Morea revolt of 1453–1454

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Byzantine Empire on the eve of the final conquest of Constantinople and the Morea, ca. 1450. The large purple peninsula in the southwest is the Morea, at the time the Empire's most important and prosperous territory
Map of the Morea in the Middle Ages

The Morea revolt of 1453–1454 was a failed peasant rebellion carried out against the rule of the brothers Thomas and Demetrios Palaiologos, rulers of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the Peloponnese peninsula.

Background

Further information:
Byzantium under the Palaiologoi

The Byzantine Empire had ruled over the Morea for centuries before the rebellion. During this time, several thousand

vassalage to them and a promise not to oppose them in the future, for Murad had to deal with his own internal conflicts elsewhere.[3]

Upon the death of Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaiologos in Constantinople in October 1448, the imperial throne fell to Constantine, who was crowned on 6 January 1449 in Mystras before departing for the capital. Two months later, he assumed his new role in Constantinople as Emperor Constantine XI. His younger brothers, Thomas and Demetrius remained in charge of the Morea as joint Despots in his place. Despite assurances to Constantine that they would pledge support to one another, both Thomas and Demetrius coveted the other's lands – in addition, they pressed claims against Venetian port possessions in the Morea, alienating the only power capable of aiding them in resisting the Turks.[4] The mutual hostility went to the point that both despots requested military aid from the Turks against the other. During the final siege of Constantinople, the new Sultan, Mehmed II invaded the Morea again as a distraction to prevent the brothers sending any provisions to Constantinople.

The revolt

Shortly after the fall of Constantinople and the death of the last Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI, a large-scale revolt broke out among the Moreote Albanians against the two brothers, Thomas and Demetrius II, due to the chronic insecurity and tribute payment to the Turks.

Vettore Capello, was instead sent to the Morea to negotiate with all parties and try to purchase strategically important port cities for the Republic.[7]

The Albanians were soon joined by the local Greek magnates, who chose

Giovanni Asen Zaccaria, the son of the last Prince of Achaea Centurione II Zaccaria, who had already led a failed uprising in the past and had been imprisoned by Thomas, but managed to escape.[10]

As the Sultan's vassals, the despots called upon Turkish aid, and

Turakhan Beg arrived in December 1453. After scoring a victory against the rebels, he departed, having secured the release of his brother Ahmed, who had been captured by the Byzantines in 1452.[11][10] The revolt did not subside however, and in October 1454 Turakhan himself was forced to intervene. After sacking a few fortresses, the rebellious populace capitulated. Turakhan advised the two Palaiologoi to settle their differences and rule well, and then departed the peninsula.[12][13][14] Tribute was reinstated to the same levels and the Despots were to continue their vassalage as before. As for the rebel leaders, Bua was pardoned by Mehmet and later became a spokesperson for the Albanian people, Zaccaria fled and ended up as a pensioner in Venice and later the Papal Court, while Kantakouzenos escaped and disappeared from history.[5]

References

  1. ^ Ostrogorsky, p. 508
  2. ^ Cheetham, pp. 215-216
  3. ^ Ostrogorsky, p. 567
  4. ^ Cheetham, p. 217
  5. ^ a b Cheetham, p. 218
  6. ^ Setton 1978, p. 147.
  7. ^ Setton 1978, pp. 147–148.
  8. ^ Runciman 2009, pp. 79–80.
  9. ^ Setton 1978, p. 148.
  10. ^ a b Runciman 2009, p. 79.
  11. ^ Setton 1978, pp. 146, 148.
  12. ^ Nicol 1993, p. 396.
  13. ^ Setton 1978, pp. 148–149.
  14. ^ Runciman 2009, p. 80.

Sources

  • Nicolas Cheetham, Mediaeval Greece, Yale University Press, New Haven & London (1981)
    ISBN 0-300-02421-5
  • ISBN 0-246-10559-3
    .
  • ISBN 0-8135-0599-2
  • ISBN 978-1-84511-895-2
    .
  • ISBN 0-87169-127-2
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morea_revolt_of_1453–1454&oldid=1211686574"