Constantine XI Palaiologos
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Konstantinos XI Dragases Palaiologos (8 February 1404 - 29 May 1453), commonly known as Constantine XI Palaiologos, was the Despot of Morea, later the last Byzantine Emperor, and a potential ally or puppet of the Templar Order.
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
Under Constantine's rule, the Assassins in the Byzantine Empire were systematically captured and executed.
Knowingly or not, these actions served the Templar cause, and though not fully certain, his association with the Templar Order is likely, given the Roman Empire's history of Templar connections. Yusuf Tazim - a Master Assassin in Constantinople during the early 16th century - believed that Constantine was a Templar himself. [1]
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 29th 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 at the time, Mehmed II, was said to have been successful in taking Constantinople due to his possession of an Apple of Eden.[2]