Palaeologus definition of Palaeologus in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Palaeologus (pālēŏl`əgəs), Greek dynasty that ruled the Byzantine Empire from its restoration in 1261 to its final conquest by the Turks in 1453. The first emperor was Michael VIII Michael VIII (Michael Palaeologus), c.1225–1282, Byzantine emperor (1261–82), first of the Palaeologus dynasty. Following the murder of the regent for Emperor John IV of Nicaea, he was appointed (1258) regent and, soon afterward (1259), coemperor.
..... Click the link for more information. , restorer of the empire. He was succeeded by Andronicus II Andronicus II (Andronicus Palaeologus) (ăndrənī`kəs pālēŏl`əgəs)
..... Click the link for more information. (reigned 1282–1328) and Andronicus III Andronicus III (Andronicus Palaeologus), c.1296–1341, Byzantine emperor (1328–41), grandson of Andronicus II, whom he deposed after a series of civil wars. His chief minister was John Cantacuzene (later Emperor John VI).
..... Click the link for more information. (reigned 1328–41). John V John V (John Palaeologus) (pāl'ēŏl`əgəs)
..... Click the link for more information. acceded in 1341, but was kept from the throne until 1354 by John VI (John Cantacuzene) and from 1376 until 1379 by his son, Andronicus IV. At his death (1391) Manuel II Manuel II (Manuel Palaeologus), 1350–1425, Byzantine emperor (1391–1425), son and successor of John V . In his youth he was taken captive by the Turks, and during his reign the Ottomans reduced the empire to Constantinople and its dependencies in the
..... Click the link for more information. succeeded and ruled until 1425; he had to share his rule with John VII John VII (John Palaeologus) (pā'lēŏl`əgəs), c.1370–1408, Byzantine emperor, grandson of John V.
..... Click the link for more information. after 1399. Manuel's sons John VIII John VIII (John Palaeologus), 1390–1448, Byzantine emperor (1425–48), son and successor of Manuel II. When he acceded, the Byzantine Empire had been reduced by the Turks to the city of Constantinople.
..... Click the link for more information. (reigned 1425–48) and Constantine XI (reigned 1449–53) succeeded him. Constantine XI was killed when the Turks stormed Constantinople. Branches of the Palaeologus family survived in various European countries. One branch ruled the Italian marquisate of Montferrat from the 14th cent. until the family's extinction in 1536. Distinguished for their erudition, the Palaeologi helped the Greek people to retain their cultural identity after their conquest by the Ottoman Turks. As statesmen they had to contend with the pressure of the Turks and with the reluctance of Western Europe to come to the aid of the Orthodox Greeks. Their rule marked the high point of feudalism, partitions of the empire, and internal conflict between religious and secular groups.