Constantin al XI-lea Paleologul
Drept-credinciosul Împărat Constantin al XI-lea Paleologul (grec.: Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος, sau Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos), a fost ultimul împărat al Imperiului Roman de Răsărit (Bizantin). A domnit din 1449 până la 29 mai 1453, când a murit ca un martir creştin, apărând zidurile Constantinopolului.
Constantin al XI-lea Paleologul
Statuia lui Constantin al XI-lea. din Mystra, Grecia
Detaliu al statuii
Viaţa
Constantin s-a născut la Mystras în anul 1404, fiind al patrulea din cei 7 fii ai împăratului Manuel al II-lea din dinastia Paleologilor, care a domnit între 1392-1425.
He was trained as a soldier and in 1441 conquered the Morea Peninsula of Greece. It had long been under the Frankish principality of 'Achaia' [1] Constantine was crowned Emperor January 6, 1449 AD succeeding his brother. A little less than five years later in 1453 AD he was killed during the final assaults by the Turkish Sultan, Mehmed II on Constantinople. Constantine, with some 8,000 Greeks, Venetians, and Genoese, had faced 150,000 Turkish besiegers under the Sultan, and after almost two months of heroic defense, directed by the emperor, the city and the empire fell. Constantine died fighting with the last of his men.[2]. Going back to Augustus and the ancient Roman Empire, he was the 138th and last Roman Emperor.
Saintly Status
Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholics consider Constantine XI a saint, but he has not been officially recognized as such. One of the reasons for this was that in the centuries of Ottoman rule, any effort on the part of the Orthodox Church to officially glorify Constantine XI as a saint would have been seen as an act of rebellion, and hence decidedly ill-advised. After the Greek War of Independence (1821-1831), when the Greek Orthodox Church once again had freedom to act, an official act of glorification was thought to be superfluous, on account of longstanding veneration as a saint and martyr, specifically, a national martyr or ethnomartyr, (Greek: Eθνομάρτυρας).
However, the erection of the statue of "Saint Constantine XI the Ethnomartyr" in the square in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, with the formal blessing of the Church authorities, appears to be a semi-official act of recognition. His feast falls on 29 May.[3].
The Russian Menologion indicates commemoration days for the Emperor on May 29 and May 30. The entry under May 30 is as follows: ‘On this day we commemorate the suffering of the right-believing Emperor Constantine under the ungodly Turkish King, who himself became ruler.’ The entry for May 29 reads simply: ‘Emperor Constantine, who suffered under the Turks.’[4].
See also
Further Reading
- Donald M. Nicol. The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521894093, 9780521894098 (174 pp)
Notes
- ↑ 'Achaia': A state established by the Crusaders.
- ↑ Columbia Encyclopedia: Constantine XI.
- ↑ Constantine XI: Unofficial Saint at Wikipedia.
- ↑ A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI. Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
- ↑ Before becoming a nun and assuming the name Ipomoni, Helena was the mother of Constantine XI Palaiologos. She lived a monastic life for over 25 years, after entering into the habit after the death of her husband. She died 1450AD and is commemorated by the church May 29. The relics of her skull and her icon are found at the Monastery of St. Patapios, Loutraki of Korinthos, Greece.
Legături externe
- Constantine XI at Wikipedia.
- A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
- Great Martyr and Emperor Constantine XI. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
- Constantine XI. EconomicExpert.com.
- Coinage of Constantine XI:
