ANDRONICUS II. (PALAEOLOGUS) (1260-1332), eastern Roman
emperor, was the elder son of Michael Palaeologus, whom he
succeeded in 1282. He allowed the fleet, which his father
had organized, to fall into decay; and the empire was thus
less able than ever to resist the exacting demands of the
rival powers of Venice and Genoa. During his reign the Turks
under Osman conquered nearly the whole of Bithynia; and to
resist them the emperor called in the aid of Roger di Flor,
who commanded a body of Spanish adventurers. The Turks were
defeated, but Roger was found to be nearly as formidable
an enemy to the imperial power. He was assassinated by
Andronicus's son and colleague, the emperor Michael IX., in
1305. His adventurers (known as the Catalan Grand Company)
declared war upon Andronicus, and, after devastating Thrace and
Macedonia, conquered the duchy of
Athens and Thebes. From
1320 onwards the emperor was engaged in war with his grandson
Andronicus (see below). He abdicated in 1328 and died in 1332.
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed
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