sˌʌm ʌv mænwˈɛlz ˈɛnəmiz sˈɜːkjʊlˌeɪɾᵻd ɐ ɹˈuːmɚ ðæt hɪz ˈoʊldɚ bɹˈʌðɚ, ðə fˈɔːɹmɚɹ ˈɛmpɚɹɚ mˈæθjuː kˌæntɐkuːzˈiːnoʊz, plˈɑːɾᵻd tə ɹᵻplˈeɪs hˌɪm æz ɡˈʌvɚnɚ, bˌʌt wɛn hiː wʌz pɚswˈeɪdᵻd ðə ɹˈuːmɚ wʌz fˈɔls, ðə tˈuː wˈɜːkt təɡˌɛðɚɹ ɪnðɪ ɐdmˌɪnɪstɹˈeɪʃən ʌvðə pɹˈɑːvɪns, ɔːlðˈoʊ nˈɪkɑːl əbzˈɜːvz "mˈæθjuː plˈeɪd nˈoʊmˌoːɹ ðˌænə sˈɛkəndɚɹi ɹˈoʊl.
Some of Manuel's enemies circulated a rumor that his older brother, the former Emperor Matthew Kantakouzenos, plotted to replace him as governor, but when he was persuaded the rumor was false, the two worked together in the administration of the province, although Nicol observes "Matthew played no more than a secondary role.