Palaeologus Dynasty 1259-1453AD - Trachy Authentic Ancient Byzantine Coin i59438

Description

Item:
i59438
Authentic Ancient Coin of:
Byzantine Empire
Palaeologus Dynasty - 1259-1453 A.D.
Bronze Trachy 21mm (0.92 grams) Struck circa 1259-1453 A.D.
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Palaiologan dynasty
Chronology
Michael VIII
1259–1282
with
Andronikos II
as co-emperor, 1261–1282
Andronikos II
1282–1328
with
Michael IX
(1294–1320) and
Andronikos III
(1321–1328) as co-emperors
Andronikos III
1328–1341
John V
1341–1391
with
John VI Kantakouzenos
(1347–1354),
Matthew Kantakouzenos
(1342–1357) and
Manuel II
(1373–1391) as co-emperors
Usurpation of
Andronikos IV
1376–1379
Usurpation of
John VII
1390
Manuel II
1391–1425
with
Andronikos V
(1403–1407) and
John VIII
(ca. 1416–1425) as co-emperors
John VIII
1425–1448
Constantine XI
1448–1453
Succession
Preceded by
Laskarids
of
Nicaea
Followed by
Ottoman conquest
The
Palaiologos dynasty
(
pl.
Palaiologoi;
Greek
:
Παλαιολόγος
,
-οι
), also
romanized
as
Palaeologus
or
Palaeologue
, was the name of a
Byzantine Greek
family, which rose to nobility and ultimately produced the last ruling dynasty of the
Byzantine Empire
.
Founded by the 11th-century general
Nikephoros Palaiologos
and his son
George
, the family rose to the highest aristocratic circles through its marriage into the
Doukas
and
Komnenos
dynasties. After the
Fourth Crusade
, members of the family fled to the neighboring
Empire of Nicaea
, where
Michael VIII Palaiologos
became co-emperor in 1259, recaptured
Constantinople
and was crowned sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 1261.
[3]
His descendants ruled the empire until the
Fall of Constantinople
at the hands of the
Ottoman Turks
on May 29, 1453, becoming the longest-lived dynasty in Byzantine history; some continued to be prominent in Ottoman society long afterwards. A branch of the Palaiologos became the feudal lords of
Montferrat
,
Italy
. This inheritance was eventually incorporated by marriage to the
Gonzaga
family, rulers of the
Duchy of Mantua
, who are descendants of the Palaiologoi of Montferrat.
Dynastic genealogy
The origins of the Palaiologoi (
lit.
"old word", sometimes glossed as "ragman" or "antique collector") are unknown. Later traditions sometimes tied them to the
Italian
city of
Viterbo
(the
Latin
vetus verbus
having the same meaning as the family's name) or to the
Romans
who immigrated east with
Constantine the Great
during the founding of
his new capital
. Both were probably fabrications created to help legitimize the dynasty. The family are first attested as local lords in
Asia Minor
, particularly
Anatolikon
, with
Nikephoros Palaiologos
rising to command over
Mesopotamia
under
Michael VII Doukas
. He supported the revolt of
Nikephoros Botaneiates
, while his son
George
married Anna Doukaina and therefore supported his
sister-in-law
's husband
Alexios Komnenos
during his rise to power. As commander (
doux
) of
Dyrrhachium
, George faced the
Norman
Duke
Robert Guiscard
in an
1081 battle
.
The Palaiologoi held military offices and further united their family to the Doukai and Komnenoi during the 12th century. They followed
Theodore Laskaris
to
Nicaea
and began to assume high-ranking political offices as well.
Alexios Palaiologos
, whose wife was a granddaughter of Zoe Doukaina (youngest daughter of
Constantine X Doukas
) and her husband
Adrianos Komnenos
(younger brother of Emperor Alexios I).
[
clarification needed
]
Another Alexios Palaiologos married Irene Angelina, eldest daughter of
Alexios III Angelos
and
Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamatera
. The latter couple's daughter Theodora Palaiologina married her cousin
Andronikos Palaiologos
, who was descended from Zoe. The couple were the progenitors of the imperial dynasty. Their son was Emperor
Michael VIII Palaiologos
(1223–1282).
Michael VIII's son
Andronikos II Palaiologos
(1259–1332) married
Anne of Hungary
and fathered
Michael Palaiologos
(1277–1320), sometimes numbered the ninth. Michael IX married
Rita of Armenia
. Their son, the grandson of Andronikos II, was
Andronikos III Palaiologos
(1297–1341).
Andronikos III married
Anna of Savoy
. Their son was
John V Palaiologos
(1332–1391). John V married
Helena Kantakouzene
, a daughter of his co-ruler
John VI Kantakuzenos
. Their sons included
Andronikos IV Palaiologos
(1348–1385) and
Manuel II Palaiologos
(1350–1425).
Manuel II married
Helena Dragaš
. They were the parents of
John VIII Palaiologos
(1392–1448) and
Constantine XI Palaiologos
(1404–1453), the last
Byzantine emperor
, as well as the despots of Morea
Demetrios Palaiologos
(1407–1470) and
Thomas Palaiologos
(1409–1465).
Demetrios, after giving
Mehmed II
a pretext to invade
Morea
, was kept from his throne and remained in captivity. His daughter Helen was a member of the sultan's harem for a time. Thomas, in exile in Venice, sold the imperial title to
Charles VIII of France
, who however never used it for formal purposes.
The
double-headed eagle
was adopted as a symbol for high-ranking members of the imperial family (including the Emperor), during the Palaiologos dynasty period.
Thomas' daughter
Zoe
(died 1503) married
Ivan III of Russia
and, on rejoining the Orthodox faith, returned to her earlier name Sophia. Her influence on the court curtailed the power of the
boyars
and eventually led to the proclamation of the Grand Prince of
Muscovy
as the
Tsar
of
all the Russias
. Though Thomas's male-line descendants soon became extinct, his descent lives on through a daughter and the family of Castriota Dukes of san Pietro di Galatina in south-Italian aristocracy.
One such female descendant, Princess d'Arenberg, married at the beginning of the 19th century a
Pfalzgraf
of
Zweibrücken
, whereby the
Dukes of Bavaria
descend from Byzantine emperors. Also
Queen Anne
, consort of former king
Michael of Romania
descends from these Arenbergs, thus being a descendant of Byzantine emperors of Constantinople.
Reportedly Herina, the first wife of Emperor
Isaac II Angelos
who reigned from 1185 to 1195, was of the Palaiologos family.
Palaiologoi emperors
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
, son of Michael VIII
Michael IX Palaiologos
, co-emperor, son of Andronikos II
Andronikos III Palaiologos
, son of Michael IX
John V Palaiologos
, son of Andronicus III (disputed by
John VI Kantakuzenos
, a maternal relative of the Palaiologoi)
Andronikos IV Palaiologos
, eldest son of John V
John VII Palaiologos
, son of Andronikos IV
Andronikos V Palaiologos
, co-emperor, son of John VII
Manuel II Palaiologos
, younger son of John V
John VIII Palaiologos
, eldest son of Manuel II
Constantine XI Palaiologos
, a younger son of Manuel II
Montferrat cadet branch
Further information:
List of rulers of Montferrat § Palaeologus dynasty
A
younger son
of Andronikos II became lord of
Montferrat
as heir of his mother. His feudal dynasty ruled in Montferrat, longer than the imperial branch did in Constantinople. This inheritance was eventually incorporated by marriage to the
Gonzaga
family, rulers of the
Duchy of Mantua
, who descend from the Palaiologoi of Montferrat. Later, that succession passed to the
Dukes of Lorraine
, whose later head became the progenitor of the
Habsburg-Lorraine
emperors of
Austria
.
The Paleologo-Oriundi, an extant line, descends from Flaminio, an illegitimate son of the last Palaiologos marquess
John George
.
Dynastic relations
The reconstituted realm was very weak compared with the pre-1204 Empire. The Palaiologoi emperors were not granted the earlier luxury of isolation. Imperial marriages became increasingly mercenary and royal princesses regarded as little more than merchandise. The future Michael VIII married
Theodora Palaiologina
, a kinswoman of the Vatatzes Laskaris family, in order to solidify his position in the Nicean Empire.
Michael VIII's sister, Andronikos and Theodora's daughter Irene Palaiologina, was the mother of Maria Kantakuzenos, who married
Constantine Tikh
and
Ivailo
of
Bulgaria
in turn.
Michael VIII was the father of Constantine, who in turn fathered John, who became the father-in-law of
Stefan Dečanski
of
Serbia
.
Michael's daughter Irene married
Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria
, and another daughter,
Eudokia Palaiologina
, married
John II Komnenos of Trebizond
, and another daughter, Theodora, married
David VI of Georgia
.
Andronikos II Palaiologos
married
Anna of Hungary
, daughter of
Stephen V of Hungary
and
Elizabeth the Cuman
. They were parents of
Michael IX Palaiologos
, who predeceased his father but was a co-regent, as such sometimes numbered the ninth. This Michael married
Rita of Armenia
, a princess of
Cilician Armenia
as daughter of
Leo III of Armenia
and
Queen Keran of Armenia
.
His son, the grandson of Andronikos II, was
Andronikos III Palaiologos
. Michael's daughter Theodora Palaiologina married
Theodore Svetoslav
and
Michael Shishman
, rulers of Bulgaria, in turn. A daughter Anna Palaiologina married first
Thomas I Komnenos Doukas
,
Ruler of Epirus
and then his successor
Nicholas Orsini
, already count of
Kefalonia
.
By his second wife,
Irene of Montferrat
, Andronikos II had
Simonis
, later the wife of
Stefan Milutin
of Serbia. His son,
Theodore I, Marquess of Montferrat
, became lord of Montferrat as heir of his mother. Theodore' inheritance was eventually incorporated by marriage to the
Gonzaga
family, rulers of the
Duchy of Mantua
.
Andronikos III married firstly
Irene of Brunswick
, who died without surviving issue, and secondly
Anna of Savoy
who was descended from
Baldwin I of Constantinople
. They were the parents of
John V Palaiologos
. John V was compelled to marry Helena Kantakouzene, a daughter of
John VI Kantakouzenos
.
In order to obtain support to remove John VI, John V gave his sister Maria to
Francesco I Gattilusio
, who received the Duchy of
Lesbos
, an island which remained under the control of the
Genoese
until 1462. They founded the noble family who continued into Italian Genoese aristocracy, being ancestors of the princes of
Monaco
.
Andronikos IV Palaiologos
married
Keratsa of Bulgaria
. She was a daughter of
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
.
Manuel II Palaiologos
married
Helena Dragaš
, daughter of
Constantine Dragaš
who was a regional lord of the dissolved Serbian realm.
Demetrios Palaiologos
's daughter
Helen
was a member of the harem of
Mehmed II
for a period of time.
Thomas Palaiologos
' daughter
Zoe
married
Ivan III of Russia
.
In 1446, Zoe's elder sister Helena Palaiologina was married to
Lazar Branković
, a Serbian prince. Their descendants continued for some time in the Balkans. Thomas's male-line descendants shortly became extinct.
Political history
Main article:
Byzantium under the Palaiologoi
Under the rule of the Palaiologoi (1261 - 1453), the fragmented
Byzantine Empire
still considered themselves to be the
Roman Empire
, but began to focus more on the empire's
Greek
heritage. The word "
Hellene
" began to be used again to describe themselves, after having been a synonym for "
pagan
" for many centuries. The dynasty was a patron of literature and the arts; among others,
George Gemistos Plethon
came to prominence. The
hesychasm
controversy also took place during the rule of the Palaiologoi dynasty.
At the later days of their empire the
Peloponnese
was the largest and wealthiest part of the empire, and was ruled as the
Despotate of Morea
by members of the Palaiologos family, often two or three younger brothers simultaneously. Although they often squabbled amongst themselves they were usually fiercely loyal to the emperor in Constantinople (though sometimes they sought to supplant the emperor and rise to the throne), while their land was surrounded by hostile
Venetians
and
Turks
. The capital of the despotate was
Mystras
, a large fortress built by the Palaiologoi near
Sparta
.
The Palaiologoi frequently attempted to reunite the
Eastern Orthodox Church
with the
Roman Catholic Church
, hoping this would lead the West to give them aid against the Turks. Every attempt at reunification was strongly opposed by the general population.
The family had connections throughout
Europe
. They married into the
Bulgarian
,
Georgian
and
Serbian
royal families, as well as the noble families of
Trebizond
,
Epirus
, the
Republic of Genoa
,
Montferrat
, and
Muscovy
.
Some of the dynasty remained (and prospered, to an extent) in Constantinople long after the Ottoman conquest; 15th- and 16th-century Ottoman documents identify tax-farmers and merchants called Comnenus bin Palaeologus, Yorgi bin Palaeologus, and Manuel Palaeologus.
Emblems
See also:
Byzantine heraldry
Flag with the emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty, the tetragrammic cross. The four
B
s, or
pyrekvola
, represent the initials of the family's motto.
Stylized depiction (based on the modern-day flag of the
Greek Orthodox Church
) of the
double-headed eagle
with the
dynastic cypher
of the Palaiologoi. The eagle was used to represent the emperor, as well as higher-ranking members of the imperial family in general.
Variant flag from the
Libro del Conoscimiento
(c. 1350) for the "Empire of Constantinople", featuring
St. George's Cross
(likely representing
Genoa
) alongside the tetragrammic cross.
The "tetragrammic cross" emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty was used under the Palaiologoi to represent the Empire, as attested in several sources of the 14th and 15th centuries. It is a cross between four
firesteels
(
Greek
:
πυρέκβολα
), each representing the letter
B
(
beta
). The firesteels have been interpreted as the initials of the imperial motto
Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων
(
Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileuonton
) or
Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλεῦσι
(
Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileusi
), translated as "king of kings, ruling over rulers". Another common emblem used by the Palaiologoi to represent the Emperor and high-ranking members of the Imperial family, was the
double-headed eagle
, occasionally displayed bearing the family's
sympilema
, or dynastic cypher, on the breast. This is the only recorded instance of the
double-headed eagle
in actual imperial use.
The The e The
Byzantine Empire
, or
Eastern Roman Empire
, was the predominantly
Greek
-speaking eastern half continuation and remainder of the
Roman Empire
during
Late Antiquity
and the
Middle Ages
. Its capital city was
Constantinople
(modern-day
Istanbul
), originally founded as
Byzantium
. It survived the
fragmentation and fall of the Western Roman Empire
in the 5th century AD and continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it
fell
to the
Ottoman Turks
in 1453. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Both "Byzantine Empire" and "Eastern Roman Empire" are historiographical terms created after the end of the realm; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the
Roman Empire
(
Ancient Greek
:
Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
,
tr.
Basileia Rhōmaiōn
;
Latin
:
Imperium Romanum
), or
Romania
(
Ῥωμανία
), and to themselves as "Romans".
Several events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the transitional period during which the Roman Empire's
east and west
divided
. In 285, the
emperor
Diocletian
(r. 284–305) partitioned the Roman Empire's administration into eastern and western halves. Between 324 and 330,
Constantine I
(r. 306–337) transferred the main capital from
Rome
to
Byzantium
, later known as
Constantinople
("City of Constantine") and
Nova Roma
("New Rome"). Under
Theodosius I
(r. 379–395),
Christianity
became the Empire's official
state religion
and others such as
Roman polytheism
were
proscribed
. And finally, under the reign of
Heraclius
(r. 610–641), the Empire's military and administration were restructured and adopted Greek for official use instead of Latin. Thus, although it continued the Roman state and maintained Roman state traditions, modern historians distinguish
Byzantium
from
ancient Rome
insofar as it was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and characterised by
Orthodox Christianity
rather than
Roman polytheism
.
The borders of the Empire evolved significantly over its existence, as it went through several cycles of decline and recovery. During the reign of
Justinian I
(r. 527–565), the Empire reached its greatest extent after reconquering much of the historically Roman western
Mediterranean
coast, including north Africa, Italy, and Rome itself, which it held for two more centuries. During the reign of
Maurice
(r. 582–602), the Empire's eastern frontier was expanded and the north stabilised. However, his assassination caused a
two-decade-long war
with
Sassanid Persia
which exhausted the Empire's resources and contributed to major territorial losses during the
Muslim conquests
of the 7th century. In a matter of years the Empire lost its richest provinces, Egypt and Syria, to the Arabs.
During the
Macedonian dynasty
(10th–11th centuries), the Empire again expanded and experienced a two-century long
renaissance
, which came to an end with the loss of much of Asia Minor to the
Seljuk Turks
after the
Battle of Manzikert
in 1071. This battle opened the way for the Turks to settle in
Anatolia
as a homeland.
The final centuries of the Empire exhibited a general trend of decline. It struggled to
recover during the 12th century
, but was delivered a mortal blow during the
Fourth Crusade
, when Constantinople was sacked and the Empire
dissolved and divided
into competing Byzantine Greek and
Latin realms
. Despite the eventual recovery of Constantinople and
re-establishment of the Empire in 1261
, Byzantium remained only one of several small rival states in the area for the final two centuries of its existence. Its remaining territories were
progressively annexed by the Ottomans
over the 15th century. The
Fall of Constantinople
to the
Ottoman Empire
in 1453 finally ended the Byzantine Empire.
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