The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453 (Second Edition)

The Byzantine empire in the last two centuries of its existence had to rebuild itself after its conquest and dismemberment by the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Its emperors in exile recovered Constantinople in 1261 and this book narrates their empire's struggles for survival from that date until its final conquest by Ottoman Turks in 1453. First published in 1972, the book has been completely revised to take account of recent scholarship. It remains the best synthesis of the political, ecclesiastical and historical events of the period. Front Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Plates......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 15 Genealogical table......Page 18 Map......Page 19 1. The Byzantine Empire after the Fourth Crusade......Page 22 2. The Empire in exile and its restoration......Page 40 PART I The problems of the restored Empire: the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos - 1261-82......Page 60 3. The price of survival......Page 62 4. The battle of wits between east and west......Page 79 5. The Byzantine dilemma in the thirteenth century......Page 93 PART II Byzantium as a second-rate power: the reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos - 1282-1321......Page 112 6. The restoration of Orthodoxy......Page 114 7. Symptoms and causes of decline......Page 128 8. The failure to find a cure......Page 143 9. The nature of the enemy......Page 174 PART III The mortal illness of Byzantium: the age of civil wars - 1321-54......Page 182 10. The question of the succession and the first civil war......Page 184 11. The reign of Andronikos III - 1328-41......Page 200 12. The second civil war - 1341-7......Page 218 13. The reign of John VI Cantacuzene - 1347-54......Page 242 PART IV Byzantium as a vassal of the Turks: the last hundred years - 1354-1453......Page 284 14. The reign of John V Palaiologos - 1354-91......Page 286 15. The reign of Manuel II: the first crisis - 1391- 1402......Page 329 16. The last reprieve - 1402-25......Page 351 17. The Ottoman revival and the reign of John VIII Palaiologos - 1425-48......Page 372 18. Constantine XI and Mehmed II: the fall of Constantinople - 1448-53......Page 402 19. The last outposts of Byzantium......Page 427 Glossary......Page 446 A. Collections of sources......Page 448 1. Greek......Page 450 2. Western, Slavonic and Oriental......Page 456 II. MODERN WORKS......Page 458 Index......Page 483 Back Cover......Page 497 1. The Byzantine Empire After The Fourth Crusade 2. The Empire In Exile And Its Restoration Part I. The Problems Of The Restored Empire: The Reign Of Michael Viii Palaiologos, 1261-82: 3. The Price Of Survival 4. The Battle Of Wits Between East And West 5. The Byzantine Dilemma In The Thirteenth Century Part Ii. Byzantium As A Second-rate Power: The Reign Of Andronikos Ii Palaiologos,1282-1321: 6. The Restoration Of Orthodoxy 7. Symptoms And Causes Of Decline 8. The Failure To Find A Cure 9. The Nature Of The Enemy Part Iii. The Mortal Illness Of Byzantium: The Age Of Civil Wars, 1321-54: 10. The Question Of The Succession And The First Civil War 1. The Reign Of Andronikos Iii, 1328-41 12. The Second Civil War, 1341-47 13. The Reign Of John Vi Cantacuzene, 1347-54 Part Iv. Byzantium As A Vassal Of The Turks: The Last Hundred Years, 1354-1453: 14. The Reign Of John V Palaiologos, 1354-91 15. The Reign Of Manuel Ii: The First Crisis, 1391-1402 16. The Last Reprieve, 1402-25 17. The Ottoman Revival And The Reign Of John Viii Palaiologos, 1425-48 18 Constantine Xi And Mehmed Ii: The Fall Of Constantinople, 1448-53 19. The Last Outposts Of Byzantium. Donald M. Nicol. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 415-449) And Index.