Megas Doux - List of Known Holders

List of Known Holders

Name Tenure Emperor(s) Notes Refs
John Doukas 1092 – unknown Alexios I Komnenos Brother-in-law of Alexios I, previously governor of Dyrrhachium
Landulf 1099–1105 Alexios I Komnenos Admiral of Western origin
Isaac Kontostephanos 1105–1108 Alexios I Komnenos Dismissed for his incompetence in the wars against Bohemond
Marianos Maurokatakalon 1108 – unknown Alexios I Komnenos Successor of Isaac Konstostephanos
Eumathios Philokales after 1112 – after 1118 Alexios I Komnenos previously judicial official in Greece and long-time governor of Cyprus
Constantine Opos Unknown Alexios I Komnenos Distinguished general in the campaigns against the Turks
Leo Nikerites Unknown Alexios I Komnenos Eunuch, previously governor in Bulgaria and the Peloponnese
Nikephoros Vatatzes Unknown Alexios I Komnenos (?) Known only through a seal, possibly dating to the reign of Alexios I
Stephen Kontostephanos ca. 1145 (?) – 1149 Manuel I Komnenos Brother-in-law of Manuel I, was killed in office in 1149
Alexios Komnenos ca. 1155 – after 1161 Manuel I Komnenos Son of Anna Komnene and Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger
Andronikos Kontostephanos after 1161 – 1182 Manuel I Komnenos Manuel's nephew, he was the emperor's most trusted and distinguished general. Blinded by Andronikos I Komnenos in 1182
John Komnenos Unknown Manuel I Komnenos First cousin of Manuel I, son of the sebastokrator Andronikos Komnenos. He fell at Myriokephalon in 1176
Constantine Angelos Unknown Isaac II Angelos Afterwards governor of Philippopolis, he led an unsuccessful usurpation attempt
Michael Stryphnos ca. 1195 – after 1201/1202 Alexios III Angelos A favourite of Alexios III. He reportedly sold off the fleet's equipment to enrich himself
Theodotos Phokas ca. 1210 Theodore I Laskaris Uncle of Theodore I, emperor of Nicaea, known only from a monastic property deed dating to between 1206 and 1212
Michael Palaiologos 1258 John IV Laskaris The future Michael VIII, he assumed the office after the murder of George Mouzalon, when he was named regent for the young John IV. He was soon after raised to despotes and eventually to emperor.
Michael Laskaris 1259 – ca. 1272 Michael VIII Palaiologos Brother of Theodore I, due to his advanced age he never held actual command of the fleet. He held the office until his death
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos ca. 1272 – ca. 1275 Michael VIII Palaiologos Previously protostrator and de facto commander of the fleet since ca. 1263. Held the office of megas doux until his death
Licario ca. 1275 – unknown Michael VIII Palaiologos Italian renegade who entered Byzantine service, he conquered Negroponte and many of the Aegean islands
Roger de Flor 1303–1304 Andronikos II Palaiologos Leader of the mercenary Catalan Company. He resigned his post in late 1304 favour of his lieutenant, Berenguer de Entença, and was murdered a few months later
Berenguer de Entença 1304–1305 Andronikos II Palaiologos Roger de Flor's lieutenant and successor as leader of the mercenary Catalan Company. He resigned his office after disagreeing with the emperor
Fernand Ximenes de Arenos 1307/1308 – unknown Andronikos II Palaiologos One of the leaders of the Catalan Company, he was named megas doux defected to the Byzantines
Syrgiannes Palaiologos 1321–1322 Andronikos II Palaiologos One of the main partisans of the young Andronikos III Palaiologos in the Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328, he defected to the aged Andronikos II, who rewarded him with the office of megas doux. After plotting against him as well, he was imprisoned.
Isaac Asanes unknown – 1341 Andronikos III Palaiologos Replaced in office by Alexios Apokaukos
Alexios Apokaukos 1341–1345 Andronikos III Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos		 A former partisan and protégé of John Kantakouzenos, Apokaukos was instrumental in the outbreak of the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, and until his murder in 1345 led the anti-Kantakouzenist regency for John V
Asomatianos Tzamplakon ca. 1348 John VI Kantakouzenos Head of the fleet during the Byzantine–Genoese War of 1348–1349. He died some time before 1356
Mamonas early 15th century Manuel II Palaiologos The Mamonas family were hereditary rulers of Monemvasia
Manuel unknown – 1410 Manuel II Palaiologos Mentioned only in an anonymous chronicle as dying of an epidemic in 1410
Paraspondelos ca. 1437 John VIII Palaiologos Known only as the father-in-law of Demetrios Palaiologos
Loukas Notaras after 1441 – 1453 John VIII Palaiologos
Constantine XI Palaiologos		 Notaras served both John VIII and Constantine XI as chief minister, and was executed by the Ottomans after the Fall of Constantinople

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