Despotate of the Morea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Despotate of the Morea Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως
1349–1460
Flag of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty Seal of Demetrios Palaiologos as Despot of the Morea
The Despotate of the Morea in 1450, divided between the two brothers, Thomas and Demetrios Palaiologos
Status	Semi-autonomous appanage of the Byzantine Empire
Capital	Mystras (main capital, 1349–1460) Glarentza (Constantine, 1428–1432) Kalavryta (Thomas, 1428–1432, Constantine, 1432–1443) Elis (Thomas, 1432–1449) Patras and Leontari (Thomas, 1449–1460)
Common languages	Medieval Greek
Religion	Eastern Orthodox Church
Government	Feudal monarchy
Despot of Morea
• 1349–1380	Manuel Kantakouzenos
• 1449–1460	Thomas Palaiologos and Demetrios Palaiologos
Historical era	Late Medieval
• Established	1349
• 1450s peasant revolt	1453–1454
• Ottoman conquest	29 May 1460
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Achaea Rumelia Eyalet
Today part of	Greece Peloponnese

The Despotate of the Morea (which means "Despotate of Morea" in Greek) was a special part of the Byzantine Empire. It existed from the mid-1300s to the mid-1400s. Its main city was Mystras, which was near the ancient city of Sparta. Mystras became a very important place for learning and art during a time called the Palaiologan Renaissance.

The Despotate's size changed over time. But eventually, it grew to cover almost all of the southern Greek peninsula. This area is known today as the Peloponnese. In medieval times, it was called the Morea. This region was usually ruled by one or more sons of the Byzantine emperor. These rulers were given the special title of despotes.

History of the Morea Despotate

How the Despotate Began

The Despotate of the Morea was formed from land taken back from the Franks. The Franks were Western European knights who had set up their own state, the Principality of Achaea, on former Byzantine land. This happened after the Fourth Crusade in 1204.

In 1259, the Frankish ruler, William II Villehardouin, lost a big battle called the Battle of Pelagonia. He fought against the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus. William had to give up most of the eastern Morea and his new castles to gain his freedom. This land became the very first part of the Despotate of Morea.

Early Rulers and Growth

Later, a Byzantine emperor named John VI Kantakouzenos reorganized this territory in 1349. He made it a special area for his son, Manuel Kantakouzenos, to rule. Manuel was given the title of Despot.

For most of his time as ruler, Manuel got along well with his Latin neighbors. This led to a long period of peace and wealth for the region. Greeks and Latins even worked together to stop attacks from the Ottoman ruler Murad I in the 1360s.

The Palaiologos Dynasty Takes Over

After Manuel died in 1380, the rival Palaiologos family took control of the Morea. Theodore I Palaiologos became the new despot in 1383. Theodore ruled until 1407. He made Byzantine rule stronger in the area. He also made agreements with powerful neighbors, especially the growing Ottoman Empire. He even agreed to be under their general control.

Theodore also tried to make the local economy better. He invited people from Albania to settle in the area. These people became the Arvanite community. Some of them later moved to the Kingdom of Naples in the 1400s, forming the Arbëresh community.

Expansion and Challenges

The next despots were the sons of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. These included Theodore II, Constantine, Demetrios, and Thomas. As the power of the Latins in the Peloponnese weakened in the 1400s, the Despotate of the Morea grew. By 1430, it included the entire peninsula. This happened through marriages that brought new lands and by Constantine taking control of Patras.

However, in 1446, the Ottoman Sultan Murad II destroyed the Byzantine defenses. This was the Hexamilion wall at the Isthmus of Corinth. His attack opened the peninsula to invasion. But Murad died before he could fully use this advantage.

The End of the Despotate

His son, Mehmed II "the Conqueror," captured the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, in 1453. The despots Demetrios and Thomas Palaiologos were brothers of the last emperor. They did not send any help to Constantinople. This was because Morea was still recovering from a recent Ottoman attack.

Their rule was not popular, and there was a revolt by both Albanians and Greeks against them. The despots even asked Ottoman troops to help them stop the revolt. At this time, some important Greek leaders made peace with Mehmed.

After more years of poor rule by the despots, they failed to pay their yearly tribute to the Sultan. They also tried to rebel against Ottoman rule. So, Mehmed came into the Morea in May 1460. Demetrios became a prisoner of the Ottomans, and his younger brother Thomas ran away. By the end of that summer, the Ottomans had taken control of almost all the cities held by the Greeks.

Last Areas of Resistance

A few places held out for a while. The rocky peninsula of Monemvasia refused to give up. It was briefly ruled by a pirate from Catalonia. When the people drove him out, they asked for the Pope's protection before the end of 1460. The Mani Peninsula in the south of Morea resisted under local family groups. This area then came under the rule of Venice.

The very last place to hold out was Salmeniko, in the northwest of Morea. Graitzas Palaiologos was the military leader there. He was stationed at Salmeniko Castle. While the town eventually surrendered, Graitzas and his soldiers, along with some town residents, stayed in the castle until July 1461. They then escaped and reached Venetian land. This was the very end of the Byzantine Empire itself.

After 1461, only a few non-Ottoman lands remained. These were held by Venice. They included the port cities of Modon and Koroni in southern Morea. Also, the Argolid area with Argos, and the port of Nafplion. Monemvasia later surrendered to Venice at the start of the Ottoman–Venetian War in 1463.

Byzantine Despots of the Morea

House of Kantakouzenos (1349–1383)

House of Palaiologos (1383–1460)

After the Ottoman conquest of the Morea, the title of Despot was still used by Thomas Palaiologos and his son Andreas, even though they were living in exile.