The immortal emperor : the life and legend of Constantine Palaiologos, last emperor of the Romans

Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople and Byzantium. In 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, he was last seen fighting at the city walls, but the actual circumstances of his death have remained surrounded in myth. In the years that followed it was said that he was not dead but sleeping - the 'immortal emperor' turned to marble, who would one day be awakened by an angel and drive the Turks out of his city and empire. Donald Nicol's book tells the gripping story of Constantine's life and death, and ends with an intriguing account of claims by reputed descendants of his family - some remarkably recent - to be heirs to the Byzantine throne. Title page......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 List of abbreviations......Page 11 Genealogical table......Page 12 1 THE DWINDLING EMPIRE......Page 15 2 CONSTANTINE: DESPOT AT MISTRA......Page 35 3 CONSTANTINE: EMPEROR AT CONSTANTINOPLE......Page 50 4 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE......Page 68 5 THE DEATH OF CONSTANTINE......Page 88 6 THE IMMORTAL EMPEROR......Page 121 7 THE DYING EMBERS......Page 135 Bibliography......Page 155 Index......Page 167 Donald Nicol tells the gripping story of the life and death of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople and Byzantium. The book ends with an intriguing account of claims by reputed descendants of his family - some remarkably recent - to be heirs to the Byzantine throne. On the night of 2 March 1354 the coast of Thrace to the west of Constantinople was devastated by an earthquake. Donald M. Nicol. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 129-139) And Index. The first biography of the last Byzantine Emperor