Demetrios Laskaris Leontares facts for kids

Demetrios Laskaris Leontares (who lived until 1431) was an important leader and military commander in the Byzantine Empire during the early 1400s. He worked for two emperors, Manuel II Palaiologos and John VIII Palaiologos.

A Life of Service

Early Years and First Missions

Not much is known about Demetrios Leontares's early life. A historian named Doukas said he was a good officer in places like Morea and Thessaly in the late 1300s.

We first hear about him in 1403. He was a close friend of Emperor Manuel II. Demetrios helped John VII Palaiologos travel to Thessalonica. Thessalonica was the second most important city in the Byzantine Empire. John VII was given this city to rule almost independently.

Demetrios stayed in Thessalonica. He was John VII's advisor and a link to Emperor Manuel II. He stayed there until John VII died in 1408. After that, Manuel II made Demetrios the teacher and temporary ruler for his young son, Andronikos Palaiologos, Lord of Thessalonica. Andronikos took over as governor of Thessalonica.

Dealing with Ottoman Princes

Demetrios Leontares was the main ruler of Thessalonica until about 1415 or 1416. Around this time, an Ottoman prince named Düzmece Mustafa and another leader, Junayd of Aydın, came to the city. They were running away after trying to take control of the Ottoman lands in Europe from Mehmed I.

Sultan Mehmed demanded that the Byzantines hand over Mustafa. But Demetrios told him to talk to Emperor Manuel II in Constantinople. Eventually, they made a deal. Mustafa would be kept away on the Byzantine island of Lemnos. Junayd would stay in Constantinople. In return, the Byzantines would get a yearly payment of 300,000 aspers. Demetrios himself took Mustafa on the ship to Constantinople.

Diplomatic Missions

In late 1420 and again in May 1421, Emperor Manuel II sent Demetrios Leontares to Sultan Mehmed I. These were friendly visits. People were worried that the Ottomans were getting ready to attack Constantinople.

The first meeting happened when Mehmed was crossing the Bosphorus strait. Demetrios, with other Byzantine nobles, met Mehmed with gifts. They took him to where the Emperor and his sons were waiting in their ship.

The second meeting was a full embassy to the Sultan's home in Adrianople in May 1421. This might have been about Mehmed's will, which some thought would make Manuel the guardian of Mehmed's two younger sons. Demetrios was welcomed kindly. But talks stopped because Mehmed died on May 21. To prevent a fight over who would be the next sultan, Mehmed's death was kept secret for a while. Demetrios was basically held under house arrest. It was hard for him to find out about the Sultan's death and tell Constantinople.

Releasing the Rebels

After Mehmed died, the Byzantine court became more aggressive. Emperor Manuel II's son, John VIII Palaiologos, took over control. Demetrios Leontares then released Mustafa and Junayd from their exile. The Byzantine Empire promised to help Mustafa against Murad II. In return, Mustafa had to give them the important fortress of Gallipoli.

With Byzantine help, Mustafa attacked and took Gallipoli. He quickly took control of the Ottoman lands in Europe. However, when Demetrios was sent to ask for Gallipoli from Mustafa, Mustafa refused. In the end, Murad defeated Mustafa in spring 1422. Mustafa's supporters left him, and he was caught and executed.

Last Victory and Retirement

Demetrios Leontares appears again in 1427. He led the Byzantine fleet in its last naval victory. This was against the forces of Carlo I Tocco at the Battle of the Echinades.

Later, Demetrios retired to a monastery. He took the monastic name Daniel. He probably died on September 6, 1431. He was buried at the Petra Monastery in Constantinople. Two important writers, Markos Eugenikos and Gennadios Scholarios, wrote speeches to honor him after he died.

Family Life

Not much is known about Demetrios Leontares's family before him. However, we know about his children and grandchildren from family writings from the 1400s.

• Demetrios Laskaris Leontares (died 1431).
  • His son, John Laskaris Leontares (died 1437), was a general and governor. He wrote about his twelve children.
    • One of John's sons, Demetrios Laskaris Leontares (born 1418), also wrote a family history. He worked as a copyist (someone who copied books by hand) in Southern Italy after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
    • Another son, Michael Leontares (born 1426), traveled around Western Europe with his brother Demetrios.