Gattilusio
Encyclopedia
The Gattilusi were a powerful Genoese
family who controlled a number of possessions in the northern Aegean
from 1355 until the mid 15th century.
Francesco Gattilusio
gained the favor of Byzantine
Emperor John V Palaiologos
by helping him oust a rival to the throne, John VI Kantakouzenos
, in 1354. As reward, Gattilusio was given lordship of the island of Lesbos (and its stronghold, Mytilene
) from July 1355, as well as the hand in marriage of the emperor's sister, Maria. The Gattilusi possessions grew to include, among others, the islands of Imbros
, Samothrace
, Lemnos
and Thasos
, and the land city of Aenos
(modern Enez
in Turkey
). From this position, they were heavily involved in the mining and marketing of alum
, useful in textile
production and a profitable trade controlled by the Genoese.
After the Fall of Constantinople
in 1453, the Gattilusi briefly retained control of their possessions under Ottoman
suzerainty
, but were forced out within a few years. In 1456, the Ottomans appointed a native Greek historian, Michael Critobulus, as governor of Imbros, and likewise removed the Gattilusi from power in the remainder of their possessions, with the exception of Lesbos, which they were permitted to retain in return for an annual payment of 4,000 gold pieces. The lord of Lesbos, Domenico Gattilusio
, was murdered and briefly succeeded by his brother Niccolò
, before an Ottoman fleet captured the island in September 1462, sending Niccolò as prisoner to Istanbul
(where he was later executed) and putting an end to the family's power.
Archaeological excavations in the castle of Mytilene since 1984 by the University of British Columbia under the direction of Caroline and Hector Williams have uncovered the burial chapel of the Gattelusi and a few graves that probably belonged to dependents of the family. The building was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman capture of Mytilene in 1462 and was finally destroyed in the great earthquake of February, 1867. The Canadian excavations have also added a considerable number of Gattelusi coins to the known corpus.
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
family who controlled a number of possessions in the northern Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
from 1355 until the mid 15th century.
Francesco Gattilusio
Francesco I of Lesbos
Francesco I Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the first member of the Gattilusio family to rule the Aegean Island of Lesbos.-Freebooter:...
gained the favor of Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Emperor John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
by helping him oust a rival to the throne, John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
, in 1354. As reward, Gattilusio was given lordship of the island of Lesbos (and its stronghold, Mytilene
Mytilene
Mytilene is a town and a former municipality on the island of Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lesbos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the capital of the island of Lesbos. Mytilene, whose name is pre-Greek, is built on the...
) from July 1355, as well as the hand in marriage of the emperor's sister, Maria. The Gattilusi possessions grew to include, among others, the islands of Imbros
Imbros
Imbros or Imroz, officially referred to as Gökçeada since July 29, 1970 , is an island in the Aegean Sea and the largest island of Turkey, part of Çanakkale Province. It is located at the entrance of Saros Bay and is also the westernmost point of Turkey...
, Samothrace
Samothrace
Samothrace is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a self-governing municipality within the Evros peripheral unit of Thrace. The island is long and is in size and has a population of 2,723 . Its main industries are fishing and tourism. Resources on the island includes granite and...
, Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
and Thasos
Thasos
Thasos or Thassos is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea, close to the coast of Thrace and the plain of the river Nestos but geographically part of Macedonia. It is the northernmost Greek island, and 12th largest by area...
, and the land city of Aenos
Aenus (Thrace)
Aenus , modern Enez in Turkey, was an ancient Greek city on the southeastern coast of Thrace. Formerly called Poltyobria , it was located near the mouth of the Hebrus River, not far from the Melas Gulf , which is formed by the Thracian Chersonesus to the east...
(modern Enez
Enez
Enez is a district of Edirne Province, Turkey, as well as the name of the center-town of the district. Its ancient name was Aenus. The mayor is Ahmet Çayır . The population is 3,826 as of 2010....
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). From this position, they were heavily involved in the mining and marketing of alum
Alum
Alum is both a specific chemical compound and a class of chemical compounds. The specific compound is the hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate with the formula KAl2.12H2O. The wider class of compounds known as alums have the related empirical formula, AB2.12H2O.-Chemical properties:Alums are...
, useful in textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
production and a profitable trade controlled by the Genoese.
After the Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
in 1453, the Gattilusi briefly retained control of their possessions under 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...
suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
, but were forced out within a few years. In 1456, the Ottomans appointed a native Greek historian, Michael Critobulus, as governor of Imbros, and likewise removed the Gattilusi from power in the remainder of their possessions, with the exception of Lesbos, which they were permitted to retain in return for an annual payment of 4,000 gold pieces. The lord of Lesbos, Domenico Gattilusio
Domenico of Lesbos
Domenico Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the fifth ruler of an independent Lesbos from 1455 to 1458.He was a son of Dorino of Lesbos and Orietta Doria. He succeeded his father and reigned in the island for three years....
, was murdered and briefly succeeded by his brother Niccolò
Niccolo of Lesbos
Niccolò Gattilusio was the last Prince of Lesbos .He was a younger son of Dorino of Lesbos and Orietta Doria....
, before an Ottoman fleet captured the island in September 1462, sending Niccolò as prisoner to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(where he was later executed) and putting an end to the family's power.
Archaeological excavations in the castle of Mytilene since 1984 by the University of British Columbia under the direction of Caroline and Hector Williams have uncovered the burial chapel of the Gattelusi and a few graves that probably belonged to dependents of the family. The building was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman capture of Mytilene in 1462 and was finally destroyed in the great earthquake of February, 1867. The Canadian excavations have also added a considerable number of Gattelusi coins to the known corpus.
Princes of Lesbos
- Francesco I of LesbosFrancesco I of LesbosFrancesco I Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the first member of the Gattilusio family to rule the Aegean Island of Lesbos.-Freebooter:...
(1355-1384) - Francesco II of LesbosFrancesco II of LesbosFrancesco II Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the second ruler of an independent Lesbos from 1384 to his death.He was the third son of Francesco I of Lesbos and Maria Palaiologina...
(1384-1404) - Jacopo of LesbosJacopo of LesbosJacopo Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the third ruler of an independent Lesbos from 1404 to 1428.He was the eldest son of Francesco II of Lesbos and Valentina Doria. He succeeded to his realm on 26 October 1404.-Marriage:...
(1404-1428) - Dorino of LesbosDorino of LesbosDorino Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the fourth ruler of an independent Lesbos from 1428 to 1455.He was the second son of Francis II, Lord of Lesbos and Valentina Doria. He succeeded his older brother Jacopo of Lesbos in 1428....
(1428-1455) - Domenico of LesbosDomenico of LesbosDomenico Gattilusio, Lord of Lesbos was the fifth ruler of an independent Lesbos from 1455 to 1458.He was a son of Dorino of Lesbos and Orietta Doria. He succeeded his father and reigned in the island for three years....
(1455-1458) - Niccolò of LesbosNiccolo of LesbosNiccolò Gattilusio was the last Prince of Lesbos .He was a younger son of Dorino of Lesbos and Orietta Doria....
(1458-1462)