Constantine XI Palaiologos

Constantine XI Palaiologos (8 February 1404 - 29 May 1453) was the Despot of Morea from 1443 to 1448 and later became the last Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

He was also the uncle of Andreas and Manuel Palaiologos, both of whom would go on to make separate attempts at a resurgence of the Byzantine Empire, ultimately with no success.

History

Constantine became Emperor after his brother John VIII died in 1448. Under Constantine's rule, Assassins in the Byzantine Empire were systematically captured and executed.

As the Emperor, he spearheaded the final defense of Constantinople against the Ottoman Empire in 1453, and managed to hold the city for 54 days before Ottoman cannons finally breached the city's walls in two places on 29 May of the same year.

After holding Mass for one last time in Blachernae Palace with his generals, Constantine waited for the final attack. When it came, he tore off his Imperial regalia and led his men in a desperate last defense of the city, though he would later die in the attack and was presumably buried in a mass grave, as his body was never identified.

The Ottoman Sultan who led the siege, Mehmed II, was successful in taking Constantinople due to his possession of an Apple of Eden.

Trivia

• Constantine is a name derived from Latin constans, meaning "constant, steadfast." Palaiologos is a combination of Greek words palaios, "old, ancient" and logos, "word, speech, discourse."