Theodore Synadenos Theodore Komnenos Doukas Palaiologos Synadenos ( , ca . 1277 – ca . 1346 ) , usually simply Theodore Synadenos , was a Byzantine magnate , senior official and military leader of the early 14th century , who played an important role in the civil wars of the period . The scion of an important noble lineage , he became one of the first and most important supporters of Andronikos III Palaiologos in his struggle against his grandfather Andronikos II , Synadenos held various provincial governorships during Andronikos III ' s reign , including Epirus and Thessalonica . After the outbreak of the civil war of 1341 – 1347 , he tried to surrender Thessalonica to his old friend John Kantakouzenos , but was driven from the city by the Zealots of Thessalonica . Forced to reconcile himself with Kantakouzenos ' s enemies , he was placed under house arrest in Constantinople and died impoverished in 1345 / 1346 . Biography . Theodore Synadenos was a son of the " megas stratopedarches " John Synadenos and Theodora Palaiologina , the niece of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos ( r . 1259 – 1282 ) , and hence a member of the Byzantine Empire ' s highest aristocracy . He had a , probably older , brother also named John , and at least one sister , Euphrosyne . Little is known about his early life : he was born ca . 1277 , and apparently lived at Bizye on the Black Sea coast of Thrace , where he had extensive estates . Under Andronikos III . Synadenos was a close friend to his cousin , the junior emperor Michael IX Palaiologos , but after Michael ' s death in 1320 , Michael ' s father , the old emperor Andronikos II ( r . 1282 – 1328 ) , distrusting his loyalty , sent him to the border with Serbia , as governor of Prilep . It was in this position that Syandenos became one of the earliest and most important supporters around Michael IX ' s son , the young Andronikos III ( r . 1328 – 1341 ) , who had been disinherited by Andronikos II after Michael ' s death . Along with the fellow aristocrats John Kantakouzenos and Syrgiannes Palaiologos , Theodore formed the leading " triumvirate " of Andronikos III ' s supporters , to which the " new man " Alexios Apokaukos attached himself as a junior member . In the first round of the civil war between grandfather and grandson , Andronikos III was successful in getting recognition for himself as junior emperor , with Thrace as his province . For his services , Synadenos secured the court rank of " domestikos tes trapezes " , and was soon after promoted to " protostrator " . In the final round of the civil war , in 1327 – 1328 , Synadenos served as governor in Thrace . As more and more localities , including the Empire ' s second - most important city , Thessalonica , switched over to Andronikos III ' s camp , Synadenos along with Kantakouzenos urged Andronikos III to march on Constantinople and depose his grandfather outright . On the night of 13 May , the three men led their army through a gate after bribing its guard , taking possession of the imperial capital without resistance . Theodore Synadenos was rewarded by being made Eparch of Constantinople , Apokaukos became head of the imperial secretariat , Kantakouzenos remained Andronikos III ' s principal advisor as " megas domestikos " , and Syrgiannes was named governor of Thessalonica . In ca . 1330 , Synadenos was sent as governor to Mesembria , while in 1336 , after Andronikos III and John Kantakouzenos annexed Epirus , he became its governor . In late 1338 , however , a revolt broke out in Epirus in favour of Nikephoros II Orsini , the last descendant of the Epirote ruling dynasty . Synadenos was taken captive in the capital , Arta by the rebels , and remained a prisoner until 1340 , when Andronikos III and Kantakouzenos campaigned against the rebels and recovered the region . John Angelos , a relative of Kantakouzenos , was installed as the new governor , while Synadenos was moved to the governorship of Thessalonica . Renewed civil war and death . In June 1341 , Andronikos III died suddenly , and a power struggle developed between Kantakouzenos , who initially assumed the powers of regency over Andronikos ' s underage son John V Palaiologos , and a powerful faction around the Patriarch John XIV Kalekas , the Empress - dowager Anna of Savoy and Alexios Apokaukos on the other . The dispute soon developed in outright conflict when the Patriarch the Empress and Apokaukos replaced Kantakouzenos as regent and imprisoned his family and supporters . In response , Kantakouzenos proclaimed himself emperor at Didymoteichon in October . The news of Kantakouzenos ' s proclamation sparked a wave of popular resistance across Macedonia and Thrace . The common people , impoverished by an exploitative and over - powerful aristocracy , viewed Kantakouzenos as a representative of the hated aristocrats and rallied behind the legitimate Palaiologos line and one by one , the cities were seized in the name of the Constantinopolitan regency . Thessalonica at first remained tranquil , and Synadenos contacted his old friend Kantakouzenos with the intention of surrendering the city to him . Such a move might well prove decisive , as possession of Thessalonica would enable Kantakouzenos to control Macedonia , Thessaly and Epirus , and in March 1342 , he set out from Didymoteichon with his army in the direction of the city . Before he arrived there , however , Synadenos was overthrown and driven from the city by a rebellion led by a radical popular faction , the Zealots . Apokaukos with a fleet came to reinforce the new regime , and one of his sons was installed as its new governor . Driven from Thessalonica , with Kantakouzenos ' s cause seemingly in ruins — he was soon forced to seek refuge in the court of the Serbian king , Stefan Dushan — and with his family back in Constantinople in the regency ' s hands , Synadenos made terms with Apokaukos . He was rewarded with the high rank of " protovestiarios " , but soon after placed under virtual house arrest in Constantinople . There he died , deprived of his court rank and considerable wealth , in late 1345 or early 1346 . A year later , in February 1347 , Kantakouzenos entered Constantinople as the victor of the disastrous civil war . Family . Some time before 1320 , Theodore married Eudokia Doukaina Komnene Palaiologina Synadene , and had two daughters :