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He Polis healo : The Fall of Constantinople in 1453 in Post-Byzantine Popular Literature

2010; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 22; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09503110903549921

1473-348X

Aphrodite Papayianni,

Byzantine Studies and History

Abstract This article examines the reaction of the Greeks to one of the most momentous events in their history, the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in May 1453, as it is portrayed in works of Greek popular literature up to the seventeenth century. The popular lores, apart from reflecting the emotions and thoughts of the conquered Greeks, also contributed to the creation of legends, aiming at encouraging the Greeks to keep their hopes alive for eventual liberation from the Turkish occupation. Keywords: Constantinople/Istanbul, Turkey – fall (1453)Byzantine empire – literature/historiographyGreek literatureConstantine XI Palaiologos, Byzantine emperorFolk literature – Greek Notes 1 George Sphrantzes (d. ca. 1477) is the author of Chronicon Minus and might also be the author of the so-called Chronicon Maius, an expanded version of Chronicon Minus. When reference is hereafter made to Chronicon Maius, its author will be stated as Pseudo-Sphrantzes. 2 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Monodia Kyr Andronikou tou Kallistou epi te dystychei Konstantinoupolei”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 203–218, at 218; ibid., p. 203: this lament has also been published in Patrologiae Cursus completus. Series Graeca, ed. J.P. Migne, CLXI volumes in CLXVII (Paris: [s.n.], 1857–1866), CLXI: 1131–1142, but with numerous errors in the transcription. 3 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Enthymeseon etoi chronikon Semeiomaton Sylloge prote”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 7 (1910): 113–313, at 161. 4 P. Schreiner (ed.), Die Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, volumes XII/I–III] (Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1975), I: 640. 5 G. Zoras, Agnostos Parallage tou “Threnou tes Konstantinoupoleos” (kata ton Athenaikon Kodika 3113) (Athens: Spoudasterion Byzantines kai Neohellenikes Philologias tou Panepistemiou Athenon, 1959), pp. 11, 22; E. Kriaras, Anakalema tes Konstantinoupoles (Thessalonica: Aristoteleion Panepistemio Thessalonikes, 1965), pp. 33–34. 6 See for instance N. Choniates, Nicetae Choniatae Historia, ed. I. A. van Dieten [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, volumes XI/I–II] (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1975), p. 575; H.J. Magoulias, O City of Byzantium: Annals of Niketas Choniates (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1984), p. 316; C. Matzukis, He Halosis tes Konstantinoupoleos. Tetarte Stavrophoria/The Fall of Constantinople. Fourth Crusade (Athens: Hellen, 2004), pp. 117–119. 7 Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 155. Also see S. Lamprou, Palaiologeia kai Peloponnesiaka, IV volumes in II (Athens: Epitrope Ekdoseos ton Kataloipon Spyrídonos Lamprou/Hestia, 1912/1923–1930; photographic reprint, Athens: V.N. Gregoriades, 1972), IV: 91. 8 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou Diakonou tou Eugenikou Monodia epi te Halosei tes Megalopoleos”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 219–226, at 220. 9 E. Limenites, “Threnos tes Konstantinoupoleos” in Analekten der mittel- und neugriechischen Literatur, ed. A. Ellissen, volumes I–V (Leipzig: Otto Wigand, 1855–1862), III: 106–248, at 108. G.N. Henrich has shown that the name of the author of the poem “Threnos tes Konstantinoupoleos” is Emmanuel Limenites, not Emmanuel Georgillas as it was believed in the past (G.N. Henrich, “Poios egrapse to Poiema Halosis Konstantinoupoleos (ΒΒ 1, 177–197)”, in Constantinopla. 550 Años de su Caída/Konstantinoupole. 550 Chronia apo ten Halose, ed. E. Motos Guirano-M. Morfakides Filactós, volumes I–III (Granada: Centro de Estudios Bizantinos, Negriegos y Cypriotas - Universidad de Granada, 2006), II: 405–414. 10 Limenites, “Threnos”, 162–164. 11 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Adelou Monodia akephalos”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 242–247, at 245. 12 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Kodex Pollane 39”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 248–250, at 248. 13 D. Oikonomides, “‘Chronographou’ tou Dorotheou ta laographika”, Laographia, 19 (1960): 19–90, at 21, 86. The identity of the author of the chronicle (which was first printed under the name Dorotheos of Monemvasia) is under discussion: see The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. A. Kazhdan (New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991), p. 654. 14 N. Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki 287 mikra Chronographia”, Epeteris Hetaireias Byzantinon Spoudon, 25 (1955): 28–37, at 28–29, 34. 15 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Peri Konstantinou tou Palaiologou kai tes hypo ton Tourkon Haloseos tes Konstantinoupoleos”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 261–262, at 262; S. Lamprou (ed.), “Papa Synadinou tou Serrhaiou”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 250–256, at 253. On the originality, or lack of it, of Synadenos’ poem, see G. Zoras, Threnos Konstantinoupoleos [kata ton Varverinon Hellenikon Kodika 15] (Athens: [s.n.], 1955), pp. 17–18. 16 V. Laurent, “Les premiers Patriarches de Constantinople sous domination turque (1454–1476)”, Revue des Études Byzantines, 26 (1968): 229–263, at 260–261. 17 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Manuel tou Christonymou Monodia epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 227–240, at 230. 18 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 22–23. 19 Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 236. 20 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Parisinos Kodex”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 248–250, at 250; Also Lamprou, “Kodex Pollane”, 250. 21 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 218. 22 M. Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae Historiae, ed. D.R. Reinsch [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, volume XXII] (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1983), p. 14; C.T. Riggs (trans.), History of Mehmet the Conqueror by Critoboulos (Connecticut: Greenwood Press/Princeton University Press, 1954), pp. 11–12. 23 See for instance I. Tzetzes, Ioannis Tzetzae Epistulae, ed. P.A. Leone (Leipzig: Teubner, 1972), pp. 87–88 (n. 59); Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 16, 37; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 13, 35; N. Vees, “Peri tou historemenou Chresmologiou tes kratikes Vivliothekes tou Verolinou kai tou Thrylou tou ‘marmaromenou Vasilia’”, Byzantinische Neugriechische Jahrbücher, 13 (1936–1937): 203–244λς, at 203–214. 24 Hoptasia tou makariou Hieronymou Agathangelou tou ek tes monadikes Politeias tou Megalou Vasileiou: apokaleiphtheisa to Etei 1279 pros Gnosin ton metagenesteron piston tou Theou kai Soteros hemon Iesou Christou (Nicosia: [s.n.], [1930]), p. 8. Also see N. Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae peri Apokatastaseos tou Hellenikou Ethnous”, Laographika Symmeikta, 1 (1920): 14–27, at 24–26, 28; M.-H. Congourdeau, “Byzance et la fin du monde. Courants de pensée apocalyptiques sous les Paléologues”, in Les Traditions apocalyptiques au tournant de la chute de Constantinople, ed. B. Lellouch and S. Gerasimos [Varia Turcica XXXIII] (Paris: Harmattan; Istanbul: Institut français d’études anatoliennes Georges-Dumézil, 2000), pp. 90–92. 25 Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 58–59; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 58–59; Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton kai tina Gegonota en to Chrono tes Zoes autou, 1401–1477, cum Pseudo-Sphrantzes in Appedice sive Macarii Melisseni Chronicon, 1258–1481, ed. V. Grecu [Scriptores Byzantini V] (Bucharest: Academiae Rei Publicae Socialistae Romaniae, 1966), pp. 408–410; Nicolò Barbaro, Diary of the Siege of Constantinople, trans. J.R. Jones (New York: Exposition Press, 1969), pp. 49, 56; U. Pusculus, “Ubertini Pusculi Brixiensis Constantinopoleos”, in Analekten der mittel- und neugriechischen Literatur, ed. A. Ellissen, volumes I–V (Leipzig: Otto Wigand, 1855–1862), III: 79; D. Nicol, The Immortal Emperor (Cambridge/New York/Oakleigh: Cambridge University Press, 1992), p. 66. 26 M. Doukas, Ducae Historia Turco-bizantina (1341–1462), ed. V. Grecu [Scriptores Byzantini I] (Bucharest: Editio Academiae Reipublicae Popularis Romanicae, 1958), p. 365; H. Magoulias (trans.), Decline and Fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman Turks by Doukas (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1975), pp. 225–226; Cf. L. Chalkokondyles, Laonici Chalcocandylae Historiarum Demonstrationes, ed. E. Darkó, volumes I–II (Budapest: Typis Societatis Franklinianae, 1922–1923), II: 161; Vees, “Peri tou historemenou Chresmologiou”, 244κδ-κε. 27 Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 34. 28 G. Zoras, “He Halosis tes Konstantinoupoleos kai he Vasileia tou Moameth B tou kataktetou (kata ton anekdoton Hellenikon Varverinon Kodika 111 tes Vatikanes Vivliothekes)”, Epeteris Hetaireias Byzantinon Spoudon, 22 (1952): 233–289, at 256; Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 419, 436. 29 K. Krumbacher, Ein dialogischer Threnos auf den Fall von Konstantinopel (Munich: Verlag der K. B. Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1901), pp. 346, 347, 354. 30 S. Lamprou (ed.), “Anonymou Monodia”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 240–242, at 240. 31 Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 223. Also see ibid., 224. 32 É. Legrand, Bibliothèque grecque vulgaire, volumes I–IX (Paris: Maisonneuve, 1880–1902; photographic reprint, Athens: V. Gregoriades, 1974), II: 231–233. 33 Zoras, Threnos, 12. 34 Ibid., 13. 35 Lamprou, “Kodex Pollane”, 249; Lamprou, “Parisininos Kodex”, 249. Also see Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 34–35. 36 V. Kyriakides (ed.), Megale Enkyclopaedeia ste demotike, volumes I–XVI (Athens: Chrestos Yiovanes, 1977), IV: 247 (the song survives in a manuscript of the fifteenth century). About the date of the composition of the song, also see M. Varvounes, Laographika Dokimia (Athens: Kastaniotes, 2000), p. 389. 37 N. Polites, Eklogai apo ta Tragoudia tou Hellenikou Laou (Athens: E.G. Vayionakis 1978), p. 13. Also see S.P. Papadopoulos, “Paradoseis-Thryloi tes Perioches Kars”, Archeion Pontou, 42 (1988–1989): 105–113, at 114, n. 14. 38 Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 222. 39 Ibid., 224. 40 Ibid., 219. 41 Oikonomides, “‘Chronographou’ tou Dorotheou”, 21; cf. Matzukis, He Halosis, 93, 111. 42 Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 254–255. 43 Lamprou, “Adelou Monodia”, 247. 44 Lamprou, “Enthymeseon”, 160–161. 45 Limenites, “Threnos”, 128. 46 Ibid., 220. 47 Zoras, “He Halosis”, 243–244, 256, 257–258. 48 Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 155. 49 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 12–13, 23–24. 50 Ibid., 11, 13–22, 24. Also see Zoras, “He Halosis”, 238, 243, 248. 51 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 13, 23–24. Also see S. Lamprou (ed.), “Threnos epi Haloseos tes Poleos”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 256–258, at 257. 52 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 14, 24; Zoras, “He Halosis”, 239, 246, 248; S. Lamprou (ed.), “Peri tou Kastrou tes Konstantinoupoleos oion en tote kai oion esti nyn”, in “Monodiae kai Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Neos Hellenomnemon, 5 (1908): 260–261, at 261. 53 Doukas, Ducae Historia, 343, 353, 357; Magoulias, Decline, 217, 221, 222–223; Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 40, 50, 67, 68–69; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 39, 49–50, 68, 69; Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 396–398, 406; cf. idem., 426. 54 Zoras, “He Halosis”, 253; cf. Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 426; Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 69; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 70; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 357, 371; Magoulias, Decline, 222–223, 229. 55 Lamprou, “Enthymeseon”, 161. 56 Polites, Eklogai, 270; G. Megas, “Hoi Trapezountiakoi Threnoi epi te Halosei tes Konstantinoupoleos”, Epeteris tou Laographikou Archeiou, 8 (1953–1954): 3–13, at 5 (repr. Laographia, 25 (1967): 399–408). 57 K. Rhomaios, “‘Ho Hellen Konstantinon’ kai ta Parapona ton anthenotikon tou 1450”, Archeion Pontou, 28 (1966–1967): 213–232. About the issue of the selective attendance in the churches of Constantinople by the pro-unionists and anti-unionists see J. Gill, The Council of Florence (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1959), pp. 349–388 (especially p. 355). 58 S. Emellos, Thryloumena gia ten Halose kai ten ethnike Apokatastase (Athens: Syllogos pros Diadosin ophelimon Vivlion, 1991), pp. 13–14, 50–59. 59 Papadopoulos, “Paradoseis-Thryloi”, 114, n. 14. 60 Emellos, Thryloumena, 55. 61 On the political and social context of the division between unionists and anti-unionists in the Byzantine Empire in the fifteenth century see T. Kiousopoulou, Vasileus e Oikonomos: Politike Eksousia kai Ideologia prin ten Halose (Athens: Polis, 2007). Also T. Kiousopoulou, “He koinonike Diastase tes Syngrouses anamesa stous henotikous kai tous anthenotikous ton 15o Aiona”, Mnimon 23 (2001): 25–36. 62 Doukas, Ducae Historia, 365; Magoulias, Decline, 226. 63 Emellos, Thryloumena, 17–18. On Manuel II Palaiologos’ travels and appeals to the West for help, see J.W. Barker, Manuel II Palaeologus (1391–1425): A Study in Late Byzantine Statesmanship (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1969), pp. 123–199. 64 Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 416. 65 Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 35. 66 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 217. 67 Limenites, “Threnos”, 130. 68 Ibid., 122, 132, 164. Also see N. Polites, “Diati he Trite theoreitai apophras Hemera”, Laographika Symmeikta, 1 (1920): 42–47. On the long and continuous tradition of astrology in Byzantium, see P. Magdalino, L’Orthodoxie des Astrologues: La Science entre le Dogme et la Divination à Byzance (VIIe–XIVe siécle) (Paris: Lethielleux, 2006). 69 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 7, 15 (comment on l. 1). 70 Ibid., 22. 71 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 218. Cf. Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 76; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 76–77; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 375; Magoulias, Decline, 231. 72 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 206–207, 213–214; Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 237–238; Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 34–35; Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 14, 24–25; Zoras, “He Halosis”, 256; Kriaras, Anakalema, 34; M. Peranthes, Historia tes neohellenikes Logotechnias kai Zoes. Apo tis protes Rizes os ten Epanastase (1000–1821), volumes I–II (Athens: Kastaniotes, 2006), I: 288. 73 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 206–208; Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 253. 74 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 211; Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 237; Lamprou, “Adelou Monodia”, 242; Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 252; Zoras, “He Halosis”, 256. 75 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 211; Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 221; Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 252; Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 34; Zoras, “He Halosis”, 256. 76 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 207–208; Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 224; Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 232; Lamprou, “Adelou Monodia”, 242; Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 253. 77 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 211; Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 224; Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 237; Lamprou, “Adelou Monodia”, 242; Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 252; I. Theocharides, “Apo ton Apoeho tes Haloses tes Konstantinoupoles sten Kypro”, in Constantinopla. 550 Años de su Caída/Konstantinoupole. 550 Chronia apo ten Halose, ed. E. Motos Guirano-M. Morfakides Filactós, volumes I–III (Granada: Centro de Estudios Bizantinos, Negriegos y Cypriotas - Universidad de Granada, 2006), II: 206. 78 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 206, 208–209. On the destruction of the monuments and the people of Constantinople, also see Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 71–73; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 71–74; Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 430–432; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 361–367; Magoulias, Decline, 224–227; Chalkokondyles, Laonici Chalcocandylae, II: 161–163. 79 Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 221. 80 C. Tischendorf (ed.), Evangelia apokrypha (Leipzig: Avenarius et Mendelssohn, 1853), p. 269; S. Emellos, “To Angelma tes Haloseos tes Konstantinoupoleos eis Tragoudia tes Thrakes”, Hepeteris tou Kentrou Erevnes tes Hellenikes Laographias, 24 (1975–1976): 3–10, at 9 (reprinted in Emellos, Thryloumena, 67; cf. ibid., 32). 81 F.J. Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, volumes I–V (Boston/New York: Sampson Low, 1882–1888; photographic reprint, New York: The Folklore Press/Pageant Book Company, 1957), I: 233–242, 505–506; II: 501; III: 502–503; IV: 452; V: 212, 288. 82 N. Polites, Meletai peri tou Viou kai tes Glosses tou Hellenikou Laou. Paradoseis, volumes I–II (Athens: D. Sakellariou, 1904; photographic reprint, Athens: Ergane-EPE, 1965), I: 21; Emellos, “To Angelma”, 3–7 (reprinted in Emellos, Thryloumena, 61–64; also see ibid., 29–49). 83 Doukas, Ducae Historia, 363; Magoulias, Decline, 225. Also see Limenites, “Threnos”, 124. 84 Limenites, “Threnos”, 124. 85 C. Patrineles, Ho Theodoros Agallianos kai hoi anekdotoi Logoi tou (Athens: [s.n.], 1966), p. 98. 86 D. Zakythinos, “Ideolgikai Syngrouseis eis ten poliorkoumenen Konstantinoupolin”, Nea Hestia, 47 (1950): 794–799, at 797. 87 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 214, 217. 88 Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 230. 89 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 217. Also see Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 77–78; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 77–78. 90 Krumbacher, Ein dialogischer Threnos, 346–355. 91 Lamprou, “Tou Nomophylakos Ioannou”, 221. 92 Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 253; Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 238. 93 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 218. 94 Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 229. George Scholarios (that is Patriarch Gennadios II: r. 1454–1456, 1463, and 1464–1465) held a similar view: L. Petit, X.A. Siderides, M. Jugie, Georgiou tou Scholariou hapanta ta heuriskomena, volumes I–VIII (Paris: Maison de la bonne Presse, 1928–1936), IV: 223. 95 Lamprou, “Manuel tou Christonymou”, 239. 96 J. Darrouzès, “Lettres de 1453”, Revue des Études Byzantines, 22 (1964): 72–197, at 91, 117. About Methodios of Patara see Vees, “Peri tou historemenou Chresmologiou”, 207–208. 97 Polites, Meletai, I: 179. 98 Zoras, Threnos, 12; Cf. Legrand, Bibliothèque grecque, II: 314. 99 A. Smith, Chosen Peoples (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), 134–137. 100 Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 214. 101 Polites, Meletai, I: 23–24. 102 Polites, Meletai, I: 179–180. Also see Emellos, Thryloumena, 70–79. 103 Polites, Meletai, I: 22. 104 Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 19. 105 Polites, Meletai, II: 672–673; Revelation 14:20. 106 Lamprou, “Papa Synadinou”, 256; Lamprou, “Peri tou Kastrou”, 261. 107 Lamprou, “Threnos”, 258. 108 Polites, Eklogai, 270; Megas, “Hoi Trapezountiakoi Threnoi”, 5–6; Rhomaios, “‘Ho Hellen’”, 230–232. 109 Vees, “Peri tou historemenou Chresmologiou”, 244κη; Hoptasia tou makariou Hieronymou Agathangelou, 25, 46. 110 Zoras, Threnos, 12. 111 Polites, Meletai, 1: 23; Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 17–18. 112 Lamprou, “Kodex Pollane”, 249–250; Lamprou, “Parisinos Kodex”, 249–250. 113 Polites, Eklogai, 13; Kyriakides, Megale Encyclopaedeia, 4: 247. On the issue of the use of the possessive pronoun “yours” instead of “ours” in the reply of the Greeks, in some versions of this song, see M. Herzfeld, Ours Once More: Folklore, Ideology and the Making of Modern Greece (New York: Pella, 1986), pp. 130–135. 114 Megas, “Hoi Trapezountiakoi Threnoi”, 5. 115 Ibid., 13. 116 Polites, Meletai, II: 673–674. 117 Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 19. Cf. Polites, Meletai, I: 24; Oikonomides, “‘Chronographou’ tou Dorotheou”, 20, 60–63. 118 Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 19. It is well-established that Constantine Palaiologos died childless. 119 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 12, 22–23. 120 M. Crusius, Turcograecia (Basiliae: 1548; photographic reprint, Modena: Memor 1972), p. 80. 121 Limenites, “Threnos”, 140–160, 174–192, 198–202, 216, 222–232, 236–242, 246–248. 122 Ibid., 168–170, 200. 123 Ibid., 140–142, 166–168, 170, 172. 124 H. Vast, Le Cardinal Bessarion (1403–1472) (Paris: Hachette et Cie, 1878), pp. 454–456; M. Manousakas, Ekkleseis (1453–1535) ton Hellenon Logion tes Anagenneseos pros tous Hegemones tes Evropes gia ten Apeleftherose tes Hellados (Thessalonica: Aristoteleion Panepistemion Thessalonikes, 1965), pp. 10–11. 125 Polites, Eklogai, 13. See a similar legend about the altar of St Sophia in Polites, Meletai, I: 24; Cf. Peranthes, Historia, I: 284–285. For historical commentary on the means by which the three items would be sent to the West see K. Rhomaios, “Nees Apopseis gia to Tragoudi tes Hagias Sophias (Syngrise Tragoudiou kai historikon Pegon)”, Archeion Pontou, 28 (1966–1967): 499–525, at 513–518. 126 Oikonomides, “‘Chronographou’ tou Dorotheou”, 21–22. 127 A. Vakalopoulos, Historia tou neou Hellenismou, volumes I–VII (Thessalonica: [s.n.], 1961–1986), III: 101. 128 Zoras, Threnos, 12; Cf. Legrand, Bibliothèque grecque, II: 314. 129 Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 19. 130 Polites, Eklogai, 268–270; Megas, “Hoi Trapezountiakoi Threnoi”, 5. On the meaning of the word “Hellen” as “brave”, see ibid., 6. 131 Kriaras, Anakalema, 31. 132 Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 271. Cf. Lamprou, “Monodia Kyr Andronikou”, 206. 133 Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 432. Also see Limenites, “Threnos”, 218, 244. 134 Pseudo-Sphrantzes, Ta kath’ heauton, 432. 135 Megas, “Hoi Trapezountiakoi Threnoi”, 9; Polites, Eklogai, 269. 136 Polites, Meletai, I: 22–23. About the rumours regarding the burial place of Constantine Palaiologos, see Polites, Meletai, II: 675–678; N. Polites, “Paratereseis peri tinon Demosievmaton anapheromenon eis Hellenikas Paradoseis”, Laographika Symmeikta, 2 (1921): 39–71, at 49. 137 Zoras, “He Halosis”, 253; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 361; Magoulias, Decline, 224. 138 Zoras, “He Halosis”, 255. 139 On the regional origin of the author of this lament about the fall of Constantinople, see Kriaras, Anakalema, 3–14. 140 Kriaras, Anakalema, 32–33. On the participation of Cretan fighters in the defence of Constantinople in 1453, see idem., 43–44, n. 38. 141 Lamprou, “Peri Konstantinou”, 262. Also see Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 155, 272; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 345–347; Magoulias, Decline, 218; G. Sphrantzes, Georgii Sphrantzae Chronicon, ed. R. Maisano [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, volume XXIX] (Rome: Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 1990), p. 140. 142 Schreiner, Byzantinischen Kleinchroniken, I: 155. Also see ibid., 369. 143 Lamprou, “Enthymeseon”, 161. 144 Zoras, Agnostos Parallage, 11, 22. Also see Kritoboulos, Critobuli Imbriotae, 70, 81–82; Riggs, History of Mehmet, 71, 82; Chalkokondyles, Laonici Chalcocandylae, II: 163; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 361; Magoulias, Decline, 224. 145 Kriaras, Anakalema, 36. 146 Tomadakes, “He en to Patmiako Kodiki”, 35; Lamprou, “Kodex Pollane”, 250; D. Sakel, “Sixteenth-century tales of the last Byzantine emperor”, in Constantinopla: 550 Años de su Caída/Konstantinoupole. 550 Chronia apo ten Halose, ed. E. Motos Guirano-M. Morfakides Filactós, volumes I–III (Granada: Centro de Estudios Bizantinos, Negriegos y Cypriotas - Universidad de Granada, 2006), II: 109–111; Doukas, Ducae Historia, 377; Magoulias, Decline, 232; Chalkokondyles, Laonici Chalcocandylae, II: 163. Cf. Kriaras, Anakalema, 32–33. 147 Polites, Meletai, I: 22. Cf. Vees, “Peri tou historemenou Chresmologiou”, 244κα. 148 Doukas, Ducae Historia, 365; Magoulias, Decline, 225–226. 149 Limenites, “Threnos”, 224. 150 According to another popular lore, the Turks were coming from Troy and the reason they attacked Constantinople was to avenge the Greek attack on Troy: Zoras, “He Halosis”, 258. Cf. Chalkokondyles, Laonici Chalcocandylae, II: 166–167. 151 Polites, Meletai, II: 670–672. Also see Polites, “Demodeis Doksasiae”, 22. 152 O. Veh (ed.), Procop Bauten. Paulos Silentiarios. Beschreibung der Hagia Sophia (Munchen: Heimeran, 1977), pp. 34–36. The Persian translation of the Diegeses of the construction of St Sophia contains interesting pieces of information, which are not included in the original Greek text, about Justinian's view on the symbolic importance of his equestrian statue: F. Tauer, “Les Versions persanes de la Legende sur la Construction d’Aya Sofya”, Byzantinoslavica, 15 (1954): 1–20, at 17. 153 S. Vryonis, The Decline of Medieval Hellenism in Asia Minor and the Process of Islamization from the Eleventh through the Fifteenth Century (Berkley/Los Angeles/London: University of California Press, 1971), pp. 436–437. Also see P. Fodor, “The view of the Turk in Hungary: The apocalyptic tradition and the legend of the red apple in Ottoman-Hungarian context”, in Les traditions apocalyptiques au tournant de la chute de Constantinople, ed. B. Lellouch and S. Gerasimos [Varia Turcica, volume XXXIII] (Paris: Harmattan; Istanbul: Institut français d’études anatoliennes Georges-Dumézil, 2000), pp. 99–131 (especially pp. 120–131). 154 Theophanes [the Confessor], Theophanis Chronographia, ed. C. de Boor, volumes I–II (Leipzig: Teubner, 1883–1885; photographic reprint, Hildesheim/New York: Georg Olms, 1980), I: 501. 155 Varvounes, Laographika, 394. 156 Lamprou, Palaiologeia, IV: 40. 157 G. Tertsetes, Theodorou Kolokotrone Apomnemonevmata, (Athens: Vergina 2002), p. 175. The name of Constantine Palaiologos is not stated in the text but it is clearly implied. 158 Vakalopoulos, Historia, I: 12. 159 Doukas, Ducae Historia, 347; Magoulias, Decline, 218. 160 H. Ahrweiler, L’Idéologie politique de l’Empire byzantin, (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1975), 110–111. Also ibid., pp. 100–101.