Mehmed II becomes Sultan in 1451 and immediately makes plans to conquer Constantinople.

Period: 1448-53

Stream: Not with a Whimper but a Bang

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John VIII Palaiologos asks the Pope for an Ecumenical Council to reunite the churches. To his surprise the Pontiff says yes and a huge Byzantine contingent travels to Italy.

Pic: John VIII Palaiologos (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

Period: 1425-48

Stream: The Last Hope

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Pic: John VII, Manuel II and John VIII (from a 15th-century codex in the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris)

With the Ottoman civil war raging Manuel II Palaiologos tries to improve the Roman position and ensure his sons succeed him.

Period: 1402-30

Stream: Buying Time

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Pic: Bayezid held captive by Timur, painting by Stanisław Chlebowski (1878)

Manuel II Palaiologos refuses to play vassal to Sultan Bayezid. So the Ottomans set up a permanent blockade of New Rome. The siege would last for eight years and only a miracle could save the Romans.

Period: 1391-1402

Stream: In the Nick of Timur

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John V Palaiologos faces rebellions from his sons and Grandsons. Forcing the Romans to become both Ottomans vassals and the pawns of Venice and Genoa.

Period: 1371-91

Pic: John V Palaiologos  (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

Stream: Vassals and Pawns

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We look at the details of how the Ottomans ran their state. Including the creation of loyalty to the ruling dynasty, succession policy, military recruitment and slave trading.

Period: 1280-1371

Pic: Sultan Murad I (16th century miniature)

Stream: The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 2

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We follow the last century of narrative from an Ottoman point of view.

Period: 1280-1371

Pic: Sultan Orhan (painted by Konstantin Kapıdağlı, 19th century)

Stream: The Rise of the Ottomans, Part 1

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John V Palaiologos takes charge of the Empire but finds he has only one option left to save his state. He must travel West and beg for Latin help. Meanwhile the Turks conquer Thrace.

Period: 1355-71

Map: The breakup of the Serbian Empire c 1360 AD

Stream: Just Another Beylik

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Map: The Roman Empire c 1350 AD

Finally in sole control of the Empire John Kantakouzenos makes plans to restore the Roman world. His plans come to nothing though as he immediately faces war, invasion and plague.

Period: 1347-55

Stream: At Least Things Can’t Get Any Worse

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In order to gain the throne John Kantakouzenos destroys what is left of the Roman Empire. He allows the Serbs to conquer Macedonia while his Turkish allies enslave his people.

Picture: Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (fresco painted between 1341-7 in the Lesnovo monastery in North Macedonia).

Period: 1343-47

Stream: The Worst Civil War, Part 2

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