George Sphrantzes
Encyclopedia
George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek
historian. He was born in Constantinople
. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos
; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect
of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete
(chancellor). At the capture of Constantinople
by the Ottoman Turks
(1453) he fell into their hands, but managed to escape to Peloponnesus, where he obtained protection at the court of Thomas Palaiologos
, Despot of the Morea. After the downfall of the Peloponnesian Despotate (1460) Sphrantzes retired to the monastery of Tarchaneiotes in Corfu
. Here he wrote his Chronicle, which like most Byzantine Chronicles begins with the creation of the world but is more detailed when talking of the history of the House of the Palaiologoi
from 1258-1476. It is a most valuable authority for the events of his own times.
Editions by I. Bekker
(1838) in the Corpus scriptorum hist. byz., and in J. P. Migne
, Patrologia graeca
, civi; see also C. Krumbacher
, Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur (1897).
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
historian. He was born in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete
Megas logothetes
The megas logothetēs or Grand Logothete, was an official supervising all the sekreta ....
(chancellor). At the capture 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...
by the Ottoman Turks
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...
(1453) he fell into their hands, but managed to escape to Peloponnesus, where he obtained protection at the court of 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...
, Despot of the Morea. After the downfall of the Peloponnesian Despotate (1460) Sphrantzes retired to the monastery of Tarchaneiotes in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. Here he wrote his Chronicle, which like most Byzantine Chronicles begins with the creation of the world but is more detailed when talking of the history of the House of the Palaiologoi
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
from 1258-1476. It is a most valuable authority for the events of his own times.
Editions by I. Bekker
August Immanuel Bekker
August Immanuel Bekker was a German philologist and critic.-Biography:Born in Berlin, Bekker completed his classical education at the University of Halle under Friedrich August Wolf, who considered him as his most promising pupil. In 1810 he was appointed professor of philosophy in the University...
(1838) in the Corpus scriptorum hist. byz., and in J. P. Migne
Jacques Paul Migne
Jacques Paul Migne was a French priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works, encyclopedias and the texts of the Church Fathers, with the goal of providing a universal library for the Catholic priesthood.He was born at Saint-Flour, Cantal and studied...
, Patrologia graeca
Patrologia Graeca
The Patrologia Graeca is an edited collection of writings by the Christian Church Fathers and various secular writers, in the ancient Koine or medieval variants of the Greek language. It consists of 161 volumes produced in 1857–1866 by J. P. Migne's Imprimerie Catholique...
, civi; see also C. Krumbacher
Karl Krumbacher
Karl Krumbacher was a German scholar who was an expert on Byzantine culture.He was born at Kürnach im Allgäu in Bavaria, and was educated at the Universities of Munich and Leipzig, and held the professorship of the middle ages and modern Greek language and literature in the former from 1897 to his...
, Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur (1897).