1224 or 1225: Birth of Michael
1246/6-1253: Michael is appointed commander of Serres and Meleniko
1254: Michael becomes grand konostaulos
1256: Michael is appointed commander of Bithynia
September 1258: Michael becomes megas doukas
November 1258:Michael is given the rank of despot
January 1259: Michael becomes John IV’s co-emperor
1259: Battle of Pelagonia
1261: Recapture of Constantinople
1274: Council of Union at Lyons
March 1282: The “Sicilian Vespers”
December 1282: Death of Michael VIII