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4/9/2012 21. Palaiologan Restoration HIST 302 Spring 2012 The Legitimate Heir John IV Laskaris • (1258-1261) – Last in the Doukas-Laskaris line • A Strong military man assigned to protect him – Michael Palaiologos Portrait of John IV Laskaris 15th-century manuscript Restoration and Usurpation August 15 Michael VIII Palaiologos walked into the city of Constantinople behind an icon of the Virgin during Feast of her Dormition • gave thanks at the H. Sophia – Wife was crowned for a second time • commissioned a new mosaic – Christ flanked by Virgin and the Baptist • Had Boy-Emperor John IV Laskaris blinded 1 4/9/2012 Upper Gallery of H. Sophia 2 4/9/2012 Long Lived Line in Byzantium Palaiologos Dynasty would remain in power until the Fall (1453) • Epiros and Trebizond would not submit • Michael only controlled the passageway between Aegean and Black Sea – empire nicknamed “empire of the Straights” • New Threat – Ottoman Turks Civil War and Rivalry (1341-47) 1341 Andronikos III Palaiologos dies • eldest son only 9 years old • Regent John Kantakouzenos – Patriarch John Kalekas not happy • When Regent leaves capital to fight, Patr. causes mischief – forced mother to disband army • regent then declares himself Emperor – is excomm. and Pat. crowns young John as Emperor The 99% Object to Kantakouzenos • John Kantakouzenos very wealthy – travelling in Thessalonica – declaration unpopular with masses • “zealots” expel the governor • establish a council of 12 archons – had middle class support, including Jewish merchants (mesoi) – ruled the town for 7 years with other towns as well 3 4/9/2012 Dialogue between the Rich and the Poor • text written by Alexios Makrembolites • not a rebel but member of literati – may have motivated the “zealots” • Poor accuse the rich of numerous abuses – greediness – selfish exploitation of natural resources – desire to “horde” • Rich tried (poorly) to justify his situation Intellectual Trends in the Palaiologan Period • Theology • especially pro and anti- Hesychastic Literature • Lexicography • Law Rise of Intellectualism in Late Byzantine society • Hippocratic Oath 4 4/9/2012 Mistras: center of Byzantine Culture • located in hills above ancient Sparta – originally built by crusader Villehardoin in 1247 – became governor’s palace of Morea • John IV Kantakouzenos makes his son Manual despotes of Morea (1349-1380) Mistras: center of Byzantine Culture • Becomes a center for “Hellenic culture” – attracted artists and scholars – proximity to Sparta had influence 1410 George Plethon exiled by emperor Manual II to Mistras for heresy • called “second Plato” • wrote “Book of Laws” – revival of Greek attitudes of religion – sought “self sufficiency” and a citizen army • complete liturgy to Zeus “Come to us, O gods of learning, whoever and however many ye be; ye who are guardians of scientific knowledge and true belief; ye who distribute them whomsoever you wish, in accordance with the dictates of the great father of all things, Zeus the King…Grant that this book may have all the success, to be set as a possession forever before those of mankind who wish to pass their lives, both in private and in public established in the best and noblest fashion 5 4/9/2012 Philosophy of the Olympian Soul • Zeus is understood as the absolute good – ungenerated and everlasting • Olympian gods are few but supracelestial – no bodies and exist outside of space – lower, lessor gods and daemons are more numerous • religious observances and prayers with corresponding names of gods/desses • reincarnating souls Other New Religious Traditions Rise of a “New Spiritualism” • Hesychism • quietude (hêsychia) • Gregory of Palamas – Metropolitan of Thessalonica – 1345 was refused admittance to Thessalonica by “Zealots” gates to the human soul Human soul visualized as a citadel • 5 gates of access 1. speech: recitation of Gospels 2. hearing: no idle gossip 3. smell: no sweet scents 4. sight: look at as few women as possible 5. touch: no soft clothing, beds, or bodily contact 6 4/9/2012 Human Behavioral Failings • hording food – as smoke drives away bees, so gluttony drives away Holy Spirit • Outspokenness • boredom • laughter (esp. at monks) – Christ apparently never laughed John V Palaiologos (1354 – 1391) John had European connections • mother was Anna of Savoy • nephew was Amadeo VI of Savoy – arrived in June 1366 and seized the fortress of Gallipoli from the Ottomans – handed it back to the Byzantines Turks had by now firmly established themselves in Thrace John V Palaiologos (1354 – 1391) 1369 Ottomans finally captured Adrianople • John V rushed to Rome – hoped to get Western help – confessed his Catholic faith both privately and at a public spectacle 1371 John V returned empty-handed – humiliated himself and done nothing to improve the deteriorating situation in the Balkans 7 4/9/2012 Demographic Changes in the Byzantine State Year Population Soldiers 1025 12,000,000 250,000 1143 10,000,000 80,000 1204 9,000,000 30,000+ 1281 5,000,000 20,000 1340 3,000,000 12,000 Corresponds to an inverse rise in Ottoman population and expansion 8 .
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