Maria Palaiologina

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people by this name, see Maria Palaiologina (disambiguation).
Maria Palaiologina
Chora Church, Istanbul
Tenure1265 – 1282
Noble familyPalaiologos
Spouse(s)Abaqa Khan
IssueTheodora Ara Qutlugh
FatherMichael VIII Palaiologos

Maria Palaiologina (

Medieval Greek
: Μελάνη).

Historical context

In the 13th century, the

Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis, had swept with his army through Persia and Syria, destroying centuries-old Islamic caliphates, those of the Abbasids and Ayyubids, and led the 1258 Siege of Baghdad
.

However, the Mongol Empire was experiencing internal dissension, and though the center of power was the Great Khan in Karakorum, the Empire had split into four "khanates", one for each of four of Genghis's grandsons. Hulagu's portion was known as the Ilkhanate and stretched through the area today that covers parts of Turkey and Iran on the west, and Pakistan on the east. The section to the north, covering parts of Russian and Eastern Europe, was known as the Golden Horde. Relations between the khanates were not friendly, and battles erupted between them, even as they both were attempting to further extend the Empire westwards towards Europe, Greece, and the Middle East.

Arranged marriage

Michael VIII, the Byzantine Emperor based in Constantinople, attempted to stay on friendly relations with both khanates. Hulagu had been negotiating for a lady of the imperial family of Constantinople to be added to his number of wives, and Michael selected his illegitimate daughter Maria.[1][2] He also betrothed another of his daughters, Maria's sister Euphrosyne Palaiologina, to Nogai Khan, head of the Golden Horde. Both khanates maintained an attitude of tolerance towards the Christians.[3]

On her journey to marry Hulagu, Maria left Constantinople in 1265, escorted by the abbot of

Nestorian Christians. They had previously looked to Doquz Khatun, Hulagu's wife, as a religious leader. When Doquz also died in 1265, this sentiment turned to Maria, who was called "Despina Khatun" by the Mongols (Δέσποινα being Greek for "Lady").[5]

Widowhood

Maria resided in Persia at court of Abaqa for a period of 15 years, until her husband - follower of Tengri - died and was succeeded by his Muslim brother Ahmad.[6] According to Orlean's manuscript, Baidu Khan was close to Maria during her time in Persia and frequently visited her ordo (nomadic palace) to hear interesting stories about Christianity.

She eventually returned to Constantinople, but in 1307, during the reign of

Charbanda,[7] the Mongol ruler of the Middle East in order to obtain an alliance against the rising power of the Ottomans, who at that time were threatening the Byzantine city of Nicaea. Maria went there, both to encourage its defense and to hasten the negotiations with the Mongols about her wedding. She met with the Ottoman Sultan, Othman, but her menacing behaviour aroused the spirit of the Ottomans. Before the 30,000 troops sent to her aid by the Mongols could reach the city, the Ottomans stormed the fortress of Tricocca, which was the key to Nicaea, and conquered it.[8]

Maria was then forced to go back to Constantinople once again, where she became the Ktetorissa of the Panagiotissa Monastery, and remained there for the rest of her life. According to some sources, she brought back a daughter of her from Abaqa - Theodora Ara Qutlugh (

Medieval Greek: Θεοδώρα Ἀραχαντλούν).[9]

Legacy

Panaghia Mouchliotissa ("Our All-Holy Lady
of the Mongols").
Main article:
Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols (Istanbul)

The church of the monastery was officially dedicated to the

Virgin Mary, but due to Maria's association with it, it became popularly known as the "Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols".[10][11]
Maria herself was never canonized.

The Church is called by the Turks "the Church of Blood" (Kanli Kilise), as the building saw violent combat during the

Mehmet the Conqueror. It is located in Tevkii Cafer Mektebi Sok, in the quarter of Fener
.

Chora Church
. The image of Maria (seen on top of page) can be seen in the lower right of this mosaic.

There is a surviving mosaic portrait of Maria, from the

Chora Monastery (she appears as a nun, with an inscription with her monastic name of Melania),[12] in the lower right hand corner of the Deesis
scene.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Runciman (1987), p. 320
  2. ^ "The sustained attacks by the Sultan Baibars (…) rallied the Occidentals to this alliance [with the Mongols], to which the Mongols also convinced the Byzantines to adhere", Jean Richard, "Histoire des Croisades", p. 453
  3. ^ Van Millingen (1912), p. 272
  4. ^ Van Millingen (1912), p. 273
  5. ^ Runciman (1987), p. 332
  6. ^ Van Millingen (1912), p. 274
  7. ^ Teteriatnikov, Natalia, "The Place of the Nun Melania (the Lady of the Mongols) in the Deesis Program of the Inner Narthex of Chora, Constantinople," Cahiers archéologiques 43 (1995), 163–80
  8. ^ Van Millingen (1912), p. 275
  9. ISBN 978-90-04-30775-9
    .
  10. ^ Janin (1953), p. 213
  11. ^ "Istanbul" (2003), p.111
  12. ^ IlKhans at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-09-20)

References

External links

Media related to Maria Palaiologina at Wikimedia Commons

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