Asens in Byzantium
John Asen
Brother of Constantine Asen and cousin of Empress Helena Kantakouzene; their common father is unknown. A Constantinopolitan archon, friend and correspondent of the scholar Demetrios Kydones.
Biography
John Asen was a brother of Constantine Asen; their common father remains unknown, but both were cousins of Empress Helena Kantakouzene, the wife of John V Palaiologos.
He was a Constantinopolitan archon: in December 1371 he was briefly detained, along with other magnates, by Emperor John V. A friend and correspondent of the eminent scholar Demetrios Kydones and a passionate hunter, he spent some time on the island of Euboea (1382–1383). He is mentioned for the last time around 1383.