John Vatatzes (megas stratopedarches)

Born to a lowly family, Vatatzes had managed to accumulate great riches through his position of apographeus (chief tax official), which he exercised in Thessalonica and eastern Macedonia (Serres, Boleron, Strymon, and Mosynopolis) from 1333 to 1341, as attested in a series of official acts bearing his name.

[2][3][4] At the outbreak of the civil war in 1341, he initially sided with John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347–1354), commanding troops around Didymoteicho, but in early 1342 he switched to the regency under Empress-dowager Anna of Savoy.

[2] Despite the familial ties to the leaders of the anti-Kantakouzenos faction, however, in summer 1343, he defected back to Kantakouzenos, surrendering several fortresses to him.

Vatatzes refused, crossed into Thrace with a Turkish army, and tried to have them attack the towns held by Kantakouzenos.

The Turks refused and killed him at Garella, taking his son and the other Byzantines of Vatatzes's entourage as slaves.