mænwˈɛl ɪz fˈɜːst mˈɛnʃənd ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː wɛn hiː ænd hɪz bɹˈʌðɚ mˈæθjuː kˌæntɐkuːzˈiːnoʊz ɐkˈʌmpənid hɪz fˈɑːðɚ fɹʌm dˌɪdɪmoʊtˈɪtʃoʊz fɔːɹ θˌɛsɐlˈɑːnɪkə æz ˈɑːfɪsɚz.
Manuel is first mentioned in March 1342 when he and his brother Matthew Kantakouzenos accompanied his father from Didymoteichos for Thessalonica as officers.