Despotat de Morée

The Despotat de Morée is a territory of the Byzantine Empire founded in the middle of the 14th century in the peninsula of the Peloponnese.

The term of “despotat” is formed on that of Despote (Δεσπότης), which then designates at the court of Constantinople a family member imperial. Its equivalent nearest is prince; a despotat would be thus a principality.

The name of “Morée” comes from the Greek Morea , “sheet of mulberry tree”, because of the resemblance between the chart of the Peloponnese and the sheet of the mulberry tree (or that of the plane tree).

Despotat de Morée was founded by Manuel Cantacuzène, brother of the Byzantine emperor Jean {{VI}} Cantacuzène, in 1348.

In 1354, the Othoman S capture Gallipoli; the Balkans are occupied. The Empire is tiny room to some dislocated territories, including/understanding Constantinople, Thessalonique, the Morée, and some islands or cities disseminated.

In 1395, the Byzantines are beaten by the Othomans in Morée, but, in 1402, the Mongols of Tamerlan crush the Othomans with Ancyre. In 1403, the Turks sign a treaty with the Byzantine emperor Manuel {{II}} Paléologue. Thessalonique and of many other cities, islands, or fortresses turn over to the Byzantines.

In 1427, Morée is reorganized into three despotats based with Mistra, Glarentza, and Kalavryta.

One would not have however not to forget the eminent Jean Frangopoulos, character important of the despotat, with which one owes in 1428 the construction of the splendid church of Pantanassa in Mistra.

Between 1429 and 1430, Despotat de Morée demolishes and appendix the franque Principauté of Achaïe.

In 1444, the Byzantines moréotes capture Athens, Thèbes, and the Béotie (frank Duchy of Athens). The Hungarians and the Poles are crushed by the Othoman Turks with the Bataille of Varna.

In May 1453, the Othomans capture Constantinople. The last Byzantine emperor, Constantin {{XI}} Paleologist Dragasès, is killed in the street battles. The Byzantine Empire disappears, except for the Empire of Trébizonde and Despotat de Morée. Between 1458 and 1460, the Othomans conquer Despotat de Morée. The two last codespotes, Démétrios and Thomas, exile themselves, one in Constantinople, the other in Italy…

Despots of Morée

1348-1380 : Manual Cantacuzène
1380-1383: Mathieu Cantacuzène
1383-1384: Demetrios {{Ier}} Cantacuzène
1384-1386 : Jean Cantacuzène
1386-1407: Theodore {{Ier}} Paleologist
1407-1443: Theodore {{II}} Paleologist
1443-1449: Constantin Paléologue (Constantin XI emperor Byzantine 1449-1453)
1449-1460: Demetrios {{II}} Paleologist & Thomas Paleologist, codespotes

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