The House of Philanthropenos (Greek: Φιλανθρωπηνός), feminine form Philanthropene (Φιλανθρωπηνή), was the name of a noble Byzantine Greek family which appeared in the mid-13th century and produced a number of high-ranking generals and officials until the end of the Byzantine Empire.
[2] The first known member of the family is Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos, first attested circa 1255 as a commander at Ohrid.
He is usually equated with the distinguished admiral of the same name, who rose to the rank of protostrator and eventually megas doux.
Their second son was the pinkernes Alexios Philanthropenos, a general celebrated for his successes against the Turks, who rose up unsuccessfully against Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1295.
[1][5][6] A Michael Doukas Philanthropenos, epi tes trapezes and uncle of Andronikos II, is attested from 1286 to 1304, when he was sent to defend Magnesia from the Turks.