Supervisors info:
Σοφία Μεργιαλή-Σαχά, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Τριανταφυλλίτσα Μανιάτη-Κοκκίνη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια Βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ταξιάρχης Κόλιας, Καθηγητής του «Βίου και του πολιτισμού των Βυζαντινών», Τμήμα Φιλολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
What are examined in this master thesis are the diplomatic contacts of the emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus with the Holy See, the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Hungary through the study of narrative and diplomatic sources, both Byzantine and Latin.
The work consists of the following parts: Acknowledgments, Introduction, General Overview of Byzantine Diplomacy, Part A, which includes Chapters 1 to 3, Part B, which includes Chapters 4 and 5, Conclusions, Abbreviations-Bibliography.
The Introduction presents the subject of the thesis and its structure, as well as the sources and the secondary literature used for writing the thesis.
The General Overview of Byzantine Diplomacy refers to the basic principles and methods of diplomacy that were valid throughout the Byzantine era, as well as those that prevailed in the Palaiologan period.
In Part A is presented the diplomacy of Michael VIII with the Pontiffs who were in office during his reign (1259 to 1282). Specifically:
In Chapter 1, which is divided into two subchapters, the emperor's first attempts to approach the Holy See are examined: 1.1 deals with the embassies sent to Pope Urban IV, and 1.2 with the corresponding ones sent to Clement IV.
Chapter 2 refers to the diplomatic activity of Palaeologus with Pope Gregory X that led to the convocation of the Second Council of Lyons (1274) and its aftermath.
In Chapter 3, which is divided into four subchapters, the embassies sent to the Holy See from 1276 until 1282 are presented: 3.1 refers to Pope Innocent V, 3.2 to John XXI, 3.3 to Nicholas III, and 3.4 to Martino IV.
Part B describes the diplomatic relations of Michael with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Hungary. Specifically:
Chapter 4 refers to the embassies sent to Aragon and Chapter 5 to the corresponding ones sent to Hungary. In both chapters are presented the reasons that led Michael to approach and ally with each of the foreign forces examined, as well as the reasons why each one eventually collaborated with the emperor.
The study is completed with the Conclusions, which are divided into General (Positive and Negative) and Specific. The main conclusion remark is that the three aspects of the emperor’s diplomacy converged towards one purpose: to neutralize Charles I of Anjou, the greatest threat to Byzantium during the reign of Michael. The emperor accomplished this goal, but at a great economic and social cost.
