The double-headed eagle, emblem of the Paleologus dynasty and the Byzantine Empire

The Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Παλαιολόγος, pl. Παλαιολόγοι) family was the last dynasty ruling the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade members of the family escaped to Nicaea and eventually gained control of the empire-in-exile there. Michael VIII Palaiologos became emperor in 1259 and recaptured Constantinople in 1261. Michael's descendants ruled until the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the longest-lived dynasty in Byzantine history. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 369 × 487 pixelsFull resolution (369 × 487 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Byzantine double-headed eagle featuring the sympilema (the family cypher) of the Palaeologus dynasty. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 369 × 487 pixelsFull resolution (369 × 487 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Byzantine double-headed eagle featuring the sympilema (the family cypher) of the Palaeologus dynasty. ... Two-headed eagle emblem of the Byzantine Empire. ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... // For other uses, see Dynasty (disambiguation). ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... The Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople (Eugène Delacroix, 1840). ... Iznik (formerly Nicaea) is a city in Anatolia (now part of Turkey) which is known primarily as the site of two major meetings (or Ecumenical councils) in the early history of the Christian church. ... The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the states founded by refugees from the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople was conquered during the Fourth Crusade. ... The Byzantine Empire in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Μιχαήλ Η΄ Παλαιολόγος, MikhaÄ“l VIII Palaiologos) (1224/1225 – December 11, 1282) reigned as Byzantine emperor 1259–1282. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Events July 25 - Constantinople re-captured by Nicaean forces under the command of Michael VIII Palaeologus, Byzantine Empire re-formed August 29 - Urban IV becomes Pope, the last man to do so without being a Cardinal first Bela IV of Hungary repels Tatar invasion Charles of Anjou given rule of... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI†, Loukas Notaras, Giovanni Giustiniani†[1] Mehmed II Strength 5,000 Greek militia soldiers plus 2,000 Italian mercenaries [2] 80,000[1] - 150,000[1] Casualties Most of Greek defenders, some mercenaries[3], approximately 4,000 civilians[4] unverified The Fall of... April 2 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (Ä°stanbul). ...

Heraldry

Flag of the Palaeologus Dynasty with the imperial coat of arms. The four Bs, or pyrekvola, represent the initials of the family's motto.[1]

The double-headed eagle, the most recognized emblem of the Byzantine Empire, with the dynastic cypher of the Palaeologi in the center.

The only attested flag of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaeologi, early 15th century. It depicts St George's Cross and the Arms of the Empire.[2]

Because of their relations and intermarriage with Western dynastic families, the Palaeologi were the first Imperial family to use crests and coats of arms in the Western sense. The most common emblems they used were the Imperial double-headed eagle, or the "tetragrammatic cross" - a field Gules (red), a cross with four outward-facing 'B's or Fire Steles (Greek: Πυρεκβόλα - Pyrekvola) Or (gold) in the quarters, interpreted to stand for the imperial motto King of Kings, Ruling Over Rulers (Greek: Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων, Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων - Vasilefs Vasileon, Vasilevon Vasilevonton).^[3] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Two-headed eagle emblem of the Byzantine Empire. ... The Chi-Rho, a monogram of the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ E and L embroider for clothes and bedding, for a wife by the initials E L or L E A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... St Georges cross The St Georges Cross is a red cross on a white background. ... Two-headed eagle emblem of the Byzantine Empire. ... Look up B, b in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Firesteel is a piece of high-carbon steel used for striking a spark, usually kept in a tinderbox together with flint and tinder. ... A silver coin of the Seleucid king Antiochus I Soter. ...

Dynasty

The Palaeologans were originally petty rulers from Macedonia. The family was an old one. In fact, the word "Palaiologos," in Greek, means "ancient word." George Palaeologus was a friend of Alexius I Comnenus, but its earliest generations are unknown. The first to marry into an imperial family was one Alexius Palaeologus, whose wife was a granddaughter of Zoe Dukaina, youngest daughter of Constantine X, and her husband Adrianus Comnenus, younger brother of Emperor Alexius I. Another Alexius Palaeologus married Irene Angelina, eldest daughter of Alexius III and Euphrosyne Camatera. The latter couple's daughter Theodora Palaeologina married her cousin Andronicus Palaeologus, who descended from Zoe. The couple were the progenitors of the Imperial dynasty. Their son was emperor Michael VIII. Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus Alexius I (1048–August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the third son of John Comnenus, the nephew of Isaac I Comnenus (emperor 1057–1059). ... Constantine X Ducas (1006 - May, 1067) was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1059 - 1067). ... Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus Alexius I (1048–August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the third son of John Comnenus, nephew of Isaac I Comnenus (emperor 1057–1059). ... Alexius III Angelus, Byzantine emperor, was the second son of Andronicus Angelus, nephew of Alexius I. In 1195, while his brother Isaac II was away hunting in Thrace, he was proclaimed emperor by the troops; he captured Isaac at Stagira in Macedonia, put out his eyes, and kept him henceforth...

Michael VIII's son Andronicus II married Anna of Hungary and fathered Michael Palaeologus, sometimes numbered the ninth. His son, the grandson of Andronicus II, was Andronicus III Palaeologus. Andronicus III Palaeologus (c. ...

John V was the father, with Helena, a daughter of John VI Cantacuzenus, of Andronicus IV Palaeologus and Manuel II Palaeologus. John VI Cantacuzenus (c. ... Andronicus IV Palaeologus or better Andronikos IV Palaiologos (April 2, 1348–June 28, 1385). ... The Byzantine Empire around year 1400. ...

Manuel II was the father of John VIII Palaeologus and Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor (Constantine XI Palaeologus), as well as the despots of Morea Demetrius Palaeologus and Thomas Palaeologus. Medal of the emperor during his visit to Florence, by Pisanello (1438). ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Constantine XI Paleologus (sometimes numbered Constantine XII or Constantine XIII), also known as Constantine Drageses, (February 8, 1404 - May 29, 1453) was the last reigning emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 1449 to his death. ... Demetrius Palaeologus or Demetrios Palaiologos (Gr. ... Thomas Palaeologus or Thomas Palaiologos (1409-1465) was Despot of Morea from 1449 until Ottoman conquest in 1460. ...

Demetrius, 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. Mehmed II (Ottoman Turkish: محمد ثانى Meḥmed-i sānÄ«, Turkish: ), (also known as el-Fatih (الفاتح), the Conqueror, in Ottoman Turkish, or, in modern Turkish, Fatih Sultan Mehmet) (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to 1446, and later from... The Morea and surrounding states carved from the Byzantine Empire, as they were in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) The name Morea (Μωρέας) for Peloponnesos first appears in the 10th century in Byzantine chronicles. ... Charles VIII the Affable (French: Charles VIII lAffable) (June 30, 1470 – April 7, 1498) was King of France from 1483 to his death. ...

Thomas' daughter Zoe 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 lord of Muscovy as the Tsar of all the Russias. Thomas's male-line descendants soon went extinct, and his descent lives on through a daughter and the family of Castriota Dukes of san Pietro di Galatina in south-Italian aristocracy. Zoe Palaiologina (Greek Ζωή Παλαιολόγου, Russian Софья Фоминична Палеолог, around 1455 - April 7, 1503), Grand Duchess of Moscow, was a niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI and second wife of Ivan III of Russia. ... Albus rex Ivan III Ivan III Vasilevich (Иван III Васильевич) (January 22, 1440, Moscow – October 27, 1505, Moscow), also known as Ivan the Great, was a grand duke of Muscovy who first adopted a more pretentious title of the grand duke of all the Russias. Sometimes referred to as the gatherer of... A boyar (also spelt bojar; Romanian: boier) was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Ruthenian (Russian) and Romanian aristocracy, second only to the ruling princes, from the 10th through the 17th century. ... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское)) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ... Tsar (Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian цар, Russian  , Croatian car, in scientific transliteration respectively car and car ), occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English, is a Slavonic term designating certain monarchs. ...

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 descendant of Byzantine Emperors of Constantinople. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Pfalzgraf or Count Palatine or Palsgrave functioned, especially in medieval times, as the permanent representative (grafio =scribe rather than Count) of the Frankish king and later Holy Roman Emperor in a pfalz or palatial domain of the crown, of which there were dozens throughout greater Germany. ... Zweibrücken is a city of Germany in Rhineland-Palatinate, on the Schwarzbach river at the border of the Palatine Forest. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Princess Anne, born Anne of Bourbon-Parma, on September 18, 1923 in Paris, France . ... King Michael and Queen Anne King Michael (Romanian Mihai) of Romania (born October 25, 1921) was the son of King Carol II and reigned from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until December 30, 1947. ...

The[1] family tree of the House of the Byzantine Empire

• Reportably Emperor Isaac II Angelus {reign 1185-1195}first wife Hernia was of the Palaiologos family.

Isaac II Angelus (or Isaakios Angelos) (September 1156-1204), was the Byzantine emperor from 1185-1195, and again 1203-1204. ...

A cadet branch

A younger son of Andronicus II became lord of Montferrat as heir of his mother. His feudal dynasty lived in north Italy, longer than the imperial branch in Constantinople. This inheritance was eventually incorporated by marriage to the Gonzaga family, rulers of the Duchy of Mantua, who descend from the Palaeologans of Montferrat. Later, that succession passed to the Dukes of Lorraine, whose later head became the progenitor of the Habsburg-Lorraine emperors of Austria. Theodore I Palaiologos (c. ... Montferrat was a marquisate in Lombardy during the Middle Ages. ... The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708. ... The Duchy of Mantua was an Italian state that was ruled by the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1708. ... The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. ... Habsburg - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Palaeologan emperors

1. Michael VIII Palaeologus
2. Andronicus II Palaeologus, son of Michael VIII
3. Michael IX Palaeologus, co-emperor, son of Andronicus II
4. Andronicus III Palaeologus, son of Michael IX
5. John V Palaeologus, son of Andronicus III (disputed by John VI Cantacuzenus, a maternal relative of the Palaeologans)
6. Andronicus IV Palaeologus, eldest son of John V
7. John VII Palaeologus, son of Andronicus IV
8. Andronicus V Palaeologus, co-emperor, son of John VII
9. Manuel II Palaeologus, younger son of John V
10. John VIII Palaeologus, eldest son of Manuel II
11. Constantine XI Palaeologus, a younger son of Manuel II

The Byzantine Empire in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) Michael VIII (1225 – December 11, 1282) was the founder of the Palaeologos dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire to the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... Andronicus II Palaeologus (1260 - February 13, 1332), Byzantine emperor, was the elder son of Michael VIII Palaeologus, whom he succeeded in 1282. ... Michael IX Palaeologus or better Palaiologos (Mikhaēl IX Palaiologos), (April 17, 1278–October 12, 1320), reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320. ... Andronicus III Palaeologus (c. ... John V Palaeologus (1332 – February 16, 1391) was the son of Andronicus III, whom he succeeded as Byzantine emperor in 1341, at age nine. ... John VI Cantacuzenus (c. ... Andronicus IV Palaeologus or better Andronikos IV Palaiologos (April 2, 1348–June 28, 1385). ... John VII (1370-1408), surnamed Palaeologus, Byzantine emperor, grandson of John V, initially ruled for only six months in 1390. ... Andronikos V Palaiologos or Andronicus V Palaeologus (Greek: Ανδρόνικος Ε Παλαιολόγος) (c. ... The Byzantine Empire around year 1400. ... Medal of the emperor during his visit to Florence, by Pisanello (1438). ... Constantine XI Paleologus (sometimes numbered Constantine XII or Constantine XIII), also known as Constantine Drageses, (February 8, 1404 - May 29, 1453) was the last reigning emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 1449 to his death. ...

Dynastic relations

The reconstituted realm was very weak compared with the pre-1204 Empire. The Palaeologan emperors cannot have afforded the earlier luxury of isolation. Imperial marriages and princesses became like traded goods. The future Michael VIII married Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, a kinswoman of the Batatzes Lascaris family, in order to solidify his position in the Nicean Empire.

Michael VIII's sister, Andronicus and Theodora's daughter Irene Palaeologina, was the mother of Maria Cantacuzenus, who married Constantine Tikh and Ivailo of Bulgaria in turn. Tsar Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria (ruled 1257-1277) took the throne of Bulgaria after the assasination of Michael II Asen of Bulgaria in 1256. ... Ivailo was a Bulgarian tsar from 1277 to 1280. ...

Michael VIII was the father of Constantine, who in turn fathered John, who became the father-in-law of Stefan Decansky of Serbia. Stefan Dečanski (ca 1285 - 1331) reigned as king of Serbia from 1321 to 1331. ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian written with the Cyrillic alphabet1 Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 8th century   -  Independence c. ...

Michael's daughter Irene married Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria, and another daughter, Eudokia Palaiologina, married John II Comnenus of Trebizond, and another daughter, Theodora, David VI of Georgia. Tsar Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria was the son of Tsar Mico Asen and his wife Princess Maria of Bulgaria. ... Eudokia Palaiologina or Eudocia Palaeologina (Greek: Ευδοκία Παλαιολογίνα) (c. ... Categories: People stubs | Emperors of Trebizond | Trapezuntine Empire ... David VI Narin Davit VI Narin (also called the clever) (1225-1293), from the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia in 1245-1293. ...

Andronikos II Palaiologos married Anna of Hungary, daughter of Stephen V of Hungary. 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. Andronikos II Palaiologos or Andronicus II Palaeologus (Greek: ) (1259/1260 – February 13, 1332), reigned as Byzantine emperor 1282–1328. ... King Stephen V of Hungary (Hungarian: , Slovak: Štefan V) (1239 or 1240 – August 6, 1272), was the son of Bela IV of Hungary, whom he succeeded in 1270. ... Michael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Μιχαήλ Θ΄ Παλαιολόγος, Mikhaēl IX Palaiologos), (April 17, 1278–October 12, 1320), reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320. ... Rita of Armenia (born c. ... The Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, 1199-1375. ... Leo (or Leon) III of Armenia (c. ... Portrait of King Levon and Queen Keran by Toros Roslin, 1250 Queen Keran of Armenia (died July 28, 1285) was the wife of Leo III 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. Andronikos III Palaiologos or Andronicus III Palaeologus (Greek: Ανδρόνικος Γ Παλαιολόγος) (March 25, 1297 - June 15, 1341) reigned as Byzantine emperor 1328–1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. ... Tsar Theodore Svetoslav, also Teodor Svetoslav, was monarch of Bulgaria from 1300 to 1322. ... Tsar Michael Shishman of Bulgaria (ruled 1323-1330) had to face an ingreasingly growing in power Serbia to the west. ... Thomas I Komnenos Doukas or Comnenus Ducas (Greek: Θωμάς Α΄ Κομνηνός Δούκας, Thōmas I Komnēnos Doukas), (c. ... The Despotate of Epirus was one of the medieval Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire, founded in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. ... Nicholas Orsini (Greek: Νικόλαος Ορσίνι, Nikolaos Orsini, Italian: Niccolò Orsini), was count palatine of Cephalonia from 1317 to 1323 and ruler of Epirus from 1318 to 1323. ... Kefalonia, also known as Cephallenia, Cephallania, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia (Ancient Greek: Κεφαλληνία; Modern Greek: Κεφαλλονιά or Κεφαλονιά ), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece with an area of 350 sq. ...

By his second wife, Yolanda 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. Yolande of Montferrat (1274, Casale Monferrato - 1317, Constantinople), then Empress Eirene was the second Empress-Consort of Andronikos II Palaiologos, the ruler of Constantinople and the entire Byzantine empire, and heiress of Margraviate of Montferrat. ... Stephen Uros II Milutin of Serbia was king of Serbia from 1282 to 1321. ... Theodore I Palaiologos (c. ... The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708. ... The Duchy of Mantua was an Italian state that was ruled by the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1708. ...

Andronikos III married first Adelheid of Brunswick, who died without surviving issue, and second Anne of Savoy who was descended from Baldwin I of Constantinople. They were parents of John V Palaiologos. John V was compelled to marry Helena Kantakouzene, a daughter of John VI Kantakouzenos. Baldwin I (July 1172 – 1205, Bulgaria), the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, as Baldwin IX Count of Flanders and as Baldwin VI Count of Hainaut, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the capture of Constantinople, the conquest of the... John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: , Iōannēs V Palaiologos), (1332 – February 16, 1391) was the son of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Anna of Savoy. ... John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzene (Greek: Ιωάννης ΣΤ΄ Καντακουζηνός, Iōannēs VI Kantakouzēnos) (c. ...

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. They founded the noble family who continued into Italian Genovese aristocracy, being ancestors of the princes of Monaco. Lesbos may refer to: Lesbos Island, a large Greek island in the Aegean Sea Lesbos Prefecture, the Greek prefecture that contains the island Slang word for Lesbians. ...

Andronikos IV Palaiologos married Keratsa of Bulgaria. She was a daughter of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria. Andronikos IV Palaiologos or Andronicus IV Palaeologus (Greek: Ανδρόνικος Δ Παλαιολόγος) (April 2, 1348–June 28, 1385), was Byzantine emperor from 1376 to 1379. ... Keratsa of Bulgaria was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and his second wife Theodora. ... Ivan Alexander (Bulgarian: , transliterated Ivan Aleksandǎr;[1] IPA: ), also known as John Alexander,[2] ruled as Emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371,[3] during the Second Bulgarian Empire. ...

Manuel II Palaiologos married Helena Dragaš, daughter of Constantine Dragas who was a regional lord of the dissolved Serbian realm. Emperor Manuel II Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Μανουήλ Β΄ Παλαιολόγος, ManouÄ“l II Palaiologos) (June 27, 1350 – July 21, 1425) was Byzantine emperor from 1391 to 1425. ... Helena Dragases was a daughter of Constantine Dragas, a regional semi-independent lord in the fragmenting Serbian realm centered at Velbăžd (Kyustendil). ... Constantine of Serres, nicknamed Dragases, was a regional lord and prince in the the fragmenting Serbian realm in the end of 14th century and in the beginning of 15th century. ...

Demetrios Palaiologos daughter Helen was a member of the harem of Mehmed II for a time. Demetrios Palaiologos or Demetrius Palaeologus (Greek: Δημήτριος Παλαιολόγος, Dēmētrios Palaiologos) (1407–1470), Despot (despotēs) in Morea de facto 1436–1438 and 1451–1460 and de jure 1438–1451, previously governor of Lemnos 1422–1440, and of Mesembria 1440–1451. ... Mehmed II (Ottoman Turkish: محمد ثانى Meḥmed-i sānī, Turkish: ), (also known as el-Fatih (الفاتح), the Conqueror, in Ottoman Turkish, or, in modern Turkish, Fatih Sultan Mehmet) (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to 1446, and later from...

Thomas Palaiologos' daughter Zoe married Ivan III of Russia. After the fall of Constantinople to Mehmed II, the only free province of the Byzantine Empire was the Despotate of Morea, ruled by two brothers of the dead emperor Constantine XI Palaeologus, Thomas and Demetrius Palaeologus. ... Zoe Palaiologina (Greek Ζωή Παλαιολόγου, Russian Софья Фоминична Палеолог, around 1455 - April 7, 1503), Grand Duchess of Moscow, was a niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI and second wife of Ivan III of Russia. ... Albus rex Ivan III Ivan III Vasilevich (Иван III Васильевич) (January 22, 1440, Moscow – October 27, 1505, Moscow), also known as Ivan the Great, was a grand duke of Muscovy who first adopted a more pretentious title of the grand duke of all the Russias. Sometimes referred to as the gatherer of...

In 1446, Sofia's elder sister Helena Palaiologina was married to Lazar Branković, Prince of Rascia, a Serbian prince. Their descendants continued for some time in the Balkans. Thomas's male-line descendants soon went extinct. Lazar II Brankovic (died 20 February 1458) was a Serbian despot, prince of Rascia from 1456 to 1458. ...

Political history

John VIII Palaeologus, Byzantine Emperor, on a Renaissance medal by Pisanello who saw the Emperor at Ferrara.

Under the rule of the Palaeologoi, the fragmented empire still claimed descent from 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 Palaeologan dynasty. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1192x590, 98 KB) Summary John VIII Palaeologus, Emperor of Byzantium, by Pisanello Ferrara, Italy, about AD 1438-42--Cast bronze medal-The first Renaissance medal Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1192x590, 98 KB) Summary John VIII Palaeologus, Emperor of Byzantium, by Pisanello Ferrara, Italy, about AD 1438-42--Cast bronze medal-The first Renaissance medal Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev... Medal of the emperor during his visit to Florence, by Pisanello (1438). ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ... Categories: 1911 Britannica | Stub | Italian painters | Gothic painting | 1380 births | 1456 deaths ... Ferrara is a city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, capital city of the province of Ferrara. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, c. ... Note: Hellen was not the same person as Helen of Troy or Helenus, son of King Priam of Troy. ... Pagan may refer to: A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism Bagan, a city in Myanmar also known as Pagan Pagan (album), the 6th album by Celtic metal band Cruachan Pagan Island, of the Northern Mariana Islands Pagan Lorn, a metal band from Luxembourg, Europe (1994-1998) Pagans Mind, is... Georgius Gemistos ,or Plethon (or Pletho), (c. ... Hesychasm (Greek ησυχασμός, from ησυχία, stillness, rest, quiet) is an eremitic tradition of prayer in Eastern Orthodox Christianity practised (Gk: ησυχάζω: keep stillness) by the Hesychast (Gr. ...

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 Palaeologus 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 Palaeologoi near Sparta. The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Peloponnesos; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth. ... The Despotate of Morea was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. ... Borders of the Republic of Venice in 1796 Capital Venice Language(s) Italian, Latin Religion Roman Catholic Government Republic Doge  - 1789-1797 Ludovico Manin History  - Established 727 (697)  - Treaty of Zara June 27, 1358  - Treaty of Leoben April 17, 1797 Map of the Venetian Republic, circa 1000. ... For a village in the prefecture of Ioannina, see Mystras (Ioannina), Greece The Vale of Laconia seen from the battlements of Mystras Mystras (also Mistra, Mystra and Mistras Greek: Μύστρας , Μυζηθράς Mizithras or Myzithras in the chronicle of Morea ) was a fortified town in Morea (the Peloponnesus), on Mt. ... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: SpártÄ“) is a city in southern Greece. ...

The Palaeologoi 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 Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that views itself as: the historical continuation of the original Christian community established by Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles, having maintained unbroken the link between its clergy and the Apostles by means of Apostolic Succession. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ...

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. World map showing the location of Europe. ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian written with the Cyrillic alphabet1 Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 8th century   -  Independence c. ... The Empire of Trebizond and other states carved from the Byzantine Empire, as they were in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) The Empire of Trebizond (Greek: Βασίλειον τῆς Τραπεζούντας) was a Byzantine Greek successor state of the Byzantine Empire founded in 1204 as a result of the capture of Constantinople by... The Despotate of Epirus was one of the medieval Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire, founded in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. ... The Republic of Genoa, in full the Most Serene Republic of Genoa (known as the Ligurian Republic from 1798 to 1805) was an independent state in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast from ca. ... Montferrat was a marquisate in Lombardy during the Middle Ages. ... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское)) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ...

References

1. ^ Ottfried Neubecker, Heraldry - Sources, Symbols and Meaning, pp.106, Tiger Books International (Twickenham), 1997.
2. ^ Ottfried Neubecker, Heraldry - Sources, Symbols and Meaning, pp.106, Tiger Books International (Twickenham), 1997.
3. ^ Byzantine Heraldry, from Heraldica.org