mænwˈɛl wʌzðə fˈɜːst əvə sˈɪɹiz ʌv lˈɔŋɹˈuːlɪŋ ɡˈʌvɚnɚz ʌvðə pɹˈɑːvɪns hˌuː bˈoːɹ ðə tˈaɪɾəl ʌv dˈɛspoʊts ænd wɜː klˈoʊsli ɹᵻlˈeɪɾᵻd tə ðɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚz æt kˌɑːnstɐntɪnˈoʊpəl.
Manuel was the first of a series of long-ruling governors of the province who bore the title of despotēs and were closely related to the emperors at Constantinople.