Andronikos was the eldest son of Michael VIII Palaiologos, and made co-emperor by his father in 1272. Andronikos became sole emperor upon Michael's death in 1282. His first crisis was to undo Michael's unpopular attempt at unification between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. His son, Michael, was crowned co-emepror in 1294, and was married to an Armenian princess, Rita. Michael IX died while Andronikos was still alive in 1320 in strange circumstances. Michael's son, Andronikos, was jealou of his misress's presumed other lover, so he set guards to watch her and kill the man who visited, unfortunately the other lover turned out to be his brother, Manouel. Overcome with grief, Michael died supposedly of a broken heart. Andronikos II in turn disinherited his grandson Andronikos, who rose in revolt against his grandfather. Eventually Andronikos II was deposed by his grandson, who became Andronikos III, and was sent to a monastery, where he died four years later.

His coinage represents a visible step in the declining quality of the gold coinage and transistion to a bimetalic system based on the silver Stavraton.

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