Options
John VIII, Palaiologos
Loading...
Gender
Maschio
Role
Imperatore
Nationality
Bizantina
Death Date
October 31, 1448
Birth Place
Death Place
Partecipated in
English Biography
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος, romanized: Iōánnēs Palaiológos; 18 December 1392 – 31 October 1448) was the penultimate Byzantine emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.
As the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, he was co-emperor with his father before 1416 and took sole control in 1425. During his rule, he defended Constantinople from a siege by Murad II but conceded the loss of Thessalonica. To secure protection against the Ottomans, he visited Italy twice and consented to the union of the Greek and Roman churches, a move which was ultimately unsuccessful due to opposition in Constantinople. Before his death in 1448, John VIII named his brother Constantine XI as his successor. He was married three times but had no children. Notably, John VIII was the last reigning Byzantine emperor to die of natural causes and was depicted by several painters during his visit to Italy.
As the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, he was co-emperor with his father before 1416 and took sole control in 1425. During his rule, he defended Constantinople from a siege by Murad II but conceded the loss of Thessalonica. To secure protection against the Ottomans, he visited Italy twice and consented to the union of the Greek and Roman churches, a move which was ultimately unsuccessful due to opposition in Constantinople. Before his death in 1448, John VIII named his brother Constantine XI as his successor. He was married three times but had no children. Notably, John VIII was the last reigning Byzantine emperor to die of natural causes and was depicted by several painters during his visit to Italy.
Path