Zealots of Thessalonica
The Zealots (
Background
At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the
The literary sources, all in favor of Kantakouzenos, presented the conflict as a struggle between the "aristoi" (i.e. the best) and the poor. In fact, the aristocracy was divided equally between the two factions, while most aristocratic supporters of Kantakouzenos soon abandoned him in 1342-1343 after his first major defeats. Against Kantakouzenos also militated the common people of the cities, often after encouragement of the authorities. In many cities of Thrace, which had joined Kantakouzenos in the early stages of the civil war, there were riots in favor of the rightful minor
The movement was probably also influenced by the Bogomilism, a Christian heresy, which was present in the region since the 9th century.
Rise and establishment of the Zealots regime
"... They roused up the people against the aristocracy, and for two or three days, Thessalonica was like a city under enemy occupation and suffered all the corresponding disasters. The victors went shouting and looting through the streets by day and by night, while the vanquished hid in churches and counted themselves lucky to be still alive. When order returned, the Zealots, suddenly raised from penury and dishonour to wealth and influence, took control of everything and won over the moderate citizens, forcing them to acquiesce and characterizing every form of moderation and prudence as "Kantakouzenism"." |
John Kantakouzenos, History |
Thessalonica at the time was the second most important city of the Empire after
Michael and Andreas Palaiologos were the leaders of the revolt. Despite efforts to identify them however, they do not fit in any way into the known Palaiologan family tree, and we do not even know their relationship to each other: they may, indeed, simply have come from some sort of client family or families who took the dynastic name by extension. But one point does remain unavoidable: the so-called “revolutionaries” did consistently identify themselves with Palaiologan legitimacy.[7] Although the Zealots, throughout their existence, continued to recognize the legitimate Emperor John V Palaiologos, it is possible that they tried to achieve a semi-autonomous status for the city of Thessalonica.
Although it has been claimed that they had a political program supporting the lower classes, as they were based mainly to the workers of the port, they themselves belonged to the aristocracy, while the confiscated properties of the supporters of Kantakouzenos were directed to the supporters of the regency. The people may indeed have anti-aristocratic motives, but this did not represent the purposes of the Zealots.[8]
Apokaukos' coup, reaction and terror
"...one after another the prisoners were hurled from the walls of the citadel and hacked to pieces by the mob of the Zealots assembled below. Then followed a hunt for all the members of the upper classes: they were driven through the streets like slaves, with ropes round their necks-here a servant dragged his master, there a slave his purchaser, while the peasant struck the strategos and the labourer beat the soldier [the land-holding pronoiars]." |
Demetrius Cydones describing the anti-aristocratic killings of 1345
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During the next years, the city successfully resisted attempts of Kantakouzenos to capture the city with the aid of his allies, the
End
In 1347 Kantakouzenos and the Emperor John V reconciled, but the Zealots ignored the orders from Constantinople, such as the appointment of Gregory Palamas as its archbishop, as the majority of them were anti-Hesychasts. The city remained isolated from the outside world, suffered from the Black Death, and was further subject to the continued threat of Stefan Dushan.[5] The situation became increasingly desperate, and there was even talk of surrendering the city to the protection of foreign, namely Serbian, rule. This however was unacceptable to many Thessalonians, including the other archon, Alexios Laskaris Metochites.[10]
At the end of 1349, the people of the city finally rose in revolt against the Zealots, who were defeated, and plundered their properties. Andreas Palaiologos fled to Mount Athos and became a monk in the monastery of Great Lavra. Negotiations followed, and in 1350, Kantakouzenos, accompanied by Emperor John Palaiologos and Palamas, made a triumphal entry into the city.[10][11]
Citations
- ^ Sevchenko (1957)
- ^ Lowry & Gordon (1998), p. 411
- ^ Runciman (1970), p. 27
- ^ Barker (2002), p. 16
- ^ a b c d e Barker (2002), p. 17
- ^ Nicol (1993), p. 195
- ^ Barker (2002), p. 20
- ^ Malatras (2012-2013), p. 237-238
- ^ Bartusis (1997), pp. 95-96
- ^ a b Barker (2002), p. 18
- ^ Saint Gregory Palamas the Hagiorite Archived 2007-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
Sources
- Barker, John W. (2002). "Late Byzantine Thessalonike: A Second City's Challenges and Responses" (PDF). Dumbarton Oaks Papers (57). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- Bartusis, Mark C. (1997). The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society 1204–1453. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-1620-2.
- Lowry, S. Todd; Gordon, Barry L.J. (1998). Ancient and Medieval Economic Ideas and Concepts of Social Justice. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-09964-7.
- Malatras, Christos (2012–2013). "The myth of the Zealots" (PDF). Byzantiaka (30).
- Matschke, Klaus-Peter (1994). "Thessalonike und die Zeloten. Bemerkungen zu einem Schlusselereignis der spatbyzantinischen Stadt- und Reichsgeschichte". Byzantinoslavica (55).
- Nicol, Donald MacGillivray (1993). The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261–1453. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-43991-6.
- Nicol, Donald MacGillivray (1996). The Reluctant Emperor: A Biography of John Cantacuzene, Byzantine Emperor and Monk, C. 1295–1383. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52201-4.
- ISBN 0-521-07787-7.
- Shevchenko, Ihor (1957). "Nicolas Cabasilas' "Anti-Zealot" Discourse". Dumbarton Oaks Papers. 11 (11). JSTOR 1291106.