COMNENUS, emperor of the East, was the son of Isaac, and grandson of Alexius Comnenus. Naturally active, martial, eloquent, and licentious, both his virtues and vices soon recommended him to the favour of his cousin Manuel, the reigning emperor; and he was appointed to an important command in Cilicia. Afterwards engaging in a treasonable correspondence with the emperor of Germany and the king of Hungary, he was arrested and thrown into prison. After a confinement of about twelve years, and repeated attempts at escape, he at last effected his purpose, and fled for refuge to the court of the great duke of Russia. The cunning of Andronicus soon found means to regain the favour of the emperor; for, having exerted all his influence, he succeeded in persuading the Russian prince to engage to join his troops with those of Manuel, in the invasion of Hungary. After having obtained a free pardon from the emperor, he again fell under his displeasure by refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the prince of Hungary, his intended son-in-law, presumptive heir to the crown, and was dismissed to his former command in Cilicia. Here his insinuating address captivated the heart of Philippa, daughter of the Latin prince of Antioch, and sister to the empress Maria; and in her company he spent his time in all the amusements that country could afford, till the emperor's resentment put a stop to their correspondence. He now collected a band of adventurers, and undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he so far succeeded in gaining the favour of the king and clergy, as to be invested with the lordship of Berytus, on the coast of Phenicia. In this neighbourhood lived Theodora, the beautiful widow of Baldwin, king of Jerusalem. The personal accomplishments and address of Andronicus captivated her heart, and she became the next victim of his artful seduction, and lived publicly as his concubine. Still pursued by the emperor with unabating resentment, he was forced to take refuge in Damascus, and elsewhere, till at length he settled in Asia Minor. While residing there he made frequent incursions into the province of Trebizond, and seldom returned without success. At length Theodora was made captive by the governor of Trebizond, along with her two children, and sent to Constantinople. Andronicus implored and obtained pardon, but was banished to Cnöe, a town on the Euxine coast.

In the year 1180 Manuel died, and was succeeded by his son Alexius II., a youth about twelve or fourteen years of age, without wisdom or experience. The ambition of Andronicus was now again called into action. A civil war, occasioned by the misconduct of the empress in Constantinople, directed the public mind towards Andronicus, as the only person whose rank and accomplishments could restore the public tranquillity. Incited by the patriarchs and patriots, he marched towards Constantinople, which he entered, took possession of the palace, assumed the office of protector, and consigned the empress, her minister, and many persons of distinction, to death. By the voice of his adherents, he was soon after proclaimed emperor and colleague of Alexius. This conjunction of the royal power was soon dissolved by the murder of the unfortunate Alexius. The dead body being brought into the presence of Andronicus, striking it with his foot, he said, "Thy father was a knave, thy mother a harlot, and thyself a fool." Having arrived at the dignity of sole emperor, A.D. 1183, he continued to sway the sceptre with a mixture of justice and bounty towards his subjects at large; but those whom he feared or hated were treated with the most cruel tyranny. The noble families that were either cut off or exiled by him were all allied to the Comneni. Some of these engaged in revolt; and the public calamity was heightened by an invasion of the Sicilians, in which they took and sacked Thessalonica. A rival without merit, and a people without arms, at last overturned his throne. A descendant from the first Alexius in the female line, named Isaac Angelus, being singled out by Andronicus as a victim to his cruelty, fled to the church of Sophia, and there took refuge with several of his friends. Isaac was instantly raised by the populace from a sanctuary to a throne. On the arrival of Andronicus, who was at this time absent from Constantinople, he found himself deserted by all, and was seized and dragged in chains before the new emperor. All his eloquence was of no avail. Isaac delivered him into the hands of those whom he had injured, and for the space of three days he had to endure all the insults and torments that could be inflicted by a populace exasperated by his crimes. At last two Italians, plunging their swords into his body, put a period to his life. His death, in the 73rd year of his age, terminated the dynasty of the Comneni, A.D. 1185.