Constantine XI Palaiologos: The Last Emperor of the Romans

The tragic reign of Constantine XI Palaiologos ended with his death and the fall of the city which his name-sake Constantine the Great had built over a thousand years earlier. With his death the Roman Empire in the East ceased to exist. This explores his life and reign.

Predecessor: John VIII Palaiologos

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Bibliography:
Doukas, Decline and Fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman Turks, Translated by Magoulias, Harry J. (1975)
George Sphrantzes, Chronicle 1401-1477, Translated by Philippides, M. (1980)
Kritoboulos, History of Mehmed the Conqueror, Translated by Riggs, C. T. (1970)
Laonikos Chalkokondyles, The Histories, Translated by Kaldellis, A. (2014)

Harris, J. (2010) The End of Byzantium, Yale.
Nicol, D. M. (1993) The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453 - Second Edition, London.
Nicol, D. M. (1992) The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos Last Emperor of the Romans, Cambridge.

Music Credit:
'Time', 'Shadows', 'Rivers and 'Siege' by Ed Lima and Stephen Maitland from Empire Earth by Stainless Steel Studios.
'Unsealed' Masaharu Iwata from Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together by Quest and Square Enix.
'Spreading Hope' by Bill Brown and Jamie Christopherson from The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth by EA Los Angeles.
'Sad Times' by Robert Euvino from Stronghold by Firefly Studios.

All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.

[captainmark]

I love how the last Roman Emperor dies with honor alongside his men without retreat or abandon his city. He really carries the name of Roman Emperor with great respect and responsibility. Rest in peace.

[ComesPerpetvs]

In different circumstances that man would achive greatness and restore power of Rome...he just needed to be born few generations earlier. God bless His soul!

[quantumfoam]

His end turned out to be a honorable end to unbroken chain of emperors down to Augustus. Many and different emperors had risen to power through the ages, some great, some not so great and some even paranoid. But the millenia spanning roman history really deserved such an epic and grandiose finalle and a man to show that indeed it was not all for nothing.

[demetres]

During our war for independence against the ottomans when the British admiral Hamilton told to Theodoros Kolokotronis (military leader of Greece), that we need a king. Kolokotronis replied "Our King died and he didn't accept any truce. Our king's guard has been at war since then and our castles remained unconquered". Then Hamilton answered "King? Him who died 400 years ago? Of which king's guard are you speaking and where are those castles???" Then General Kolokotronis replied "Our king's guard are the Outlaws and our castles is Mani, Souli and the mountains where we are free''

[livewithapurpose]

I admire him
Rather than surrendering
He died a heroic death defending the remnants of Great Eastern Roman Empire


Long live Marble Emperor

[stathikatehis]

It has been 567 years since that fateful day. The great tragedy of the Middle Ages and Greek history.

[histguy]

If there had been more emperors like him, that were practical, took the office seriously, and had the good will of their subjects, the empire would not have been so humbled. At this point, Constantinople resembled something like one of the Italian republics of the era.

[creamycereal]

This guy was a legend, he showed military skill far better than most imagine if he ruled instead of andronikos II in the late 1200s to early 1300s Rome would probably still exist

[apostolispouliakis]

Better to go out like this than to live a luxurious life in exile or deposed

[ragael]

One emperor stood and suffered what others before him ignored and instead indulged in the luxury of their status. A great ruler that tried everything, and yet, was abandoned by everyone but a few. He fought and died for what he believed in. If only more were like him...

[vladut]

many of the descendants of these nobles, like Cantacuzino and Palaiologos, have lived on the territory of todays Romania.

[Tommykey]

I hadn't realized that he was able to lead a campaign into Thessaly at one point and retook Athens. Perhaps if the Varna crusade had been successful, the Ottomans would have been weakened enough in Europe that more enduring gains could have been made in southern Greece. The Ottomans in Anatolia might have also been more vulnerable to the Karamanids in Anatolia I had been of the opinion that the ERE was essentially finished after the post Andronikos III civil war, but the power vacuum that could have been created if the Turks were crushed at Varna could conceivably have created opportunities for territorial gains and kept the ERE going for the remainder of the century.

[ziggytheassassin]

I like how constantine looked like a medieval version of the gigachad meme

[rockstar]

You sped your delivery up this episode and it flowed much better. Keep you the good work

[adamgilchrist]

Its only fitting that the last of the East Roman Emperors donned the name of the founder of their most important city and managed to be a great ruler that did all he could for his country, even if he probably knew that it was a losing battle. Truly deserves to go down as one of the great roman emperors. The Phoenix rises, Roma Victrix!!

[Πολεμιστης-μξ]

He died like Leonidas of Sparta. This is the last stand of the middle ages, this is the 2nd Thermopylae battle. As a Greek I'm proud for him

[hia]

Hey bud Im glad you included the gate being left unlocked. There are some that say it was a disgruntled minority quarter of the city that did so.

[serbianboss]

His mother was Jelena Dragas, Serbian princess!!! He took her last name as well!

[shihlin]

That quote of 4000 men, women, and child casualties at the hands of Memet's men sounds way underestimated.
The reported rapes alone numbered 10, 000 including male victims of all ages.
More like 20, 000 casualties is a closer estimate while 30, 000 taken into captivity.

[brokenbridge]

This man sounds like he could've been great. Except he ruled an empire that was too far gone. What a shame. Great video, friend.