Palaiologoi

The Palaiologoi, also spelled Paleologus or Palaeologus, were a Byzantine Greek noble family who reigned as emperors of the Byzantine Empire from 1261 until its fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. This dynasty marked the final imperial line of the Byzantine Empire, presiding over its period of decline and eventual disintegration.

The dynasty was founded by Michael VIII Palaiologos, who, after recapturing Constantinople from the Latin Empire in 1261, restored the Byzantine Empire. His reign was characterized by efforts to consolidate power and rebuild the weakened state, though it was plagued by internal strife and external threats. His successors, including Andronikos II, Andronikos III, John V, and Manuel II, faced immense challenges. These included constant warfare with the rising Ottoman power, internal revolts, economic hardship, and religious disputes, most notably the protracted Great Schism and attempts at church union.

The later Palaiologoi emperors were often weakened by civil wars and a shrinking territory, which at its end comprised little more than Constantinople and a few scattered holdings. Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Byzantine emperor, dying in the defense of Constantinople during the Ottoman siege in 1453. Despite the empire's ultimate demise, the Palaiologoi era represents a significant period in late medieval history, characterized by a complex interplay of Byzantine traditions, Western influences, and the relentless pressure of new powers. The family's legacy continues to be studied as the final chapter of the once mighty Roman Empire in the East.