 It is unknown when Michael was born; the only relevant information is the statement of Niketas Choniates that he was a "young man" in 1201.The Greek scholar Konstantinos Varzos places his birth approximately in 1170.Michael is first mentioned on 14 February 1190, when he, along with other imperial relatives, served as a hostage to Frederick I Barbarossa () during the passage of the Third Crusade through Byzantine territory.