#constantine xi

In 1453, the burgeoning glory of the Ottoman Turks claimed their millennium long prize- the Jewel of the Romans, or what was left of them- Constantinople. But even as that city was engulfed in flames and the walls crumbled, Constantine Xi- the last Roman emperor, stood defiant. The Eastern Romans/Byzantines were not merely custodians of Roman glory; they were the living successors. Though their language had shifted and their faith transformed, their spirit remained Roman. From the splendor of Hagia Sophia to the legal reforms of Justinian, Byzantium carried forth the torch of Romulus, Augustus, and Constantine the Great, merging the might of Rome with the intellect and spirituality of Hellenic culture. From the hordes of Hunnic invaders to the resistances shown to Persians, Arabs, and Bulgars sieges- Roman had become, in truth, the shield of Europa during the tumultuous centuries of Late Antiquity.

Even their conquerors, the Ottomans, could not escape the pretentions of the Roman legacy. Even as Mehmet II raised the flag of Osman, he immediately styled himself a Caesar of Rome. The Ottomans went as far as adopting the administrative and cultural frameworks from Byzantium, grafting their Islamic empire onto the rootstock of Roman governance. In that innovation was birthed a Golden Age for the Arab world.

In truth, the fall of Constantinople seemed inevitable and by that point, nothing more than the last ragged breath of a dying wolf. An old and weary wolf, battered by more than a thousand years of internal strife and external assault. Yet this lupine beast fell not with a whimper, but a howl that shattered the barriers of the medieval world. Refugee scholars fled westward, igniting a reintroduction of European kingdoms with their own ancient past. Trade routes were barred, spurring a desire for new and alternative routes. And with the Islamic conquering of the east, a new border and seat for their superpower was now firmly established. Though Rome fell, its legacy seeded the future, ensuring that the ideas and achievements of thousands of years would never perish.

The empress mother

After the death of Manuel II in 1425, Helena became a nun under the name Hypomone, meaning “patience.” Yet she did not withdraw from political life. Her influence increased during the reign of her son John VIII. Helena’s sons seem to have held her in particularly high esteem. Foreign representatives, for instance, wrote separately to both the emperor and his mother, as her support was considered essential. Helena established herself as a key figure in political affairs.

A devoted Orthodox Christian, Helena opposed her son’s desire to seek a union with the Western Church in hopes of securing military assistance. Nevertheless, she agreed to mediate with anti-Unionists and summoned a council, convincing them to participate in the council of Ferrara. This demonstrates her stabilizing influence.

When John VIII left for Italy in 1437, Helena took part in governing the city in his absence. Despite the distance, the emperor continued to seek her counsel on various matters. When John VIII returned, Helena bore the difficult responsibility of informing him that his beloved wife, Maria of Trebizond, had died.

Securing the throne

When John VIII died in 1448, Helena played a crucial role in securing the crown for her son, the future Constantine XI. Constantine seems to have felt deep affection and respect for his mother, as he styled himself “Constantine Dragaš Palaiologos.” He was the only one of Helena’s sons to use his mother’s family name, even though Helena herself had abandoned it after marrying into the imperial dynasty.

Standing beside her son and more powerful than ever, Helena was even compared to a co-emperor. She persuaded Constantine to remove the name of John VIII from liturgical commemorations. John’s policy of pursuing union with the Western Church had indeed been deeply unpopular. Helena perhaps hoped to distance Constantine XI from his predecessor. However, her son would later realize that such a policy had become necessary.

Helena died in 1450, three years before the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II. She was deeply mourned and unanimously praised. As Constantine XI was unmarried at that time, she became the last Byzantine empress to sit upon the throne.

If you enjoy this blog, consider supporting me on Ko-fi!

Further reading: 

Marjanović-Dušanić Smilja, “Hélène Dragaš, princesse serbe et impératrice de Byzance”, in: Impératrices, princesses, aristocrates et saintes souveraines

Melichar Petra, Empress of Late Byzantium