Battle of Imbros (1347)

The Battle of Imbros was a naval engagement that took place in 1347 near the island of Imbros (modern-day Gökçeada) in the Aegean Sea. It was a significant event in the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, which pitted the regency for the underage Emperor John V Palaiologos, headed by his mother Anna of Savoy and the Grand Duke Alexios Apokaukos, against John VI Kantakouzenos, a powerful general and close friend of the late Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos.

The battle involved the fleet of the regency, supported by Venetian ships, against the fleet of John Kantakouzenos, which was primarily composed of ships provided by his ally Umur Bey, the ruler of Aydin. The size of the respective fleets is subject to scholarly debate, but Kantakouzenos' fleet, though arguably smaller, was manned by experienced Turkish sailors.

The outcome of the battle was a decisive victory for Kantakouzenos. The Venetian and Byzantine ships suffered heavy losses, effectively crippling the regency's naval power. This victory secured Kantakouzenos' control over the sea lanes and allowed him to consolidate his position in Thrace.

The Battle of Imbros was a turning point in the civil war. It demonstrated Kantakouzenos' military strength and his ability to secure crucial alliances, ultimately paving the way for his entry into Constantinople and his coronation as Emperor John VI in 1347, alongside John V Palaiologos. Although the co-rule was initially amicable, tensions between the two emperors eventually led to further conflict.