Andronikos II Palaiologos
To counter the threat to Nicomedia, Michael's father, Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328), sent a Byzantine force of some 2,000 men (half of whom were recently hired Alan mercenaries), under the "megas hetaireiarches", George Mouzalon, to cross over the Bosporus and relieve the city.