Gabalas Ioannes

Mentioned in the sources between 1341 and 1344. The title Protosebastos was bestowed upon him (1341-11-19 – 1342). He held the positon of Megas Logothetes, 1343 - 1344 and Megas Drungarios, 1341. He was a skilled orator according to Nikephoras Gregoras. In 1341 he was sent as an emissary to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan by Ioannes Kantakuzenos. Alexios Apokaukos convinced him to switch the sides by telling him that Ioannes Kantakuzenos was disappointed by his mission to the Serbs. He defected therefore from Ioannes Kantakuzenos to the party of Alexios Apokaukos and the Byzantine Empress Anna Palaiologina. He wanted to conclude peace with Kantakuzenos for a while, but Alexios Apokaukos discouraged him. Alexios Apokaukos promised him his daughter, but the marriage never took place. After falling from favour of the empress circle, he sought in 1344 refuge at Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, where he received tonsure. He was then moved to the Pammakaristos Monastery in Constantinople. After he had tried to escape, he was incarcerated.