European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Despots of Morea / Mystras (AD 1348-1460)

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From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

With the defeat of the 'Dynasty of the Angeli' by the Fourth Crusade in Constantinople in 1204, Latin rulers governed the city and much of the former empire, backed by Venice and France. The leader of the Fourth Crusade also set up other minor Crusader states in Greece, but other territories were lost, including the Albanian principality of Arbanon.

Morea was the name by which the Peloponnesus peninsula in Greece was known during the Middle Ages. Following the Latin conquest of Constantinople, Venice gained control of part of it until this Roman rival territory rose to power in southern Greece. However, it did not control the Crusader duchy of Athens or the principality of Achaia in the western Peloponnese.

William II of Villehardouin, ruler of Achaia, fortified Mistra (Mystras, another form of reference for the entire Morea) in 1249, near the site of ancient Sparta. After losing the Battle of Pelagonia (1259) against Michael VIII of Nicæa, he was forced to pay for his own ransom by surrendering most of eastern Morea, including his new strongholds.

The Romans were not initially strong enough to capture the rest of Morea, so they settled into uneasy peace until Morea could be absorbed by the Romans though more diplomatic or persistent means. The Roman Morea was reorganised into a despotate in 1348, primarily being governed by sons of the emperor. The move would appear to have been a response to the loss of control over Epirus to Stephen Urosh IV Dušan of Serbia.

For members of the Jewish Diaspora who were citizens of the fractured empire, especially the long-term resident Romaniote Jews, conditions abruptly worsened. Anti-Semitic legislation was now more easy to pass in smaller states, and the Jews seemed to bear the brunt of it.

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(Information by Peter Kessler, and from External Links: Encyclopædia Britannica, and Jewish Encyclopaedia, and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive), and Byzantine Empire, CWC Oman (Fisher Unwin, 1892, and available via Heritage History), and The End of Byzantium, Jonathan Harris (Yale University Press, 2010, available via JSTOR).)

1348 - 1380

Son of John VI in Constantinople. First despot.

1348

It is John VI Cantacuzenes who reorganises the captured eastern half of Morea (the Peloponnese) into a despotate which primarily will be governed by sons of the emperor. The move would appear to be a response to the loss of control over Epirus to Stephen Urosh IV Dušan of Serbia.

Stephen Urosh IV Dušan, creator of the Serbian empire, was pictured in this mid-fourteenth century fresco in a typical Eastern Roman pose and style

1348 - 1349

The Byzantine-Genoese War of 1348-1349 is a fight for control over custom duties through the Bosphorus. The Eastern Romans attempt to break their dependence on the Genoese of Galata when it comes to food and maritime commerce, after having rebuilt something of their naval power. Their newly-built navy is captured by the Genoese and Constantinople is forced to agree peace terms.

1380 - 1383

Brother. Former emperor in Constantinople.

1383

Son. The Cantacuzeni replaced by Palaeologi.

1383 - 1407

Son-in-law of Nerio I Acciaioli of Athens. Died.

1390 - 1393

The forces of Nerio of Athens capture the duchy of Neopatras from its Catalan masters, but they hold it for just three years before Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I conquers it. After that Nerio has to pay an annual tribute to be able to retain Athens.

With Persia thoroughly focussed on resisting the ever-expanding conquests of Timur in the late 1300s, the Ottomans were largely free to focus their attentions on defeating the states of the Balkans and Greece, but Timur's completion of his task by 1401 completely changed that situation (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1395

The political situation is fraught, with various local lords constantly jockeying for power and Venice and the Ottomans playing more powerful hands. A small Ottoman force attacks the Acropolis in Athens and Nerio's brother, Donato, is in no position to defend the town. Instead it is signed over to Venice in return for protection.

1407 - 1443

Son of Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus.

1417 - 1418

The Eastern Roman army of Palaeologi Constantinople under Theodore II Palaeologus and Emperor John VIII now invades Achaia. They take Messenia and Elis and force Centurione to take refuge in Glarentza. From there he flees by sea in spring 1418. Only Venetian mediation from their occupation in Navarino makes it possible for the prince to be able to secure a truce.

1428 - 1443

Brother and co-despot.

1428 - 1443

Brother, co-despot. Dau Zoe m Ivan III of the Rus Moscow State.

1432

The death of Centurione Zaccaria means that his principality of Achaia is ceded to his son-in-law, Theodore II, essentially returning it to the Eastern Roman Palaeologi dynasty.

This illustration of Constantinople in 1422 shows all the major buildings and the important defensive walls whilst leaving out the majority of dwellings in this city which increasingly was becoming a toehold in an Ottoman-dominated world

1443

Having been disputing with Constantine the best way forward in regard to the succession in Constantinople, Theodore II agrees to step down in Morea in return for Constantine's appanage of Selymbria (now Silivri near Istanbul).

1443 - 1449

Now lead despot. Became the last Palaeologi emperor.

1443 - 1449

Brother and co-despot. Became lead despot.

1449 - 1460

Former co-despot. Governed until Morea's fall. Vassal (1453).

1449 - 1460

Brother and co-despot. Ottoman vassal (1453).

1453

Despite Constantine's defence with a fraction of the number of troops of his enemy, Constantinople, the Palaeologi capital and heart of the fading Eastern Roman empire, is captured by Mehmed II of the Ottoman empire, and Greece becomes an Ottoman province.

The loss is viewed as a disaster for the Christian world, despite Rome's frequent differences with the Orthodox church in Constantinople over the centuries, and with its emperors. Thomas and Demetrios now govern Morea at the whim of the Ottoman emperor, who permits them to remain in post as his vassals.

The fall of Constantinople not only ended the last vestiges of the Roman empire, now dating back almost two millennia in its many forms, but it also opened up south-eastern Europe to the Ottoman Turks

1456 - 1458

The army of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II arrives in Athens to take control. The duke and his subjects take refuge in the Acropolis and manage to hold out for two years until they are forced to surrender. The sultan enters Athens in August 1458, permitting Duke Francesco to retain the lordship of Thebes as his vassal until he is murdered in 1460.

1460

Eastern Roman Mistra and the rest of Morea fall to Ottoman Turk Mehmed II, the primary excuse being the constant political bickering between Thomas and Demetrios as the former attempts to create a rallying point for a Christian resurgence against Turkic rule.

Venice holds on to some coastal sections of Morea, and further wars are fought up to 1718, until the Turks finally secure all of it. Thomas retains his claim on his title until his death in 1465, and his son continues that practice, but the area remains in Ottoman hands until 1821-1829, when a war of independence is fought to establish a kingdom of Greece.

The Ottomans directly challenged the most powerful of Europe's Mediterranean empires in the form of the Venetian republic, leading to a series of vicious wars over the course of three centuries which are known as the Ottoman-Venetian Wars