Social Contradictions in Thessalonica during the Ottoman Siege of 1422–1430

Abstract

This article analyses social contradictions within the urban community of Thessalonica during the Ottoman siege between 1422 and 1430. Also, the author considers the issue of relations between the population and the city administration of Thessalonica in the conditions of economic crisis and political instability caused by the fact that the city was under siege. The study demonstrates that one of the destabilising factors of the urban society was the townspeople’s complete disappointment with Andronikos Palaiologos, the governor of the city. The unpopular measures taken by the despot to organise the defense of the city against the Ottoman army approaching in 1422 led to intra-city unrest and riots. Realising that the current government was not able to protect them from external threats or guarantee their stability in the future, the inhabitants of Thessalonica turned to those who were interested in the normal functioning of the city and had the resources for it, i.e. the Turks and Venetians. It is revealed that the supporters of the pro-Turkish opposition were representatives of the urban aristocracy who, during the Ottoman rule in Thessalonica between 1387 and 1402, strengthened their position by collaborating with the Ottoman administration and probably lost some of their powers and privileges after the return of Thessalonica under Byzantine rule. In turn, in 1423, members of the city council representing the real political power of the city and no longer subordinate to the imperial governor, transferred Thessalonica under the rule of the Venetian Republic, hoping to preserve their status and position. The polarisation of the urban community led to the fact that part of the aristocracy, especially the pro-Ottoman, fled from the city or was arrested, and ordinary townspeople were defenseless against the challenges that the Venetian rule in Thessalonica brought with it.

Keywords

• поздняя византия
• палеологи
• мурад ii
• османское завоевание
• турецкая осада фессалоники
• внутригородские противоречия