Manuel Komnenos Raoul Asanes

Manuel Komnenos Raoul Asanes (born c. 1298), second son of Andronikos Asen and grandson of Ivan Asen III, was a Byzantine general and Kantakouzenos's brother-in-law. In 1329 Andronikos III entrusted him with the imperial standard at Pelekanos. Accused of plotting against the emperor in 1335, he was held at Vira until 1341.

In the civil war Kantakouzenos in 1342 left him commanding Didymoteicho and marched west. When the Bulgarians sent to help instead sought the city for themselves, Manuel carried his sister Irene's letter to Umur at Smyrna; Umur's Turks landed on the Maritsa and the Bulgarians withdrew.

Kantakouzenos made him sebastokrator in 1347 and despot in 1351, when he led the army and navy with the Venetians against Genoese Galata. In 1356 he backed his nephew Matthew Kantakouzenos against John V.