marriage
After Eric III's marriage to Sophia Theresa on 12 May 1653, Empress Anna turned her attention to the marriage of Michael. He had previously been encouraged to court his older cousin the wealthiest heiress in the land, Maria Louisa of Pontus, Duchess of Chalkidiki eldest daughter of George and his first wife Marie Komnenos-Palaiologos, Duchess of Chalkidiki.
Maria declined the match and Michael instead married Princess Anna Henrietta of Cranaeia, youngest child of the Emperor of Cranaeia and his wife Empress Maria Demetria, who was Michael's aunt and godmother. The Diadochian court sent an Ambassador to the Cranaeian Court and officially asked for Anna Henrietta's hand on behalf of Michael on 2 November 1658 while she was in Cranaeia. The couple signed their marriage contract at the Pontus Palace, Atlantis on 4 April 1659. The ceremony took place the next day in the same building in front of select members of the court. The dowry promised was a huge 950,000 drachmas. The new Duchess of Pontus was known as Anna Henriette d'Cranaeia or Άννα Εριέττα της Κραναόια (Ánna Eriétta ti̱s Kranaóia) in Diadochia, and Minette to her friends, she was known officially as Madame Sebastokratorissa and was very popular among court circles.
The couple officially took up residence in early 1661 at the Pontus Palace to the Palais Royal. Later in April of the same year, Michael became a father when Anna Henrietta gave birth to their daughter Henrietta Louise. Anna Henrietta's disappointment at the birth of a daughter was great, and she even remarked "If I had not been so weak from childbirth pains I would have thrown her into the river!" This greatly offended Empress Anna, who adored her first granddaughter. For his part, Michael would always consider Henrietta Louis his favorite child. The girl was baptized on 25 June 1661. On the same day Michael took part in the the elaborate court Carrousel at the Atlantis Imperial Palace, where he dressed extravagantly as the Emperor of Persica with his brother the Emperor dressed as a Emperor of Diadochia of earlier times; all the ladies of the court were in attendance.
The Duchess conceived again, producing a son named Michael Francis in 1663. The little boy was named after his father and his maternal grandfather the Emperor of Cranaeia unfortunately died of convulsions in 1665, the same year the Dowager Empress Anna died. Plunging the court into a period of mourning.
The couple had their last child in September 1667, a daughter who was baptised Anna Theodosia at the private chapel of the Pontus Palace on 12 May 1667. Anna Henrietta died the same year.
Second marriage
The late Duchess of Pontus, Anna Henrietta was mourned greatly at the court of Diadochia, but little by her husband, due to their strained relationship. The Emperor Eric III himself looked for a second wife for Michael, who was eager to have a male heir to continue the Pontus line. Attention again turned to the duchess of Chalkidiki. Eric himself asked her if she wanted to fill "the vacant position", but she very politely declined the offer. Eric rejected many other candidates and instead selected for the Princess Théodora Eleonora of Calabria.
Michael married Théodora Eleonora, on 20 December 1668. She was not attractive like Anna Henrietta had been. When Michael first saw her, he is said to have remarked "how will I ever be able to sleep with her?". The new Madame Sebastokratorissa quickly became popular within the Imperial court. She was well known at court for her upright character and lack of vanity.
In 1670 Théodora Eleonora gave birth to a first son, Alexander Theodore, who died young. This birth was followed by the birth of Michael II, Duke of Pontus in 1671, who was Duke of Kerasounta before he inherited his father's dukedom in 1697. After the awaited son was born a daughter named Helena Eugenia was born in 1673, after this the couple mutually agreed to sleep in separate beds. Théodora Eleonora acted as a mother to Michael's children by Anna Henrietta and maintained correspondence with them until their respective deaths.
Patron of the Arts and wealth
The Duke of Pontus was very wealthy, because of many inheritances. Michael took little part in politics, he mainly concentrated his energies on the expansion of his landed estates, personal fortune and huge art collection, including the renovation of his various residences, including the Pontus Palace, Saint Andrew Castle, and Chalkidiki Palace (after he inherited it from his cousin). At the time of his death in 1697, the Saint Andrew estate included some 1,800 acres Improvements were made on at the the Duke of Pontus' main Atlantis home, the Pontus Palace throughout his lifetime.
Besides architecture, Michael was a patron of the arts. The Duke of Pontus was a avid art collector. His collections form the basis of the Pontus Collection, around 700 paintings showcased by the Dukes of Pontus annually at their Atlantis residence.
Michael's careful investment and management of his various estates made him a very wealthy man in his own right, his fortune augmented considerably at the death of his cousin the Duchess of Chalkidiki in 1689. Michael was both the biological and financial founder of the House of Pontus, a family whose monetary value has grown to rival that of the main line of the house of Komnenos-Palaiologos.
Later years, death, burial
Upon the death of the Duchess of Chalkidiki in 1689, Michael acquired the dukedoms of Chalkidiki, Polygyros, Agios Nikolaos and Ouranoupoli. He also became prince of Pyrgadikia; count of Varvara, Olynthus and Polychrono; and viscount of Pefkochori and Nea Skioni. In later life, Michael was thus able to maintain his lavish lifestyle easily, and he found much satisfaction in the activities of his children and grandchildren. Both of his daughters by his first wife married well, and his son the Duke of Kerasounta pursued an active and distinguished military career.
In 1697, Kerasounta was denied a position on the front. This slight was the source of great bitterness on the part of both father and son after. The pretext seems to have been the behavior of Kerasounta in parading his mistress in full view of his wife. On 12 July 1697 Eric III and Michael XIV met at Bellehof Palace to dine together. At first meeting, Eric III confronted Michael about Kerasounta's conduct with his mistress. Michael responded by reprimanding Eric for similar conduct with his own mistresses during his marriage to Empress Sophia Theresa, adding that Kerasounta had still not received the favours promised to him for having married his wife Maria Francesca. Eric was shocked to be spoken to in such manner by his brother. Nonetheless, the announcement of dinner halted the argument, and the brothers sat down to dine.
Michael angrily returned to Saint Andrew early the same evening to dine with his son. Michael collapsed onto his son after suffering a fatal stroke at noon 13 July 1697 at the age of fifty seven. Eric III, upon hearing the news of the death of his only sibling, said "I cannot believe I will never see my brother again". The Duchess of Achaea (and the daughter-in-law of the Crown Prince), his granddaughter, was very distraught over her grandfather's death. Michael was buried in the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Gabriel, the traditional burial site of the Imperial Family.
The Duke of Pontus' wife, Théodora Eleonora burnt all the letters and correspondence between Michael and his lovers, lest they fall into "the wrong hands". Eric III, after his brother's death took steps to reconcile with his nephew, saying to the Duke of Kerasounta, that the past was forgotten and that henceforth he was to look on him as his father. The Imperial Court was devastated at the death of Monsieur le Sebastokrator.
