Andronicus IV

Andronicus IV was Byzantine emperor from 1376-1379. He was the son of John V, but when Ottoman sultan Murad I forced John to become his vassal in 1373, Andronicus rebelled against his father. Andronicus had allied with Murad's son who was rebelling against his own father, but both rebllions failed. Murad blinded his son and demanded that John have Andronicus blinded as well, but John blinded only one of his son's eyes.

In 1376 the Genoese helped him escape from prison and take control of Constantinople. However, he was immediately attacked by Genoa's enemy Venice, and was overthrown by them in 1379. The Venetians restored John V to the throne. He rebelled again, unsucessfully, in 1385, and died soon after.

Preceded by: John V

Byzantine emperors

Followed by: John V (restored)