Michael Palaiologos and the Publics of the Byzantine Empire in Exile, C. 1223-1259)

This book follows the public life of Michael Palaiologos from his early days and upbringing, through to his assumption of the Byzantine imperial throne in 1258. It explores multiple narratives, highlighting the various public communities in the Byzantine polity, primarily focusing on intellectuals and clerks rather than the emperor himself. Drawing on insights from power relations, studies of class and the public sphere, this book provides an account of thirteenth-century Byzantium that highlights the role of communicative and symbolic actions in the public sphere, and argues they were integral to Palaiologos' political success. Aleksandar Jovanovic is Sessional Instructor in History at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, Canada Acknowledgements 6 Note on Translation and Transliteration 8 Contents 10 Abbreviations 12 List of Figures 14 1 Introduction: Meeting the Roman Public 15 1.1 The Empire of the Romans in Exile (1204–1261) 18 1.2 The Empire of Individuals: Communicative Actions and Individual Agency 25 1.3 Biography: A Vehicle for Writing Social History 30 1.4 Places of Communication: The Public Arena 34 1.5 Publics and Actions by Chapters 41 2 Making Officials in Exile: The Case of the Palaiologoi 45 2.1 The Palaiologoi: Seven Generations Serving the Empire 49 2.2 Preparing for Greatness: Education at the Imperial Court 54 2.3 Education: A Public Affair 59 2.4 Progymnasmata in Action: Michael Palaiologos’ Erudition on Public Display 66 2.5 Like Father Like Son: Andronikos and Michael Palaiologos in the Public Eye 73 2.6 A Useful Life: Andronikos Palaiologos in Provincial Public Service 76 2.7 A Useful Afterlife: The Place of Andronikos Palaiologos in the Public Memory of Thessaloniki 85 3 Linking the Golden Chain: The Social Network of Michael Palaiologos 99 3.1 Keeping Checks and Balances Among the Romans 104 3.2 Michael’s Trial: A Hot Mess? 112 3.3 A Fresh Start with Old Friends: Imperial Son-in-Law and New Appointment 120 3.4 Theodoros II Laskaris: The Breaker of Chains 134 4 “Je veux être calife à la place du calife”: Michael Palaiologos in the Saljuq Sultanate of Rum 143 4.1 The Prodigal Son: The Saljuq Sultanate of Rum 147 4.2 The Sultanate of Rum: A Byzantine Haven? 153 4.3 The Roman Diaspora in the Saljuq Sultanate of Rum and Frankish Greece: A Comparison 158 4.4 Flight to the (Un)Known 165 4.5 Michael Palaiologos: A Saljuq Dignitary 177 4.6 There and Back Again 189 5 “The Return of the King”: Michael Palaiologos Claims Imperial Dignity 193 5.1 Homecoming 197 5.2 The Rhetorical Side of Public Deliberations: Obtaining Public Support for the Mouzalones’ Regency 206 5.3 The Violent Side of Public Deliberations: Obtaining Public Support for the Palaiologan Regency 214 5.4 Social Capital and Public Deliberations: Michael Palaiologos, Guardian of the Empire 219 5.5 The Final Countdown: Michael Palaiologos Goes for the Throne 224 5.6 Panem et Circenses: Michael Palaiologos and the Public Consensus 231 5.7 The Man Who Wrote the Book 236 6 Conclusion 239 6.1 The Publics and Their Wants 239 6.2 Concluding the Conclusion 243 Bibliography 245 Index 264