Manuel Palaiologos was the youngest son of Thomas Palaiologos, a brother of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the final Byzantine emperor.
11 Facts About Manuel Palaiologos
1.
2.
The money provided by the papacy was gradually cut back and Manuel Palaiologos eventually left Rome in 1474 in order to seek his fortune by offering military service to various nobles and rulers in Europe, including Galeazzo Maria Sforza of Milan and Charles the Bold of Burgundy.
3.
The sultan generously received Manuel Palaiologos, who stayed in Constantinople for the rest of his life.
4.
Manuel Palaiologos fathered at least two sons; John, who died young, and Andreas, who converted to Islam.
5.
Manuel Palaiologos was 10 years old at the time and Andreas was 12.
6.
Andreas attempted to earn money by offering to sell his claims on the imperial title to various rulers in Europe, but as Manuel Palaiologos was second-in-line, he had no claims to sell.
7.
In despair of this financial situation, and knowing that he would not receive satisfactory offers in Western Europe, Manuel Palaiologos again left Rome in the spring of 1476 at the age of 21.
8.
Much to the surprise of everyone else involved, Manuel Palaiologos travelled to Constantinople and threw himself on the mercy of Mehmed II.
9.
In contrast to his reception in Milan and Vaudemont, Mehmed generously received Manuel Palaiologos and provided him with an estate, income and a pair of female concubines.
10.
The arrangement was similar to the one experienced by Manuel's uncle Demetrios Palaiologos in the Ottoman Empire a few years prior and Manuel lived happily in the city until the end of his life.
11.
Manuel Palaiologos died at some point during the reign of Mehmed's son and successor, Bayezid II.