Alexios Apokaukos

Alexios Apokaukos (c. 1295–1345) was born humble in Bithynia and rose through the tax offices. He joined John Kantakouzenos in the plot that raised Andronikos III to the throne, and when Andronikos became sole emperor in 1328 he was given charge of state finances.

Early in 1341 he became megas doux, head of the navy, and re-equipped the fleet with his own money. When Andronikos died that year, he turned on his patron and, with Patriarch John XIV Kalekas and the dowager empress Anna of Savoy, led the regency for John V in the civil war of 1341–1347.

As city prefect he championed the townsmen against Kantakouzenos and his aristocrats. In June 1345, inspecting a new prison for his political prisoners without a bodyguard, he was lynched by them. Kantakouzenos entered Constantinople in 1347.