John Paleologus facts for kids

John Paleologus (also known as John Theodore Paleologus) was born in June or July 1611. He was the third son of Theodore Paleologus, a soldier from the 16th and 17th centuries. John's family believed they were descendants of the Palaiologos dynasty, which was a powerful family that ruled the Byzantine Empire a long time ago.

John is a bit of a mystery because we don't know exactly what happened to him later in his life. He likely supported the Royalists, also known as Cavaliers, during the English Civil War (1642–1651). His brother, Ferdinand, also fought for the Royalists. John is known to have traveled with Ferdinand to Barbados in 1644. After that, there are no more records of John, either in Barbados or back in England.

Who Was John Paleologus?

John Theodore Paleologus was the second oldest son of Theodore Paleologus and his wife, Mary Balls. He was baptized on July 11, 1611, which means he was probably born in late June or early July of that year.

His Family's Royal Past

John's family, the Paleologus family, believed they were the last living members of the Palaiologos dynasty. This dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1259 to 1453. They claimed to be related to Thomas Palaiologos, who was a brother of Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. People at the time generally believed the family's claim to be descended from Byzantine emperors.

John had two older sisters, Dorothy and Mary. He also had an older brother named Theodore, who sadly died when he was a baby. His other older brother was Theodore Junior, and he had a younger brother named Ferdinand.

John's Early Life

When John was young, he lived with his father and siblings in Tattershall, Lincolnshire, England. His father worked for Earl Henry Clinton. After the Earl died in 1616, John's father left Lincolnshire. We don't know exactly where the children went after that. It was common for young people at the time to go work in the homes of wealthier families. It's also possible they stayed with their mother's relatives, the Balls family.

From 1619 to 1628, John's parents lived in Plymouth with his sisters and younger brother Ferdinand. However, John was not with them during this time. He was likely working in another household.

John in the English Civil War

John is the most mysterious of Theodore's three sons who grew up. Many people believe he fought for the Royalist side in the English Civil War (1642–1651), just like his brother Ferdinand. John seems to have gone with Ferdinand to Barbados. Records show that both brothers were witnesses to an important document there on June 26, 1644.

What Happened to John?

We don't know for sure what happened to John Paleologus. Some stories say he died at the Battle of Lansdowne in 1643 or the Battle of Naseby in 1645. However, the claim about Lansdowne can't be true because we know John was in Barbados in 1644.

The Mystery of His Disappearance

After 1644, there are no more records of John, either in Barbados or back in England. This means there's no proof that he was at the Battle of Naseby, even though some historians have suggested it. For example, historian N. Darnell Davis wrote in 1887 that John "had fallen at Naseby, fighting under the Royal Banner."

John Hall, who wrote a book about Theodore Paleologus in 2015, thinks it's unlikely that John went all the way back to England just to fight and die at Naseby. But he also points out that since there are no more records of John in Barbados, he probably didn't stay on the island for very long.

A Possible New Path

Hall thinks it's possible that John didn't get along well with the people in Barbados or couldn't earn enough money to settle down there, unlike his brother Ferdinand. In the 17th century, many settlers who were unhappy in the Caribbean islands left to explore the mainland. Some of these people eventually became pirates. So, Hall wonders if John might have become a pirate in the West Indies.