List of Known Holders
| Despots of non-Byzantine states | ||
|---|---|---|
| Latin Empire/Papacy | Bulgaria | Serbian Empire and successor states |
| Name | Tenure | Conferred by | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Béla III of Hungary | 1163–1169 | Manuel I Komnenos | Son-in-law and heir-presumptive until 1169, thereafter demoted to Caesar | |
| Theodore Vatatzes | unknown | Manuel I Komnenos | Married to Manuel I's sister Eudokia. His holding of the title is attested only in the seal of his son. | |
| Alexios Palaiologos | 1200–1203 | Alexios III Angelos | Son-in-law and heir-apparent of Alexios III, second husband of Irene Angelina. Maternal grandfather of Michael VIII | |
| Theodore I Laskaris | 1203–1208 | Alexios III Angelos | Son-in-law of Alexios III, he was probably granted the title of despot after the death of Alexios Palaiologos. He founded the Empire of Nicaea and was proclaimed emperor in 1205, although he was not crowned until 1208 and was still formally despot until then. | |
| Leo Sgouros | 1203/1204–1208 | Alexios III Angelos | Lord of southern Greece, after Alexios III was evicted from Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade he married Eudokia Angelina at Corinth and was named despot and heir-apparent by the exiled emperor | |
| John Chamaretos | 1208 – unknown | Alexios III Angelos | Lord of Laconia, mentioned as despot in a latter from 1222. He was possibly awarded the title by Alexios III after Leo Sgouros' death | |
| Alexius Slav | 1208 – after 1222 | Henry of Flanders (Latin Emperor) | Bulgarian ruler of the Rhodopes | |
| Andronikos Palaiologos | 1216 – unknown | Theodore I Laskaris | Son-in-law and heir-apparent of Theodore I. Very little is known about him with certainty. He married Irene Laskarina and was raised to despot, but died soon after. | |
| Manuel Komnenos Doukas | 1225/1227–1230 | Theodore Komnenos Doukas | Brother of Theodore, he was raised to the rank of despot after Theodore crowned himself emperor. As heir to Theodore and ruler of Thessalonica, Manuel held the title of emperor (basileus) after 1230 | |
| Constantine Komnenos Doukas | 1225/1227 – unknown | Theodore Komnenos Doukas | Brother of Theodore, he was raised to the rank of despot after Theodore crowned himself emperor. | |
| John Komnenos Doukas | 1242–1244 | John III Vatatzes | Ruler of Thessalonica, he abandoned the imperial title and acknowledged the suzerainty of Nicaea in 1242, being rewarded with the title of despot. | |
| Demetrios Komnenos Doukas | 1244–1246 | John III Vatatzes | Inherited rule of Thessalonica from his brother John and was conferred like him with the title of despot. Deposed by John III in 1246. | |
| Michael II Komnenos Doukas | before 1246–1267/1268 | John III Vatatzes | Nephew of Manuel, ruler of Epirus | |
| Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas | before 1248/1250–1297 | John III Vatatzes | Son and heir of Michael II of Epirus, he was awarded the title on his betrothal to Maria, the daughter of John III. He ruled Epirus from his father's death in 1267/1268. | |
| Michael VIII Palaiologos | 1258–1259 | John IV Laskaris | Leader of the nobles, he was declared regent after the murder of George Mouzalon and raised first to megas doux and then, within weeks, to despot. He was crowned emperor on 1 January 1259. | |
| Jacob Svetoslav | before 1261–1275/1277 | possibly Constantine Tikh (Bulgarian Emperor) | Powerful magnate and autonomous lord of Sofia, he was probably named despot by a Bulgarian ruler rather than a Nicaean emperor | |
| John Palaiologos | 1259 – ca. 1273/1275 | Michael VIII Palaiologos | Brother of Michael VIII, he was elevated to the rank of despot following his victory at the Battle of Pelagonia. He renounced the insignia and privileges of a despot, but not the title itself, after his defeat at the Battle of Neopatras in 1273/1275, and died shortly after. | |
| Demetrios/Michael Komnenos Doukas | unknown | Michael VIII Palaiologos | Third son of Michael II of Epirus, he married Anna, one of the daughters of Michael VIII, and was named Despot. | |
| Constantine Doukas Palaiologos | unknown | Michael VIII Palaiologos | Third son of Michael VIII, he is attested as a Despot in seals. | |
| George I Terter | 1278/1279–1292 | Michael VIII Palaiologos | Powerful magnate, he was given the title of despot along with the hand of the sister of Tsar Ivan Asen III to win him over in the face of the uprising of Ivaylo. George later deposed Ivan Asen and became Tsar himself. | |
| Aldimir | 1280s–1305 | probably by George I Terter (Bulgarian Emperor) | Younger brother of George I, he was raised to the rank of despot by him, and received (possibly after 1298) the region of Kran as an appanage ("Despotate of Kran") | |
| John II of Trebizond | 1282–1297 | Michael VIII Palaiologos | Emperor of Trebizond, he was persuaded to renounce his own claim to be "Emperor of the Romans" and accept the title of despot and the hand of Michael VIII's daughter Eudokia. John visited Constantinople in 1282, when the title was conferred and the marriage with Eudokia took place. He nevertheless retained the imperial title in an altered form. | |
| Thomas I Komnenos Doukas | 1290–1318 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Only son and heir of Nikephoros I of Epirus | |
| Philip I, Prince of Taranto | 1297–1313, 1330–1332 | Self-awarded (Titular Latin Emperor, Prince of Achaea, etc.) | Husband of Thamar, the daughter of Nikephoros I of Epirus. On Nikephoros' death, he claimed the title "Despot of Romania" on behalf of his wife. Ceded his claim to his sons Charles (died 1315) and Philip (died 1330). | |
| Constantine Palaiologos | 1292–1320s | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Second son of Andronikos II, he was named despot on his marriage to the daughter of Theodore Mouzalon | |
| John Palaiologos | 1294 – unknown | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Third son of Andronikos II, he was named despot on 22 May 1294 | |
| Alexios II of Trebizond | ca. 1297–1330 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Son and successor of John II of Trebizond, he was persuaded to renounce his own claim to be "Emperor of the Romans" and accept the title of despot and the hand of Michael VIII's daughter Eudokia. John visited Constantinople in 1282, when the title was conferred and the marriage with Eudokia took place. | |
| Theodore Palaiologos | unknown | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Fourth son of Andronikos II, named despot at an unknown date, from 1305 Marquess of Montferrat | |
| Demetrios Palaiologos | unknown | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Fifth son of Andronikos II, named despot at an unknown date | |
| Manuel Palaiologos | unknown – 1320 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Second son of Michael IX Palaiologos, named despot at an unknown date, killed by mistake by his brother Andronikos III Palaiologos | |
| Michael Shishman of Bulgaria | before 1313–1322/1323 | Theodore Svetoslav (Bulgarian Emperor) | Autonomous lord of Vidin, named despot at or soon after his father Shishman of Vidin's death. Became Tsar of Bulgaria in 1322/1333. | |
| Belaur | 1323 – ca. 1331 | Michael Shishman (Bulgarian Emperor) | Half-brother of Michael Shishman, he succeeded him as autonomous lord of Vidin with the rank of despot. He resisted the rule of Ivan Alexander and was forced to flee into exile | |
| Michael Shishman Vidinski | unknown | Ivan Alexander (Bulgarian Emperor) | Younger son of Tsar Michael Shishman of Michael Shishman, he probably succeeded Belaur as autonomous lord of Vidin with the rank of despot. | |
| Jovan Oliver | 1334–1356 | Andronikos III Palaiologos | Autonomous Serbian magnate, named despot by Andronikos III after the Byzantine-Serbian peace agreement of 1334 | |
| Michael Palaiologos | before 1341 – unknown | Andronikos III Palaiologos | Second son of Andronikos III, named despot at a very young age date | |
| Momchil | 1343/44–1345 | Anna of Savoy | Bulgarian ruler of the Rhodopes, awarded the title by the Empress-regent during the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, in order to detach him from John VI Kantakouzenos, who titled him sebastokrator. Effectively independent until defeated and killed by Kantakouzenos' army. | |
| Simeon Uroš | 1345/1346–1363 | Stephen Uroš IV Dušan (Serbian Emperor) | Half-brother of Stephen Dušan, he was named despot probably after Dušan's coronation as emperor. Governor of Epirus, he proclaimed himself Tsar in 1356 and tried to seize control of Serbia but failed. Ruler of Thessaly and most of Epirus from 1359 until his death ca. 1370 | |
| John Komnenos Asen | 1345/1346–1363 | Stephen Uroš IV Dušan (Serbian Emperor) | Brother-in-law of Stephen Dušan, he was named despot probably after Dušan's coronation as emperor. Ruler of the Principality of Valona until his death | |
| Manuel Kantakouzenos | 1347–1380 | John VI Kantakouzenos | Second son of John VI, named despot after the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, first "Despot of the Morea" from 1349 until his death | |
| Nikephoros II Orsini | 1347–1359 | John VI Kantakouzenos | Son-in-law of John VI, named despot after the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, ruler of Epirus in 1335–1338 and 1356–1359 | |
| Manuel Komnenos Raoul Asanes | before 1358 – unknown | John VI Kantakouzenos | Brother-in-law of John VI Kantakouzenos, named first sebastokrator by him and despot at an unknown date | |
| John Kantakouzenos | 1357 – unknown | John V Palaiologos | Eldest son of Matthew Kantakouzenos, named despot on his father's abdication of his imperial title | |
| Dobrotitsa | after 1357 – 1386 | Ivan Alexander (Bulgarian Emperor) | Ruler of the Dobruja | |
| Gjin Bua Shpata | ca. 1360/1365–1399/1400 | Simeon Uroš Palaiologos (Titular Serbian Emperor) | Albanian clan leader, in the early 1360s he was recognized as Despot and ruler of Aetolia (the "Despotate of Angelokastron") by the titular Serbian Emperor and ruler of Thessaly Simeon Uroš. He was de facto independent, and in 1374 annexed the Despotate of Arta and launched repeated unsuccessful attacks against Ioannina. | |
| Pjeter Losha | ca. 1360/1365–1374 | Simeon Uroš Palaiologos (Titular Serbian Emperor) | Albanian clan leader, in the early 1360s he was recognized as Despot and ruler of Acarnania (the "Despotate of Arta") by the titular Serbian Emperor and ruler of Thessaly Simeon Uroš. He was de facto independent however, and attacked Thomas Preljubović at Ioannina, before coming to terms with him. He died of the plague in 1373/1374. | |
| Vukašin Mrnjavčević | 1364–1365 | Stephen Uroš V (Serbian Emperor) | One of the most powerful Serian magnates under Stephen Dušan, he was named despot in 1364 and then king and co-ruler by the emperor Stephen Uroš V. He became de facto independent by 1368, and was killed by the Ottomans in the Battle of Maritsa in 1371. | |
| Jovan Uglješa | 1365–1371 | Stephen Uroš V (Serbian Emperor) | Brother of Vukašin Mrnjavčević, he was named despot in succession to his brother and became ruler of Serres alongside Dušan's widow Helena. From ca. 1368 he was a de facto independent ruler until his death in the Battle of Maritsa. | |
| Jovan Dragaš | 1365 – ca. 1378 | Stephen Uroš V (Serbian Emperor) | Cousin of Stephen Uroš V and nephew of Stephen IV Dušan, with his brother Constantine Dragaš he governed northeastern Macedonia (the "Despotate of Velbazhd"). From the Battle of Maritsa on he was an Ottoman vassal. | |
| Theodore Palaiologos | before 1376–1407 | John V Palaiologos | Third son of John V, from 1383 until his death "Despot of Lacedaemon" | |
| Thomas II Preljubović | 1382–1384 | John V Palaiologos | Son of Gregory Preljub, he was given the rule of Ioannina and its region by his father-in-law Simeon Uroš in 1367. The title of Despot was not formally conferred by the Byzantine Emperor until 1382 however. | |
| Michael Palaiologos | unknown | John V Palaiologos | Fourth son of John V, very little is known about his life | |
| Stefan Lazarević | 1402–1427 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Ruler of Serbia as an Ottoman vassal. He was awarded the title of despot during a visit to Constantinople in 1402. Autonomus ruler of the "Serbian Despotate" until his death in 1427 | |
| Theodore Palaiologos | 1406/1407–1448 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Second son of Manuel II, Despot in the Morea from 1407, and in Selymbria from 1443 to his death | |
| Andronikos Palaiologos | 1409 – ca. 1424 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Third son of Manuel II, Despot in Thessalonica from 1409 until 1423 (styled "Despot of Thessaly" by Doukas), shortly thereafter he entered a monastery | |
| John Palaiologos | unknown | Manuel II Palaiologos | Son of Andronikos, Despot of Thessalonica. He is mentioned as holding the title in 1419. | |
| Constantine XI Palaiologos | unknown – 1449 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Fourth son of Manuel II and last Byzantine emperor. Despot in Selymbria until 1443, thereafter co-Despot in the Morea until 1449, when he succeeded to the Byzantine throne | |
| Demetrios Palaiologos | 1425–1460 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Fifth son of Manuel II, Despot in Lemnos from 1425 to 1449, in Mesembria from 1440, co-Despot in the Morea from 1449 until the Ottoman conquest in 1460 | |
| Thomas Palaiologos | 1428–1460 | John VIII Palaiologos | Sixth son of Manuel II, co-Despot in the Morea from 1428 until the Ottoman conquest in 1460. According to Sphrantzes, however, he was not titled Despot until 1449, when his brother Constantine became emperor. | |
| Đurađ Branković | 1429–1456 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Successor of Stefan Lazarević as ruler of Serbia from 1427, he received the title of despot in 1429. An Ottoman vassal from 1428. | |
| Lazar Branković | 1440s–1458 | Manuel II Palaiologos | Son and successor of Đurađ Branković, he received the title of Despot during his father's reign. | |
| Manuel Kantakouzenos | 1453 | leader of popular revolt | Grandson of Demetrios I Kantakouzenos, he was acclaimed as leader and despot of the Morea by the local Albanian and Greek inhabitants during the failed Morea revolt of 1453–1454. He was soon eclipsed by Giovanni Asen Zaccaria. | |
| Stefan Branković | 1458–1459 | unknown | Son of Đurađ Branković, ruler of Serbia. Deposed in favour of Stephen Tomašević | |
| Stephen Tomašević | April–June 1459 | unknown | Prince of Bosnia, he became the last independent Serbian ruler after his marriage to Helena-Maria, the daughter of Lazar Branković. He assumed the title of despot (or perhaps was awarded it by Lazar's widow, the Byzantine princess Helena Palaiologina). His capital Smederevo was conquered by the Ottomans a few months later. | |
| Andreas Palaiologos | unknown – 1465 | Pope Pius II (?) | Eldest son of Thomas Palaiologos and heir of the Palaiologan line. According to Sphrantzes, he was awarded the title of Despot by the Pope, but R. Guilland suggested that he may have already received the title before 1460. Claimant to the Byzantine throne from 1465 to 1494. | |
| Vuk Grgurević | 1471–1485 | Matthias Corvinus (King of Hungary) | Grandson of Đurađ Branković, titular Despot of Serbia and ruler of the Vojvodina under Hungarian suzerainty | |
| Đorđe Branković | 1486–1496 | Matthias Corvinus (King of Hungary) | Son of Stefan Branković, titular Despot of Serbia and ruler of the Vojvodina under Hungarian suzerainty | |
| Jovan Branković | 1486–1502 | Vladislaus II (King of Hungary) | Son of Stefan Branković, titular Despot of Serbia and ruler of the Vojvodina under Hungarian suzerainty | |
| Ivaniš Berislavić | 1504–1514 | Vladislaus II (King of Hungary) | Titular Despot of Serbia and ruler of the Vojvodina under Hungarian suzerainty, married Jovan Branković's widow, Jelena Jakšić | |
| Stefan Berislavić | 1514–1521 | Vladislaus II (King of Hungary) | Son of Ivaniš Berislavić, titular Despot of Serbia and ruler of the Vojvodina under Hungarian suzerainty | |
| Radič Božić | 1527–1528 | John Zápolya (King of Hungary) | Titular Despot of Serbia under Hungarian suzerainty | |
| Pavle Bakić | 1537 | Ferdinand I (Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary) | Titular Despot of Serbia under Hungarian suzerainty |
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