Anna Anachoutlou

Anna Anachoutlou (died 3 September 1342), eldest daughter of Alexios II, spent most of her life as a nun while two brothers and a nephew reigned in quick succession. After Basil's death in 1340 his widow Irene Palaiologina, an outsider to the Grand Komnenos line, took the throne.

In July 1341 Anna escaped her convent and rallied the provinces: Laz and Zan tribesmen and Georgian soldiers. On 17 July she entered Trebizond unopposed and was crowned empress, Irene having abdicated days earlier.

Nobles who preferred a male heir turned to her uncle Michael, but when he landed with Byzantine troops the Laz beat them and Anna imprisoned him. Yet the Scholarioi clan and other nobles deposed and strangled her on 3 September 1342, and Michael's son John III took the city next day.