“ MANUEL I. (d. 1263) , emperor of Trebizond, surnamed the Great Captain (ὁ στρατηγικώτατος) , was the second son of Alexius I., first emperor of Trebizond, and ruled from 1228 to 1263. He was unable to deliver his empire from vassalage, first to the Seljuks and afterwards to the Mongols. He vainly negotiated for a dynastic alliance with the Franks, by which he hoped to secure the help of Crusaders. ”