Michael II, Duke of Pontus

Michael II, of Pontus (Michael Alexander; 5 September 1671 – 5 January 1720) was a member of the imperial family of Diadochia holding much power during the reigns of Manuel VII of Diadochia, Anna of Diadochia, and Constantine VII of Diadochia, his paternal second cousins. Born at his father's palace at Saint Andrew, he was known from birth as the Duke of Kerasounta. His father was Eric III's younger brother Michael I, Duke of Pontus, known at court as Monsieur Sebastokrator ; his mother was Théodora Eleonora, Duchess of Pontus.

In 1688, Michael married his paternal first cousin, Maria Francesca Komnenos-Palaiologos - the youngest legitimised daughter of Michael's uncle Eric III and Francesca-Athenais Crispos, Duchess of Cyzicus. He held much power during the reign of his second cousin Manuel VII. He was among the people at the Augousta Palace in 1704, who welcomed the Princess Louisa Erika of Cranaeia upon her marriage to the then Byzantinóu (crown prince) Constantine, Prince of Bithynia.

Background

In April 1659, his father married his first cousin Princess Anna Henrietta of Cranaeia, known as Madame Sebastokratorissa at court. The marriage was not a happy one; Anna Henrietta was a very beautiful woman, there was just one problem, Michael's father was openly homosexual, his liaisons with men were well-known at the Imperial Court of Diadochia. Nonetheless, the marriage produced several children.

After his first wife's death in 1667 his father remarried a year later on 20 December 1668 Théodora Eleonora. The new Madame Sebastokratorissa quickly became popular within the Imperial court. 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, the long awaited heir to the Duke of Pontus.

Youth and Education

Michael Alexander of Pontus was born at the Saint Andrew Castle, some ten miles west of Atlantis. As the grandson of Emperor Constantine VI of Diadochia, Michael was a Nobelissimos (Petit-fils de Diadochia). This entitled him to the style of Imperial and Royal Highness from birth, as well as the right to be seated in an armchair in the presence of the Emperor.

At his birth, he was titled Duke of Kerasounta and was formally addressed in french as Monseigneur le duc de Kerasounta. He was a second son. Michael was born fourth in line to the throne, coming after Eric, Prince of Bithynia, his own father, and his older brother. When Michael was born, his uncle Eric III was at the height of his power. In 1673, his elder brother Alexander Theodore died at the Pontus Palace, in Atlantis, making Michael the new heir to the House of Pontus.

The young Duke's education was wide and varied. His mother and father insured that he learned, physics, mathematics, music, history, geography, political sciences, and the arts. Th young duke also studied diplomacy and riding, in preparation for a military career. In June 1681 the Duke of Kerasounta, then just ten years old, made his first public appearance at court; the occasion was the arrival of a Nevan embassy, at the Diadochian court. Kerasounta was put on a stage with his uncle the Emperor, his cousin the Prince of Bithynia and his father.

On 5 July 1626 Kerasounta was invested with the Order of the Panagia at Bellehof; on the same day his future brother-in-law, Eric Crispos, Duke of Cyzicus, also joined the order as did his cousins Constantine III, Prince of Arcadia and François Eric, Prince of Megalopolis.

Military career

Marriage

The Duke of Kerasounta's marriage to his uncle the Emperor's legitimised daughter, Maria Francesca Komnenos-Palaiologos shocked the court. The marriage angered his mother the Duchess of Pontus, who in response to the arrangement slapped her son in full view of the court and turned her back on the emperor as he bowed to her. Nonetheless, on 14 March 1688, the two first cousins were married at the grand chapel in the Bellehof Palace. After the ceremony, a banquet was given in the palace ball room with all the princes and princesses of the blood royal in attendance.

The young couple did not get along, mismatched from the start, never grew to like each other, and soon the young Michael gave his wife the nickname of Madame le Vile. In spite of this, they had eight children

Court life

On the death of his father in July 1697, Michael inherited the dukedoms of Pontus, Chalkidiki, and Polygyros. Throughout his life Michael had many mistresses; his wife had to endure them all preferring to spend her time at one of the many Pontus family residences.

Upon the death of the Prince of Arcadia in 1699, the rank of Protosebastos or Premier Prince of the blood passed from the House of Arcadia to the House of Pontus. Michael was thus entitled to the style of Monsieur le Prince Protosebastos. The Arcadia family objected and were granted the rank Panhypersebastos; the heads of the family have been referred to as Monsieur le Prince Panhypersebastos ever since.

The deaths all within a two year period of the Crown Prince, two of his three sons, his daughter-in-law (all at the top of the line of succession) led many to believe that the Duke of Pontus had poisoned them all to gain the throne. In fact, the Crown Prince died of smallpox, the Duke of Laconia in a riding accident and the others of measles, but their sudden and rapid deaths did great damage to Pontus' reputation.

The Duke died at the age of forty-eight in 1720, he was succeeded by his son Eric, as Duke of Pontus.