Michael Palaiologos

## Michael (VIII) PalaiologosΜιχαὴλ Παλαιολόγος

Wall painting of Michael Palaiologos at the St. Demetrius monastery at Constantinople

## Personal details

### Born

c. 1223
Constantinople, Byzantine Empire

### Died

18 March 1281 (age 57-58),
Constantinople, Byzantine Empire

### Burial

Monastery of St. Demetrius,
Constantinople

### Issue

Theodora
Manuel
Andronikos
Constantine
Eudokia
Theodore

### Religion

Eastern Orthodox

**Michael Palaiologos** (Greek: Μιχαὴλ Παλαιολόγος, c. 1223 – 18 March 1281) was a thirteenth-century Byzantine noble and soldier known for leading the defense of Constantinople during the 1246-1249 Mongol siege. At the time, Michael served as junior co-emperor under his father, Andronikos II Palaiologos, who had usurped the throne in 1245. Had he ruled as senior emperor, he would have been numbered **Michael VIII**.

Following the restoration of Laskarid rule, Michael was pardoned by Theodore II Laskaris due to his competent leadership during the Mongol siege. However, he later spearheaded the conspiracy which overthrew John IV Laskaris, being executed for treason by John IV's successor and younger brother Skantarios Laskaris.

## Life

Michael Palaiologos was born in the high aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire. His father was Andronikos Palaiologos, who served John III Doukas Vatatzes as Grand Domestic for nearly twenty years. His mother, Theodora Angelina Palaiologina, was a granddaughter of emperor Alexios III Angelos. The marriage of his parents unified two distant branches of the Palaiologos family, allowing them to grow increasingly powerful and influential. As a child, Michael received a martial education. His elder sister, Martha, wife of the general Nikephoros Tarchaneiotes, played an important role in his upbringing and would be a close friend for all of their lives.

Michael first rose to prominence at a young age at the Battle of Adrianople, where he distinguished himself alongside his father by dealing the first military defeat to a Mongol force in Europe. Five years later, in 1245, the young Michael participated in the coup carried out by his father against John III, leading the troops which stormed the Palace of Boukoleon and forced the emperor to flee the city, mortally wounding him in the process. As the eldest son of the new emperor, Andronikos II, and grandson and senior heir of Alexios III Angelos, Michael was crowned junior co-emperor on Christmas 1245.

As co-emperor, Michael became the champion of his father's regime. A soldier first and foremost, he defended the new dynasty against foreign enemies and other Byzantine pretenders in the civil war that followed. On 24 June 1245, Michael faced the pretender Alexios Angelos Gabras, the only son of Alexios IV Angelos, in single combat outside of the walls of Constantinople. After a lengthy duel, Alexios eventually surrendered to Michael, giving up his claim to the throne and proclaiming Andronikos II as the legitimate emperor instead. In exchange, Michael married Alexios' niece Euphrosyne Taronitissa, while his brother John married another sister of hers.

During the following three years, Michael was placed in charge of the defense of Constantinople during the Mongol siege and, when the Mongols departed also led the defense against the joint Bulgarian-Galician siege. Michael's many heroics and deeds were recorded in the chronicle of Diogenes of Lesbos, an eyewitness account of the siege and the Palaiologan regime, and were later confirmed in the chronicle of Theodore Skoutariotes. The Byzantine noblewoman and historian Theodora of Antioch, a niece of John III who had been imprisoned in Constantinople during the reign of Andronikos II, compared Michael favorably to Bohemond II, citing that while both had betrayed their masters, Michael had successfully fought for and defended his polity against their enemies, while Bohemond had failed to do so.

### Downfall and Later Life

The siege of Constantinople was finally lifted in August 1249 by Theodore II Laskaris, only son of the deposed emperor John III. The defenders of Constantinople, exhausted by long years of siege and warfare, laid down their arms and welcomed the new emperor into the city. With the victory and successful return of Theodore II, the Palaiologan regime was overthrown and Michael lost his title of co-emperor. The Byzantine statesman and historian George Akropolites wrote that Theodore II had originally intended to punish and blind Michael and his father for their usurpation, but was dissuaded from doing so on Akropolites' advice, who told him Michael was regarded as a hero by the people of the city and that they would rise in rebellion if the Palaiologoi were excessively punished.

Therefore, Michael received a pardon and was integrated back into the Byzantine society under the restored Laskarid regime, with much of his reputation intact. He received the title of *protovestiarios* and participated in Theodore II's campaigns in Greece and Anatolia as a high-ranking officer. Michael, however, never forgave Theodore II for deposing his family and stealing his glory as the savior of Constantinople. Over the following years, he headed the aristocratic faction that opposed Theodore II's anti-aristocratic regimes. Although aristocratic power had been broken during the previous civil war, Michael, as leader of the diminished opposition to Theodore II, still retained considerable influence and status.

Nevertheless, Michael remained in relative obscurity until February 1281, when he led a coup which overthrew the eldest son and successor of his hated rival, the young scholar emperor John IV Laskaris. Michael took advantage of the conflict between John IV and his younger brother, Skantarios Laskaris, who had crowned himself emperor in Western Anatolia and marched on Constantinople. With Skantarios' approach serving as diversion, Michael's aristocratic faction successfully stormed the Palace of Blachernae and deposed the emperor, as had happened with John III decades before. John IV was imprisoned and blinded at Michael's command. Michael personally hunted down and murdered Theodore II's former chief minister and adoptive brother George Mouzalon, who had been Michael's principal political rival second only to the emperor himself since his downfall. Mouzalon's wife, Theodora Palaiologina Kantakouzene, who was Michael's niece, was able to escape to the Golden Gate with her daughters and grandsons. Michael, however, personally executed George Mouzalon and his two sons. Michael's coup was only successful due to the unexpected support of George Akropolites, then Grand Logothete, a trusted member of Theodore II's inner circle who had nevertheless grown envious of Mouzalon's status and influence.

When Skantarios Laskaris arrived at Constantinople, Michael delivered the city to him, expecting to be rewarded for his assistance. Instead, the new emperor, shocked at the sight of his blinded brother and the court purge carried out during the coup, ordered Michael and his fellow conspirators arrested. Akropolites was exiled to a remote Aegean island, while the rest of the conspirators were executed. Michael himself and his sons received a sentence of blinding, which was carried out by brutally and carelessly gouging out their eyes.

Michael Palaiologos died a few days later, on 18 March 1281, from his injuries. He was buried in his family's dynastic cemetery at the St. Demetrius monastery in Constantinople. A divisive figure, Michael has been revered as a soldier and for his martial skill because of the leadership role he expertly played during the Mongol siege of Constantinople, which effectively saved the city and the empire from destruction against all odds and marked the most important Mongol defeat in Europe of all time. The glorifying eyewitness account of Diogenes of Lesbos has survived to modern times. The historical account Akropolites wrote during his Aegean exile is quick to shower him with praise, decrying the tyranny of the Laskarid regime, which has contributed to Michael's positive legacy, alongside Theodora of Antioch's brief commentary regarding his martial skills. On the other hand, Michael is portrayed negatively as an ambitious usurper and aristocrat who betrayed his rightful emperor not once, but twice, by the deacon and historian George Pachymeres.

## References

https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/ja-nuns-hons-pris-a-medieval-nation-game.18650/page-27#post-4049925

https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/ja-nuns-hons-pris-a-medieval-nation-game.18650/page-31#post-4244553