The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453

Donald M. Nicol

Cambridge University Press, Oct 14, 1993 - History - 463 pages

The Byzantine empire in the last two centuries of its existence had to rebuild itself after its conquest and dismemberment by the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Its emperors in exile recovered Constantinople in 1261 and this book narrates their empire's struggles for survival from that date until its final conquest by Ottoman Turks in 1453. First published in 1972, the book has been completely revised to take account of recent scholarship. It remains the best synthesis of the political, ecclesiastical and historical events of the period.

Contents

• The Byzantine Empire after the Fourth Crusade I: 1
• The Empire in exile and its restoration: 19
• the reign: 39
• The battle of wits between east and west: 58
• The Byzantine dilemma in the thirteenth century: 72
• the reign: 91
• Symptoms and causes of decline: 107
• The failure to find a cure: 122
• The nature of the enemy: 141
• the age of civil: 149
• The reign of Andronikos III 132841: 167
• The second civil war 13417: 185
• The reign of John VI Cantacuzene 134754: 209
• the last: 251
• the first crisis 13911402: 296
• The last reprieve 140225 3 8: 319
• The Ottoman revival and the reign of John VIII: 339
• the fall: 369
• The last outposts of Byzantium: 394
• Glossary: 413
• Index: 450

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453
• Author: Donald M. Nicol
• Edition: illustrated, revised
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1993
• ISBN: 0521439914, 9780521439916
• Length: 463 pages
• Subjects: History / Ancient / General; History / Asia / General; History / General; History / Middle East / General