George Mouzalon

George Mouzalon (Greek: Γεώργιος Μουζάλων, Geōrgios Mouzalōn, c. 1222, Adramyttion – 22 February 1281, Constantinople) was a high ranking Byzantine official and general who held the title and office of Grand Domestic from 1249 to 1281 and served as chief minister to Theodore II Laskaris and his successor, John IV.
Of humble origin, Mouzalon was raised as an imperial page at Constantinople, becoming a childhood companion of Theodore II, who preferred his company over the company of noble children. Mouzalon and Theodore II's friendship survived into adulthood and he became the Emperor's right hand man and at the head of his reformist platform. Mouzalon served as Theodore II's as chief minister from 1249 until the end of his life, heading the imperial government when the emperor was away in campaign. He pushed and implemented Theodore II's reformist agenda to restore the Byzantine bureaucracy as an administrative-minded technical body, favoring skilled men of humble origin such as himself rather than members of the entrenched aristocracy who wielded hereditary power. As Theodore II's chief minister, George Mouzalon was the most influential man in the Byzantine Empire for the entire duration of his life.
When Theodore II died in 1278, Mouzalon continued serving his son John IV as Grand Domestic and chief minister, effectively taking the reins of government and ruling in the name of the young and reclusive scholar emperor. Mouzalon opposed the palace coup carried out by Michael Palaiologos in 1281, which overthrew John IV in favor of his younger brother, Skantarios Laskaris. He organized the defense of Blachernae Palace against the Palaiologan mercenaries, refusing to leave John IV's side. Mouzalon's wife, daughters and infant grandsons were able to escape to the Golden Gate in the Theodosian Walls, but Mouzalon and his sons were killed in the fight and John IV taken captive. Historian George Pachymeres records that Mouzalon was betrayed by his fellow government minister and close friend George Akropolites, who reportedly stabbed him in the back. The veracity of the story, however, is disputed.
==Family==
By his marriage to Theodora Kantakouzene Palaiologina, a niece of Michael Palaiologos, George Mouzalon was the father of:
*Theodore (1252–1281), who married Theophano Tornikissa and had two children, George and Demetrios. He was killed alongside his father by Michael Palaiologos.
*Eirene (1253–1313), a nun.
*Michael (1256–1281), who was killed alongside his father and brother.
*Antonina (1259–1310), who had been betrothed to John IV. Married Adrianos Philanthropenos, Grand Duke of Cyprus, with whom she had three children.
*Anna (1262–1311), who served as Zoste Patrikia to the Augusta Eudoxia Laskarina. She was childless.
Category:Byzantine people