Empire of Trebizond
1204–1461
Flag of Trebizond
Double-headed eagle flag as depicted in Western portolans
Map of the Empire of Trebizond shortly after the foundation of the Latin Empire in 1204, featuring the short-lived conquests in western Anatolia by David Komnenos (later reconquered by the Empire of Nicaea) and Sinope (later conquered by the Sultanate of Rum).
Map of the Empire of Trebizond shortly after the foundation of the Latin Empire in 1204, featuring the short-lived conquests in western Anatolia by David Komnenos (later reconquered by the Empire of Nicaea) and Sinope (later conquered by the Sultanate of Rum).
Status
  • Successor of the Byzantine Empire
  • Client state of the Kingdom of Georgia (1204–1227)
  • Vassal of the Mongol Empire (1243–1336)
CapitalTrebizond
Common languages
  • Greek (official)
  • Laz
  • Western Armenian, Old Anatolian Turkish, Ligurian language, Latin
Religion
Greek Orthodoxy
GovernmentMonarchy
Notable emperors1 
• 1204–1222
Alexios I
• 1238–1263
Manuel I
• 1280–1297
John II
• 1349–1390
Alexios III
• 1459–1461
David
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
• Establishment
1204
• Fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade
12 April 1204
• Submission to the Mongol Empire
1243
• Permanent loss of Sinope
1265
• John II renounces Imperial claims
1282
• Trapezuntine Civil Wars
1340–1349
• Fall of Trebizond
15 August 1461
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Byzantine Empire
(Angelos dynasty)
Ottoman Empire
Republic of Genoa
(Gazaria)
Principality of Theodoro
1the full title of the Trapezuntine emperors after 1282 was "the faithfulBasileusandAutokratorof All the East, the Iberians and Perateia"