Authoritative Violence as a Policy: Imperial Reactions to Anti-Unionists in the Palaeologan era (1258–1453). Some Preliminary Remarks

One of the main political, religious and social debates of the Late Byzantine era is the attempt of the Palaeologan emperors for the Church Union, realized twice in Lyon (1272) and Florence (1439). While the emperors hoped for major diplomatic advantages through the Union, a vast anti-Unionist party expresses its unequivocal objection to the project, led mostly by the clergy and also significant upper-class members. The reaction of these very powerful individuals, both economically and politically, including members of the emperor's close family circle, played a decisive role in the development of contacts with the West. At the same time, it led to a deadlock in the foreign policy and consequently in the efforts of a series of emperors to stop the opposition by using various punishments, even violence, especially in the 13th century, during Michael VIII’s reign. The paper aims to examine the methods used to interrupt the actions of the anti-Unionists, especially through physical penalties and also through administrative and procedural mistreatment of entire parts of the laymen population. Particular attention will be given to the differences, if any, between imperial reactions through time, from Lyon to Florence.