born 0441; 1292
died June 15, 1383, Mistra, Byzantine Empire
Byzantine emperor (134754).
As chief adviser (132841) to Andronicus III Palaeologus , he directed both domestic and foreign policy. He fought to serve as regent for the young John V Palaeologus , triumphing over John's mother, Anna of Savoy, only by enlisting Turkish aid. From 1347 he ruled as coemperor with John V, but in 1354 he crowned his own son coemperor. With Venetian aid, John V then forced him to abdicate, and Cantacuzenus retired to a monastery, where he wrote his memoirs.