Byzantine Intellectuals (as Politicians and Diplomats) and Their Attempt to Save Byzantium (c. 1350–1450)

Scrutinizing and analyzing the philological evidence deriving from literary sources and diplomatic documents, one could reasonably argue that the Byzantine Latinophile intellectuals of the second half of the 14th and of the early 15th century devoted their lives, their literary production and their entire activity trying to secure Western help for Byzantium against the Ottoman threat. The paper analyses the vigorous diplomatic and literary activity of the Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, of his prime minister (mesazon) Demetrius Kydones, and of Manuel Chrysoloras, a distinguished scholar, teacher and well known diplomat of Manuel II. Some other representatives of the group of Latinophile intellectuals in Byzantium, such as Maxim, Theodore and Andrew Chrysoverges, Manuel Kalekas, will also be object of our study. Important details of their literary works (e.g. Manuel II Palaeologos’ Funeral Oration on His Brother Theodore, The Letters of Manuel II, The Dialogues of Manuel II, Emperors’ A Depiction of Spring, The Monodies and Letters of Demetrius Kydones, The comparison between Ancient and New Rome and the Discourse to Manuel II of Manuel Chrysoloras etc.), which intended to support the union of the Churches, considered it as the only possible and realistic solution for the survival of the Empire in the face of the imminent Ottoman threat, and appraised Western culture recognizing and admiring the Latin cultural achievements, will also be traced.