The Mongol Impact on the Political History of the Byzantine Empire
Journal: Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University History
Year: 2024

This paper examines the significant role of the Mongols in the political history of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Michael VIII (1261–1282). Specifically, it focuses on the impact of Mongol uluses — the Īlkhānid state and the Golden Horde — on the foreign policy of the Byzantine Empire at that time. As the Īlkhānid state consolidated its political influence in Asia Minor and the Golden Horde established political dominance in the Balkans, Byzantium strategically adjusted its foreign po