The image of Michael VIII in the historical works of the Palaiologan period

Abstract

The present paper tends to examine the image of the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty, Michael VIII(1259-1282), in the historical works written during the reign of the last Byzantine dynasty and after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. With the analysis of Michael’s coming to the throne and the union of the churches in Lyons in 1274, it looks as if the first ruler of the Palaiologoi was mostly remembered, in historiography and among the most learned, elite circles of the capital, as a usurper of the throne and rights of his minor predecessor, Emperor John IV Laskaris. The blinding of the son of Theodore II was an event that had far reaching consequences not only during the reign of Michael VIII, but also his consequent heirs. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 177032: Tradicija, inovacija i identitet u vizantijskom svetu]

Keywords

• Michael VIII
• John IV
• patriarch Arsenios
• Andronikos II
• Andronikos III
• Akropolites
• Pachymeres
• Gregoras
• Kantakouzenos
• Doukas
• Syropoulos
• usurpation
• Arse­nite schism
• union