Asomatianos Tzamplakon Explained

Asomatianos Tzamplakon
Allegiance:Byzantine Empire
Branch:Byzantine Navy
Rank:Admiral
Battles:Byzantine–Genoese War of 1348–1349.

Asomatianos Tzamplakon (Greek, Modern (1453-);: {{lang|grc|Ἀσωματιανός Τζαμπλάκων,) was a Byzantine aristocrat and admiral during the Byzantine–Genoese War of 1348–1349.

The Tzamplakones were an important and wealthy aristocratic family attested since the mid-13th century, when one of its members achieved the high military rank of Domestic of the Schools. Alexios Tzamplakon, Asomatianos' father, was this man's son.[1] [2] His brothers, Demetrios and Arsenios, also achieved high offices during the same period.[3]

Asomatianos is first attested in 1348, as megas doux (commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy). He was placed in charge of the Byzantine effort to construct a new fleet to use against the Genoese colony of Galata in the Byzantine–Genoese War of 1348–1349. His fleet's inexperience and incompetence led to its destruction or capture by the Genoese.[2] [3] Tzamplakon survived the debacle, and died sometime before 1356.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Kazhdan (1991), p. 2135
  2. PLP 27753
  3. Guilland (1967), p. 550