Manuel Daimonoioannes

Manuel Daimonoioannes (Greek: Μανουήλ Δαιμονοϊωάννης, c. 1243, Monemvasia – 14 June 1301, Thebes) was a Byzantine thirteenth-century general and military governor. 
The second and most promising son of the general Michael Daimonoioannes, one of emperor Theodore II’s New Men, and Anna Hyaleaina, he served as an imperial page at Constantinople during his childhood and became a soldier in the Western army in adulthood, eventually rising to high rank. He is notable for having married Theodore II’s illegitimate daughter Helena Laskarina in late 1275. The marriage took place following Helena’s invocation of her right to marry at age twenty-five. Hard-pressed to find suitable husbands, Theodore II fell back to Manuel’s dependable father and awarded his family with an imperial marriage, as another way to advance and empower the class of New Men against the old traditional aristocracy. 
As a member of the imperial family, Manuel was appointed as joint military governor (diplodoux) of the themes of Thessalonica and Strymon, serving in such a capacity from 1276 to 1285. He also received the title of protosebastos, ranking 13th in general court hierarchy. With the accession of traditionalist Romanos V Melissenos, Daimonoioannes was demoted to military governor of Hellas, a position he would occupy until his death. Daimonoioannes was an opponent of the Melissenid dynasty and therefore remained in relative obscurity for most of his last years. He had issue by his wife and was buried in his hometown of Monemvasia.
Category:Byzantine people