Andreas Palaiologos
Encyclopedia
Andreas Palaiologos (1453–1502) titular
Byzantine emperor and Despot of Morea
from 1465 until his death in 1502.
on May 29, 1453, Andreas continued to live in Morea
, which was ruled independently by Andreas' father Thomas Palaiologos
, the younger brother of Constantine, until 1460. At this time he escaped to the Italian peninsula
following an Ottoman
invasion. When his father died in 1465, Andreas stayed in Italy under the protection of the Papal States
. He lived in Rome, styling himself Imperator Constantinopolitanus ("Emperor of Constantinople"). Andreas is considered the last "titular" Roman (Byzantine) Emperor who, curiously, lived in Rome years after the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire.
During his lifetime, Andreas was believed to have wasted enormous sums of money given to him by the Pope; however, modern historians now believe that the money received from the Pope was only enough for a meager style of life.
Looking for money and a better life, Andreas sold the rights to the Byzantine crown which he held since the death of his father, Thomas. Charles VIII of France
purchased the rights of succession from Andreas in 1494 and died on April 7, 1498.
Andreas' younger brother Manuel Palaiologos
arranged a deal with the Ottoman
Sultan
Bayazid II, exchanging his rights to the Byzantine throne, which were already lawfully sold to France, for a comfortable pension.
Andreas died a pauper in 1502, in spite of having sold his titles and royal and imperial rights again to Ferdinand II of Aragon
and Isabella I of Castile
.. Neither of them, however, is attested to have used the title of Imperator Constantinopolitanus, or anything similar, and the title appears to have fallen into desuetude
.
Eight years after the marriage of Ivan III of Russia
with Andreas' sister Zoe (Sophia), and only 1 year after the birth of their son in 1480, Ivan had started to call himself tsar
(emperor). This was related to Russia's growing ambitions to become an Orthodox "Third Rome
" (Constantinople being the second Rome) and Byzantium's heir. Finally, in 1514, Vasili III of Russia
was recognized in the title of emperor of Russia in a letter from Maximilian I
, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
. Maximilian's letter was of great importance to Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great
, when they wished to back up their titles of "tsar" and "emperor", respectively. This letter was needed for somebody to be legally proclaimed Roman emperor or heir of Roman or Byzantine empire. Both monarchs demonstrated the letter to foreign ambassadors; Peter even referred to it when he was proclaimed Emperor by the Senate
and the Synod
.
Andreas visited his sister in Moscow in 1480 and 1491.
Russian sources tell of a great scandal in Moscow regarding Sophia's niece Maria. The Grand Duchess arranged the marriage of her niece with Prince Vasily Mikhailovich of Vereya
-Belozersk
(dynasty of princes of Mozhaysk
). Vasily was the son of Prince Mikhail Andreevich of Mozhaysk (Михаил Андреевич Можайский), who was the grandson of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy and cousin of Grand Duke Ivan III. In 1483 Sophia gave to her niece a necklace from the dowry of Ivan III's first wife Maria of Tver
, mother of her stepson Ivan the Young
, the heir. When Ivan III wanted to present the same necklace to Ivan the Young's wife Elena of Moldavia he find that the jewel was missing. Because of this scandal, Maria and her husband Vasiliy escaped to Lithuania, and Mikhail Andreevich of Mozhaysk lost the Principality of Vereya. Only in 1493 did Sophia persuade her husband to forgive Maria and Vasiliy.
|-
Titular
Titular means existing in title only. It may refer to:*Titular ruler, a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers*Titular , bishop or titular cardinal, whose see is in name only**titulus**titular see...
Byzantine emperor and Despot of Morea
Despotate of Morea
The Despotate of the Morea or Despotate of Mystras was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. Its territory varied in size during its 100 years of existence but eventually grew to take in almost all the southern Greek peninsula, the...
from 1465 until his death in 1502.
Biography
He was the nephew of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Byzantine Emperor of Constantinople. After Constantine was defeated and killed by the forces of Mehmed IIMehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
on May 29, 1453, Andreas continued to live in Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
, which was ruled independently by Andreas' father Thomas Palaiologos
Thomas Palaiologos
Thomas Palaiologos was Despot in Morea from 1428 until the Ottoman conquest in 1460. After the desertion of his older brother to the Turks in 1460, Thomas Palaiologos became the legitimate claimant to the Byzantine throne...
, the younger brother of Constantine, until 1460. At this time he escaped to the Italian peninsula
Italian Peninsula
The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the three large peninsulas of Southern Europe , spanning from the Po Valley in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south. The peninsula's shape gives it the nickname Lo Stivale...
following an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasion. When his father died in 1465, Andreas stayed in Italy under the protection of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
. He lived in Rome, styling himself Imperator Constantinopolitanus ("Emperor of Constantinople"). Andreas is considered the last "titular" Roman (Byzantine) Emperor who, curiously, lived in Rome years after the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire.
During his lifetime, Andreas was believed to have wasted enormous sums of money given to him by the Pope; however, modern historians now believe that the money received from the Pope was only enough for a meager style of life.
Looking for money and a better life, Andreas sold the rights to the Byzantine crown which he held since the death of his father, Thomas. Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
purchased the rights of succession from Andreas in 1494 and died on April 7, 1498.
Andreas' younger brother Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos was the youngest child of Thomas Palaiologos and Catherine Zaccharia. He was brother of the de jure Byzantine Emperor Andrew Palaiologos, Zoe Palaiologina, Grand Duchess of Moscovy and Helena Palaiologina, wife of Despot Lazar Branković of Serbia...
arranged a deal with the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Bayazid II, exchanging his rights to the Byzantine throne, which were already lawfully sold to France, for a comfortable pension.
Andreas died a pauper in 1502, in spite of having sold his titles and royal and imperial rights again to Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
.. Neither of them, however, is attested to have used the title of Imperator Constantinopolitanus, or anything similar, and the title appears to have fallen into desuetude
Desuetude
In law, desuetude is a doctrine that causes statutes, similar legislation or legal principles to lapse and become unenforceable by a long habit of non-enforcement or lapse of time. It is what happens to laws that are not repealed when they become obsolete...
.
Eight years after the marriage of Ivan III of Russia
Ivan III of Russia
Ivan III Vasilyevich , also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and "Grand Prince of all Rus"...
with Andreas' sister Zoe (Sophia), and only 1 year after the birth of their son in 1480, Ivan had started to call himself tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
(emperor). This was related to Russia's growing ambitions to become an Orthodox "Third Rome
Third Rome
The term Third Rome describes the idea that some European city, state, or country is the successor to the legacy of the Roman Empire and its successor state, the Byzantine Empire ....
" (Constantinople being the second Rome) and Byzantium's heir. Finally, in 1514, Vasili III of Russia
Vasili III of Russia
Vasili III Ivanovich was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1505 to 1533. He was the son of Ivan III Vasiliyevich and Sophia Paleologue and was christened with the name Gavriil...
was recognized in the title of emperor of Russia in a letter from Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. Maximilian's letter was of great importance to Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
, when they wished to back up their titles of "tsar" and "emperor", respectively. This letter was needed for somebody to be legally proclaimed Roman emperor or heir of Roman or Byzantine empire. Both monarchs demonstrated the letter to foreign ambassadors; Peter even referred to it when he was proclaimed Emperor by the Senate
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
and the Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
.
Andreas visited his sister in Moscow in 1480 and 1491.
Children
While most scholars believe Andreas left no descendants, Donald M. Nicol's The Immortal Emperor recognises a son, Constantine Palaiologos who served in the Papal Guard and a daughter, Maria who married the Russian noble Vasily Mikhailovich as possible offspring of Andreas.Russian sources tell of a great scandal in Moscow regarding Sophia's niece Maria. The Grand Duchess arranged the marriage of her niece with Prince Vasily Mikhailovich of Vereya
Vereya
Vereya is a town in Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Protva River southwest of Moscow. Population: 6,500 ....
-Belozersk
Belozersk
Belozersk , known as Beloozero until 1777 , is a town and the administrative center of Belozersky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia, situated on the southern bank of Lake Beloye, from which it takes the name...
(dynasty of princes of Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk is a town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the west from the Russian capital, on the historic road leading to Smolensk and then to Poland. Population:...
). Vasily was the son of Prince Mikhail Andreevich of Mozhaysk (Михаил Андреевич Можайский), who was the grandson of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy and cousin of Grand Duke Ivan III. In 1483 Sophia gave to her niece a necklace from the dowry of Ivan III's first wife Maria of Tver
Maria of Tver
Maria Borisovna of Tver was the first wife of Grand Prince Ivan III and daughter of Boris Alexandrovich of Tver....
, mother of her stepson Ivan the Young
Ivan the Young
Ivan Ivanovich was the eldest son and heir of Ivan III from his first marriage to Maria of Tver.Ivan's father empowered him to deal with most administrative and military affairs of the state in order to make ordinary...
, the heir. When Ivan III wanted to present the same necklace to Ivan the Young's wife Elena of Moldavia he find that the jewel was missing. Because of this scandal, Maria and her husband Vasiliy escaped to Lithuania, and Mikhail Andreevich of Mozhaysk lost the Principality of Vereya. Only in 1493 did Sophia persuade her husband to forgive Maria and Vasiliy.
Ancestry
Patrilineal descent
Descent before Michael VIII is taken from :es:Dinastía Paleólogo and may be inaccurate.- Nikephoros Palaiologos
- George Palaiologos
- Nikephoros Palaiologos
- Michael Komnenos
- Alexios Palaiologos
- Andronikos Doukas Komnenos Palaiologos, d. 1246
- Michael VIII PalaiologosMichael VIII PalaiologosMichael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
, 1223–1282 - Andronikos II PalaiologosAndronikos II PalaiologosAndronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
, 1259–1332 - Michael IX PalaiologosMichael IX PalaiologosMichael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus , , reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320...
, 1277–1320 - Andronikos III PalaiologosAndronikos III PalaiologosAndronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...
, 1297–1341 - John V PalaiologosJohn V PalaiologosJohn V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
, 1332–1391 - Manuel II PalaiologosManuel II PalaiologosManuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
, 1350–1425 - Thomas PalaiologosThomas PalaiologosThomas Palaiologos was Despot in Morea from 1428 until the Ottoman conquest in 1460. After the desertion of his older brother to the Turks in 1460, Thomas Palaiologos became the legitimate claimant to the Byzantine throne...
, 1409–1465 - Andreas Palaiologos, 1453–1502
Sources
- Jonathan Harris, Greek Émigrés in the West, 1400-1520, Camberley: Porphyrogenitus, 1995. ISBN 1-871328-11-X
- Jonathan Harris 'A worthless prince? Andreas Palaeologus in Rome, 1465-1502', Orientalia Christiana Periodica 61 (1995), 537-54
- Donald M. Nicol, The Immortal Emperor, Cambridge University Press, 1992, pp. 115–22. ISBN 0-521-41456-3.
- Steven Runciman, The Fall of Constantinople 1453, Cambridge University Press, 1965, pp. 183–4. ISBN 0-521-09573-5
- also see F. Rodriguez, Origine, cronologia esuccesione degli Imperatori Paleologo, "Riv. di Araldica e Genealogia" I, 1933.
|-