ANDRONICUS IV PALAEOLOGUS

born , 1348?, Constantinople died June 28, 1385 Byzantine emperor from 1376 to 1379. Conspiring against his father, John V Palaeologus, he was imprisoned and deprived of his rights to the succession. John's rivals, the Genoese, however, helped Andronicus to escape, and he entered Constantinople on Aug. 12, 1376, and took his father prisoner; he was crowned the following year (Oct. 18, 1377). In 1379, however, it was his father's turn to escapewith Venetian and Turkish aidand be restored to the throne, on the condition that he recognize Andronicus as his rightful heir and swear allegiance as the vassal of the sultan. Andronicus predeceased his father, and his own son became emperor as John VII Palaeologus.