Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty

The final period of the Byzantine Empire, restored under Michael VIII Palaiologos in 1261 and ending with the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It was marked by shrinking territory, political instability, and a flourishing of Byzantine art and scholarship.

Michael VIII Palaiologos: Byzantine emperor from 1259 to 1282 who recovered Constantinople and founded the Palaiologos dynasty. His forces retook Constantinople in 1261, beginning this final imperial period.
Byzantine civil wars of 1321–1328: A series of conflicts between Andronikos II and his grandson Andronikos III over the Byzantine throne. The struggle weakened central authority and helped Andronikos III take power.
Andronikos II Palaiologos: Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328, known for reducing military spending and supporting scholarship. His policies preserved learning but weakened the empire’s military capacity.
Fall of Constantinople: The Ottoman conquest of Constantinople on May 29, 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire. The conquest marks the final endpoint of Palaiologian rule.
Latin Empire: A state established by the Fourth Crusade in Constantinople that ruled from 1204 to 1261. Its collapse allowed Michael VIII to restore Byzantine rule in the capital.
Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347: A Byzantine conflict over the regency for John V Palaiologos, fought from 1341 to 1347. The civil war deepened political divisions during an already severe crisis.
John V Palaiologos: Byzantine emperor whose reign, from 1341 to 1391, was interrupted by civil wars and foreign interventions. His long reign illustrates the dynasty’s dependence on rival powers and factions.
Council of Florence: A church council held mainly in Florence from 1438 to 1445 to pursue reunion between the Latin and Greek churches. The emperor sought Western military aid through church union, which provoked resistance at home.
Empire of Nicaea: A Byzantine successor state in western Asia Minor that existed from 1204 to 1261. The Palaiologos restoration emerged from this successor state.
Byzantine–Ottoman wars: A series of conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman beylik and empire, lasting from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. Ottoman expansion steadily reduced Palaiologian territory and culminated in Constantinople’s fall.

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