The last emperor, was born on 8 February 1405. There was Ï„Ïιτότοκος son of the emperor Manuel B’ Palaiologos and…
of the empress Helena. He was also the brother of Thomas, John, Theodore, Andronicus and Demetrius despot of the morea (peloponnese). The faithful servant, friend, best man, [1] and fellow traveler, George ΣφÏαντζής, in his “Short Chronicle”, gives a wealth of data about the personality of Constantine, and the events which played an important role. I don’t seem to have had a particular spiritual, artistic or philosophical concerns. He had proven that he was a man of the act, a capable soldier and commander. With honesty and sound judgment, he had managed to gain the respect and loyalty of those around him.
Constantine, despot of Mistra, was in a precarious position, as well as important castles of the morea (peloponnese), were under the domination of the Franks of the Principality of Achaia /or ΜωÏÎως, when it was decided to make the first marriage, with the daughter of Leonardo Τόκκο, latino, lord of Moria, Maddalena Τόκκο, which was baptized Theodora. The wedding was in July of 1428, in the area of ΚανδÏιανίκων (Border) of Patras, while the Paleologos were preparing to besiege the city of Patras. Constantine received as a dowry a lot of territories in the Peloponnese, among them the castle of ΓλαÏÎντζας, today’s Kyllini. However, Theodora died being pregnant, in November of 1430, the summer palace of the Palaiologoi, in the ΣαντομÎÏι, which George ΣφÏαντζής name ΣτάμηÏον[2]. Preserved yes, part folk song referred to her:
“Good lady ΘοδώÏα, lady madonna,/
from Chalandritsa us coming, peacock lady/
at Γάστουνα parts, gold pigeon”
[ * Theodora refers to the wife of the emperor, which first was a roman catholic, and onomazeto Magdalene.
* Peacock lady is characterized in the above-mentioned Theodora, indicating its incomparable beauty. Hence the baptismal name peacock chick, but this location in the Borders of Patras, formerly onomazeto peacock lady, on the occasion of the ωÏαιοτάτης Theodora.
* Γάστουνας refers to the French by gastone, founder of Gastouni.]
In May of 1430, Constantine was eventually captured Patras, and became master of the greater part of the Peloponnese.
Later, during the course of the Meeting, Ferrara – Florence (1438-1439), the emperor John Palaeologus, in order to attend the Meeting, was left as regent in place of his brother, Constantine.
On 27 July 1441, after 12 years of widowhood, Constantine XI, married in Mytilini, Caterina Gattilusio, daughter of ÎτοÏίνο ΓκατιλοÏζιο, ruler of the Island. Movement strategy feasibility, can be characterized this marriage as well as in this way you will guarantee the help of the Latins to the East, while imperative was the need for Constantine to leave successors. However, the bride he died after a miscarriage in August of 1442 on the island of Lemnos.
After this second mishap, there were some discussions, so as to realize an arranged marriage of Constantine with one of the four daughters of the doge of Venice, however, the death of the emperor John, foiled the plans of those.
When the emperor John Palaeologus died (1448), his brother, Constantine, ανηγοÏεÏθη emperor of the Romans. The request to take over the governance, it was imperative on the side of his mother Helena, and universal, demonstrating clearly the cherished presence of Constantine in the consciousness of the public opinion. The coronation took place at Mistra on 6 January 1449. It was the first imperial coronation, with the exception of the period of the Latin Empire in the City, which was not done by a patriarch. Many times, in fact, challenged by the contemporaries, the regularity of the coronation of this, not held in the Temple of God’s Wisdom, in the City.
Source
Konstantinos Palaiologos, a capable soldier and governor
—