Francesco I. Gattilusio
Francesco I. Gattilusio (actually Francesco Gattilusio ; * probably around 1330; † August 6, 1384 in Lesbos ) was a patrician from Genoa and since 1355 archon ( regent or lord) of Lesbos.
He came from the respected Genoese patrician family Gattilusio . Little is known about childhood and youth. He later became known as a pirate and a mercenary . In 1354 he arrived on the island of Tenedos and offered the Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos his weapon aid in his fight against the opposing emperor John VI. Kantakuzenos on. After the victory of Emperor John V Palaiologos, Francesco Gattilusio received the island of Lesbos as hereditary rule from the Emperor in gratitude. On June 17, 1355, he assumed his rule as Archon of Lesbos in the island's capital, Mytilene . Around 1357 Francesco Gattilusio married the Princess Maria Palaiologina , the widowed daughter of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos III. Palaiologos and his second wife Anna of Savoy . From this marriage the three sons Andronico , Domenico and Jacopo emerged.
Politically, Francesco I, who copied the Venetian style of government in his empire , was closely linked to Byzantium. He reached z. B. that Emperor John V entered into negotiations with the Pope . He also took part in various campaigns and journeys on the emperor's side. From 1373, however, there was tension between Francesco and the emperor because of the policy of rapprochement between Byzantium and the Ottomans . After the deposition of John V in 1376, Francesco I was then able to benefit from the progenuesian policy of the new emperor Andronikos IV . So he brought the city of Ainos in Thrace into his power and installed his brother Niccolo I Gattilusio as lord of Ainos. As a lucrative source of income, Francesco I. Gattilusio continued piracy as Archon of Lesbos.
On August 6, 1384, Francesco I. Gattilusio and his sons Andronico and Domenico died during an earthquake on the island of Lesbos. Although his widow Maria inherited the island of Lesbos, he was followed as archon by his 14-year-old son Jacopo, who took the name Francesco II .
literature
- Enrico Basso: GATTILUSIO, Francesco. In: Mario Caravale (ed.): Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (DBI). Volume 52: Gambacorta – Gelasio II. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, Rome 1999.
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| --- |
Archon of Lesbos 1355-1384 |
Francesco II Gattilusio |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gattilusio, Francesco I. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gattilusio, Francesco |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian patrician and Archon of Lesbos |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1330 |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 6, 1384 |
| Place of death | Lesbos |