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Loading... The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans (1992)by Donald M. Nicol
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. An interesting discussion of the last Byzantine Ruler. Good use was made of the scanty records of his reign. One very interesting section is the one describing the numerous legends that have accrued around this unfortunate man. There is a geneological table, and several illustrations of sites Constantine was familiar with during his life. ( ) This slim volume is the first biography of Constantine XI since the late 1800's and is a fascinating read. Not much is known about his early life; we follow him as Despot [=Governor?] of the Morea [medieval name of the Peloponnese] along with 2 of his brothers, then as [technically uncrowned=not in a formal Orthodox ceremony] Emperor. He knows the new Sultan, Mehmet II, will be trying to conquer Constantinople and frantically appeals to the west for help. Only highlights of its Fall are given since they've been covered in detail elsewhere. There are interesting sections on his death and the legends that have grown up around him. One states he is only sleeping and one day will awake and take back Constantinople. To me, the main story was told, but the author did have an extra chapter on later Palaiologi; the line became extinct with his brother Thomas's family. And it covered various pretenders. Any Palaeologi left in the world are probably from distant branches of the family. I felt this last chapter was just fluff to pad out the book and not really intrinsic. Constantine is presented as a tragic though heroic figure. It seems he was dogged by bad luck all through his life in many aspects. His two marriages did not last long with the early death of each wife and he died a widower without issue. Any help from the west was too little, too late. Very highly recommended. no reviews | add a review
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Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople and Byzantium. In 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, he was last seen fighting at the city walls, but the actual circumstances of his death have remained surrounded in myth. In the years that followed it was said that he was not dead but sleeping - the 'immortal emperor' turned to marble, who would one day be awakened by an angel and drive the Turks out of his city and empire. Donald Nicol's book tells the gripping story of Constantine's life and death, and ends with an intriguing account of claims by reputed descendants of his family - some remarkably recent - to be heirs to the Byzantine throne. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)949.504092History and Geography Europe Other parts Greece and the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire -- 323-1453 Greek survival 1204-1453LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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