Demetrius I of Theodoro

Demetrius I (Greek: Dimítrios), sometimes romanised as Demetrios I, was the first Prince of the Principality of Theodoro, while it was under Byzantine suzerainty.

Rise to Power

A descendant of Constantine Gabras, the ruler of Chaldia, Demetrius is believed to have been born as a minor Anatolian Byzantine noble, perhaps of partial Gothic descent. He is known to have eventually assumed the military leadership of the Crimean Goths, whose support he pledged to Andronikos III Palaiologos in the latter's ongoing conflict with Andronikos II Palaiologos. After Andronikos III's victory in 1328, he granted the area of Theodoro, then known colloquially as "Gothia".

Reign

Demetrius ruled for 25 years, consolidating his power and fending off attacks by various Muslim and Turkic invaders. He died in 1353, and was succeeded by his son Isaac, who was crowned as Isaac I.