He first
brother Nicephorus ; but the rebellion was soon distinguished himself in the defence of Constan-
quelled, and Leo and Nicephorus were taken pri- tinople against the Latins in 1204, and after its
soners, and condemned to death.
brother Nicephorus ; but the rebellion was soon distinguished himself in the defence of Constan-
quelled, and Leo and Nicephorus were taken pri- tinople against the Latins in 1204, and after its
soners, and condemned to death.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
8.
v.
"Apyoupa ; Ety- From thence she is to arrive on the river Hybristes
mol. Mag. s. v. Eybola. ) Another place is Byzan- (the Don or Cuban), which she is to follow up to its
tium, in the foundation of which Argive colonists sources, in the highest parts of Mount Caucasus, in
bad taken part, and where the Bosporus derived its order there to cross it. Thence she is to proceed
name, from the cow lo having swam across it. southward, where she is to meet the Amazons (who
From the Thracian Bosporus the story then spread at that time are conceived to live in Colchis, after-
to the Cimmerian Bosporus and Panticapaeum. wards in Themiscyra, on the river Thermodon),
Tarsus and Antioch likewise had monuments to who are to conduct her to the place where the Sal-
prove that lo had been in their neighbourhood, mydessian rock endangers all navigation. This
and that they were colonies of Argos. lo was latter point is so clear an allusion to the coast north
further said to have been at Joppa and in Aethio- of the mouth of the Bosporus, that we must sup-
pia, together with Perseus and Medusa (Tzetz. ad pose that Aeschylus meant to describe lo as cross-
Lycoph. 835, &c. ); but it was more especially the ing the Thracian Bosporus from A sia into Europe.
Greeks residing in Egypt, who maintained that Io From thence he leads her to the Cimmerian Bos-
had been in Egypt, where she was said to have porus, which is to receive its name from her, and
given birth to Epaphus, and to have introduced the across the palus Maeotis. In tbis manner she
worship of Isis, while Epaphus became the founder would in part touch upon the same countries
of a family from which sprang Danaus, who sub- which she had traversed before. After this she
sequently returned to Argos. This part of the is to leave Europe and go to Asia, according to
story seems to have arisen from certain resem which the poet must here make the Maeotis the
blances of religious notions, which subsequently boundary between Europe and Asia, whereas
even gave rise to the identification of Io and Isis. elsewhere he makes the Phasis the boundary.
Herodotus (i. 1, &c. , ii. 41) tells us that Isis was The description of the wanderings of Io is taken
represented like the Greek lo, in the form of a up again at verse 788. She is told that after cross-
woman, with cows' horns.
ing the water separating the two continents, she is
2. The wanderings of 10. —The idea of Io having to arrive in the hot countries situated under the
wandered about after her metamorphosis appears to rising sun. At this point in the description there
have been as ancient as the mythus respecting her, is a gap, and the last passage probably described
but those wanderings were extended and poeti- her further progress through Asia. Io then has again
cally embellished in proportion as geographical to cross a sea, after which she is to come to the Gor-
knowledge increased. The most important pas- gonaean plains of Cisthenes (which, according to
sage is in the Prometheus of Aeschylus, 705, &c. , the scholiast, is a town of Aethiopia or Libya), and
although it is almost impossible to reconcile the to meet the Graeae and Gorgones. The sea here
poet's description with ancient geography, so far as mentioned is probably the so-called Indian Bospo-
we know it. From Argos lo first went to Molossis rus (Steph. Byz. s. v. Bóotopos ; Eustath, ad Din
## p. 577 (#593) ############################################
JOANNES.
577
JOANNES.
onys. Perieg. 143), where the extremitics of Asin the united armies of Asan, king of Bulgaria, and
and Libya, India and Aethiopia, were conceived John Vatatzes, the Greek emperor of Nicaea, as
to be close to each other, and where some writers is narrated in the life of the latter. (JOANNES
place the Gorgones. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. x. 111. ) Constantinople would bave fallen but for
72. ) The mention, in the verses following, of the him. Marvellous stories are told of his bravery
griffine and Arimaspae, who are generally assigned and the power of his arm. After a reign of nine
to northern regions, creates some difficulty, though years John of Brienne died in 1237, leaving seve-
the poet may have mentioned them without mean- ral sons ; but he was succeeded on the throne
ing to place them in the south, but only for the of Constantinople by Baldwin II. A daughter
purpose of connecting the misfortunes of lo with of John of Brienne was married to the emperor
the best-known monsters. From the Indian Bos. Frederic II. of Germany. . [JOANNES 111. ; Bado
porus, lo is to arrive in the country of the black DUINUS II. ) (The sources quoted in the lives
people, dwelling around the well of the sun, on the of these two emperors ; Du Cange, Histoire de
river Aethiops, that is, the upper part of the Nile or Constantinople sous les Empereurs Français, p. 88,
the Niger. She is to follow the course of that river
; & OANNES 1. ZIMISCES ("lwárvas Timoras),
(W. P. )
until she comes to the cataracts of the Nile, which
river she is again to follow down to the Delta, emperor of Constantinople (A. D. 969—976), was
where delivery awaits her. (Comp. Eurip. Iphig. descended from an illustrious Armenian family. He
Taur. 382, &c. ; Apollod. ii. 1. $ 3; Hygin. Fab. was the grandson of Theophilus, whose name was
145. )
conspicuous during the reign of Romanus I. Le-
The mythus of Io is one of the most ancient, capenus, and the grand-nephew of Curcuas, the
and at the same time one of the most difficult to brother of Theophilus, who was still more eminent.
explain. The ancients believed Io to be the moon, The surname Zimisces was given to Joannes on ac-
and there is a distinct tradition that the Argives count of his diminutive size, that word signifying
called the moon 1o. (Eustath. ad Dionys. Perieg. in the Armenian language a man of very small sta-
92; Suid. and Hesych. s. v. 'IK. ) This opinion ture. Zimisces served from his early youth in the
has also been adopted by some modern critics, who Greek armies, and astonished both his friends and
at the same time see in this mythus a confirmation foes by the heroic deeds which he performed on the
of the belief in an ancient connection between the field of battle. During the regency of Theophano,
religions of Greece and Egypt. (Buttmann, Mytho the widow of the emperor Romanus, Nicephorus
log. vol. ii. p. 179, &c. ; Welcker, Die Aeschyl. Trilog. Phocas became the leader of the empire, and was
p. 127, &c. ; Schwenk, Etymol. Mythol. Andeutun- constantly supported by Zimisces, who saved him
gen, p. 62, &c. ; Mytholog. der Griech. p. 52, &c. ; from ruin when the eunuch Bringas conspired
Klausen, in the Rhein. Museum, vol. iii. p. 293, against his life. Believing that the friendship be-
&c. ; Voelcker, Mythol. Geogr. der Griech. 2. Röm. tween Nicephorus and Zimisces was only pretended,
vol. i. ) That Io is identical with the moon cannot | Bringas wrote to Zimisces, offering him great re-
be doubted (comp. Eurip. Phoen, 1123; Macrob. ward-perhaps the crown-if he would kill Nice-
Sat. i. 19), and the various things related of her phorus, but Zimisces not only showed the letter to
refer to the phases and phenomena of the moon, his friend, but urged him to assume the imperial
and are intimately connected with the worship of crown. This Nicephorus did in 963, and reigned
Zeus and Hera at Argos. Her connection with as colleague of the two minor sons of Romanus and
Egypt seems to be an invention of later times, and Theophano, Basil II. and Constantine VIII. Ni-
was probably suggested by the resemblance which cephorus married the widow Theophano, and ap-
was found to exist between the Argive lo and the pointed Zimisces second commander of the armies,
Egyptian Isis.
[L. S. ] himself being the first. In this capacity Zimisces
JOANNES, Latin emperor of Constantinople, the performed such extraordinary exploits, and gained
third son of Everard, count of Brienne, and Agnes, such decisive victories, that he became the idol of
countess of Mümpelgard, was born in 1148. He the army, and was acknowledged to be the first
was one of the leaders of the Latins who took general in the East. The Arabs were then masters
Constantinople in 1204, and in 1210 was chosen of all Syria and Cilicia. In the battle at Adana
king of Jerusalem, which was then in the hands of (963) they were routed with great slaughter by
the Turks. In 1218 he commanded the famous Zimisces, and 5000 of their veteran troops having
Latin expedition against Egypt, and made himself entrenched themselves on a steep hill, refusing to
so conspicuous, through his military skill and un- surrender, the gallant commander of the Greeks
daunted courage, that he was looked upon as the put himself at the head of a chosen body, stormed
greatest hero of his time. It was for this reason the entrenchments, and exterminated the infidels.
that in 1228 the Latins of Constantinople chose Henceforth that hill was called the blood hill. In
him, though he was then merely titular king of the following year Zimisces conquered the greater
Egypt, to govern for the minor emperor, Baldwin part of Cilicia, crossed Mount Amanus, entered
II. ; and in order to strengthen his authority, they Syria, and spread terror through the valley of the
invested him with the title and power of em- Orontes. Mopsuestia, which was then called
peror. Although 80 years old, John accepted the Massissa, resisted the protracted siege of Nicepho-
offer, but first went to Europe to levy troops, with rus, who gave up all hopes of taking it, and was
which he arrived at Constantinople in 1231, where retiring, when Zimisces approached with a few
he was crowned with great solemnity, and pleased brave troops, and took the town by storm. His
both the Latins and Greeks by his majestic appear- eminent services were rewarded with ingratitude.
ance (he was the tallest man they had ever seen) Through the intrigues of the emperor's brother,
and his energetic administration. Not only un- Leo, he was deprived of his command, and sent
broken by age, but still uniting the strength of a into exile. The empress Theophano, however, who
powerful man with the agility of a youth, he de- was his mistress in secret, contrived that he should
fended Constantinople with great success against ! be sent to Chalcedon, opposite Constantinople.
VOL. IL
PP
## p. 578 (#594) ############################################
378
JOANNES.
JOANNES.
1
From Chalcedon Zimisces continued his adulterous / were followed by the marriage of Theophano or
intercourse with Theophano, and was received by Theophania--not the banished empress, but the
her in disguise in the very apartments of her hus. daughter of the late emperor Romanus II. -with
band. They concerted a plan to kill Nicephorus, Otho II. , Roman emperor and king Germany.
and to have Zimisces proclaimed emperor. In the A fresh war with the Arabs called the emperor
night of the 11th to the 12th of December, 969, from his capital to Syria. Zimisces fought with his
Zimisces crossed the Bosporus with a few daring usual fortune, defeated the Arabs in several pitched
followers, and having been wound up, by means of battles, and pursued them as far as the confines of
baskets attached to ropes, to the upper story of the Palestine, when they sued for peace. On his re-
imperial palace by some of the servants of the em- turn to Europe the emperor beheld with pleasure a
press, they were led to the bedroom of Nicephorus, large extent of land in Cilicia, covered with beau-
who soon fell under their weapons. Before he ex- tiful villas and thriving farms ; but having been
pired he was exposed to most unmerciful tortures, informed that those fine estates belonged to the eu-
and, abusing him with the most opprobrious terms, nuch Basilius, who was one of the principal officers
Zimisces broke his jaw-bone with the pommel of of his household, " Is it for eunuchs,” he cried out,
his sword.
" that brave men fight, and we endure the hardships
Being proclaimed emperor, Zimisces imitated the of so many campaigns! " Basilius was informed
example of his unfortunate predecessor, and reigned of this, but disguised his apprehensions or anger.
as colleague of the two sons of Romanus. His A few days afterwards, however, Zimisces felt
first act was to send his enemy Leo, the brother of symptoms of a serious illness; he grew worse and
Nicephorus, into exile ; his second, to obey the worse, and on his arrival in his capital he was on
summons of Polyeuctes, the patriarch of Constan- the verge of death. He expired shortly after his
tinople, who urged him to banish Theophano ; his return, on the 10th of January, 976, at the
third, to divide part of his property among the age of fifty-one, leaving the memory of one of
poor, and spend the rest in building a vast and the most distinguished rulers of the Byzantine em-
splendid hospital on the Asiatic shore of the Bos- pire. His successor was Basil II. , who reigned
porus. 'He then sent his general Nicolaus against together with his brother Constantine VIII. (Ce
the Arabs, who were besieging Antioch with the dren. vol. ii. p. 375–-415, ed. Bonn ; Zonar. xvi.
flower of their army; and his general Bardas 28, &c, xvii, 1–5; Leo Diaconus, l. ii. -ix. , X. c. 1
Sclerus against the Russians, who had overrun and -12. )
(W. P. ]
traversed Bulgaria, and laid siege to Adrianople. JOANNES II. (Calo-JOANNES. )
Both of the generals were successful, and the JOANNES III. VATATZES ('Iwávvas ó Ba-
Greek arms obtained decisive victories in Europe TátŚns), also called Joannes Ducas VatatzES,
and Asia. The triumph of Zimisces was checked because he was descended in the female line from
by a rebellion of Bardas Phocas, the son of the the great family of the Ducas, emperor of Nicaea
exiled Leo, who assumed the imperial title at (A. D. 1222_1255), was one of the most remark-
Caesareia, and was supported by his father and his able among the successors of Constantine.
He first
brother Nicephorus ; but the rebellion was soon distinguished himself in the defence of Constan-
quelled, and Leo and Nicephorus were taken pri- tinople against the Latins in 1204, and after its
soners, and condemned to death. The emperor, loss fled with Theodore Lascaris to Nicaea. Next
nevertheless, spared their lives, and sent them into to this distinguished prince, Vatatzes was the most
exile, till, having rebelled a second time, they were active and successful in preventing the whole of the
blinded, and kept in confinement. Bardas Phocas Greek empire from becoming a prey to the Latins,
having surrendered to Bardas Sclerus, was com- and he was likewise one of those who supported
pelled to assume the monastic habit, and to spend Theodore Lascaris after he had assumed the im-
the rest of his life in a convent in Chios. Previous perial title, and taken up his residence at Nicaea.
to these events (970), Zimisces, who was then a In reward for his eminent services in the field as
widower, having lost his
wife Maria, the sister of well as in the council, Theodore gave him the hand
Bardas Sclerus, married Theodora, the daughter of of his daughter Irene, and appointed him his fu-
Constantine Porphyrogenneta, and the sister of the ture successor, because, having no children, he
late Romanus II. , a marriage agreeable to the thought Vatatzes more fit and worthy for the
Greeks, who revered the memory of the learned crown than either of his four brothers, Alexis,
and mild Constantine. Meanwhile, the Russians John, Manuel, and Michael
. Vatatzes thus suc-
had again in vaded Bulgaria ; and they would have ceeded Theodore Lascaris on the imperial throne
formed lasting settlements in that country but for of Nicaea in 1222. In the same year Theodore
the valour of Zimisces, who took the command in Angelus, despot or prince of Epeirus and Aetolian
the field, while a Greek fleet sailed up the Danube, made himself master of Thessalonica and of
cutting off the retreat of the northern barbarians. nearly the whole of Macedonia, assumed the title
Parasthlava, the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, of emperor, and was crowned by the bishop
had been taken by the Russians, and the Bulgarian of Achrida.
king, Bosisa, was kept there by the Norman Sven- Four emperors now reigned over the remnants of
tislav (Sviatoslav, Wenceslaus), or Sphendosthlaba, the Eastern empire, Andronicus I. Gidon in Trebi-
as the Greeks call him, the prince of the Russians zond, Theodore Angelus in Epeirus and Macedonia,
of Kiew. Under the walls of Parasthlava the Robert of Courtenay in Constantinople, and Jolin
Russians suffered a bloody defeat ; a large body of Vatatzes in Nicaea; and it is curious that the im-
their best troops, who defended the castle, was cut perial crown devolved upon three of them in the
to pieces ; and Zimisces once more gave proof of same year, 1222, while the fourth, Robert of Cour-
military genius and undaunted courage. Sphen- tenay, took actual possession of his dominions only
dosthlaba made peace, and withdrew to Russia, in the previous year, 1221. Of these, the emperor
while Bosisa was generously re-established by Zi- in Nicaea was the greatest.
misces on his hereditary throne. These events No sooner had Vatatzes ascended the throne
## p. 579 (#595) ############################################
JOANNES.
579
JOANNES.
than Manuel and Michael Lascaris abandoned him, natural daughter Anne in marriage, in 1244, the
went to Constantinople, and persuaded Robert to first wife of Vatatzes having died in 1240.
declare war against Vatatzes. Its issue was un- Never despairing of putting an end to the
favourable to the Latins. In a pitched battle at Latin domination in the East, but obliged to give
Poemanene or Poemanium, in 1224, the Latin up the plan of effecting it with the Bulgarian king,
troops were completely defeated ; and such was the Vatatzes undertook to subdue the Bulgarian nation,
hatred of the Greeks against the foreign intruders, and to force those warlike barbarians to serve under
that they neither gave nor accepted quarter : the his banners against the intruders at Constantinople.
two Lascaris were taken prisoners, and payed their In 1246 he had already conquered the south-
treason with the loss of their eyes. In consequence western portion of Bulgaria, and given its govern-
of this victory, the greater part of the Latin pos- ment, together with that of Thessalonica (Mace-
sessions in Asia fell into the hands of the Greeks. donia) to his Magnus Domesticus Andronicus Pa-
On the sea the Latins were successful ; they block. laeologus, when his progress was checked by a com-
aded the Greek fleet in the port of Lampsacus, and bined attack of the Latins and Michael Comnenus,
Vatatzes preferred burning his own ships to having despot of Epeirus. The issue of a protracted war
them burnt by his enemy. However, Vatatzes had was favourable to Vatatzes, who took several of the
little to lose on the sea, and the Latin emperor was towns of the Latins in Thrace, and made peace
finally compelled to sue for peace, and to leave the with Michael in 1253. The following years were
greater part of bis Asiatic possessions in the hands peaceful, and Vatatzes employed his leisure in pro-
of Vatatzes. The peace was of short duration. The moting the happiness of his subjects. He patronised
old John of Brienne, who after the death of Ro- arts and sciences, constructed new roads, distri-
bert, in 1228, exchanged his nominal kingdom of buted the taxes equally, and made himself beloved
Jerusalem for the real though tottering throne of by every body through his kindness and justice.
Constantinople, attacked Vatatzes in 1233, in Asia, Michael of Epeirus having threatened a new war,
but was routed in Bithynia, and hastened back to Vatatzes set out against him, but was taken ill in
Thrace. Supported by the fleets of the Venetians, Macedonia, returned to Asia, and died, after long
he could, however, renew his inroads whenever he sufferings, at Nymphaeum, on the 30th of October,
saw a favourable opportunity. Accordingly, Va- 1255, at the age of sixty or sixty-two. Vatatzes
tatzes conceived the plan of making himself master is justly called one of the greatest emperors of the
of the sea, and had he succeeded, the national East; and the merit of having put an end to the
Greek empire would have been soon restored to its Latin empire belongs as much to him as to Michael
limits of 1204. Samos, Lesbos, Chios, Cos, Rhodes, Palaeologus, who carried out, in 1261, the plan which
and many other islands, were conquered by the had been conceived and successfully begun by Va-
Greeks, but the main force of the Venetians was in tatzes. The successor of Vatatzes was Theodore Las
Candia; and though Vatatzes conquered the greater caris II. (The sources referred to in BALDUINUS II. ,
part of that island, bis progress was checked by the among which Acropolita is the principal. ) (W. P. )
Venetian governor Marino Sanuti, the historian, JOANNES IV. LA'SCARIS ('Iwávunis
who at last forced the Greeks to sail back to Asia. Adokapıs), emperor of Nicaea (A. D. 1259—1261),
Baffled on the sea, Vatatzes renewed his con- was the son of the second emperor of Nicaea,
tinental plans, and concluded, in 1234, an alliance Theodore II. , Lascaris, whom he succeeded in
with Asan, king of Bulgaria Their united forces 1259, at nine years of age. He first reigned under
besieged Constantinople in 1235, by land and sea, the guardianship of the patriarch Arsenius and the
but the superiority of the Latin mariners over the Magnus Domesticus Muzalon. The latter was
Greek led to a total defeat of the Greek fleet, and slain, with his adherent, in a revolt of the guards,
twenty-four Greek gallies fell into the hands of the kindled by Michael Palaeologus, who was pro-
victors, and were paraded in triumph in the port of claimed emperor ; and after having taken Constan-
Constantinople. Listening to the persuasions of tinople from the Latins, in 1261, he deprived the
Messire Anseau de Cahieu, who acted as regent in youthful emperor of his eyes and sent hiin into
the absence of the emperor Baldwin II. , Asan exile, where he died in obscurity. (MICHAEL
showed symptoms of defection, and forsook his ally VIII. )
(W. P. )
in 1237, when they were just besieging Constan- JOANNES V. CANTACUZE'NUS ('Iwdvrns
tinople a second time. By land, however, Vatatzes • Kavrakousávos), emperor of Constantinople (A. D.
was more successful, and conquered the rest of the 1342-1355), often called Joannes VI. His full
Latin possessions in Asia. The assistance which name was Joannes Angelus Comnenus Palaeologus
Baldwin II. obtained in Europe is mentioned in Cantacuzenus. He was the eldest son of Joannes
the life of that emperor ; but the formidable knights Cantacuzenus, the chief of a great Greek family,
of France and Italy tried in vain to obtain a firm and Theodora Palaeologina, and was born early in
footing in Asia, and Baldwin was reduced to such the beginning of the 14th century.
(See the
weakness, that he was unable to prevent Vatatzes genealogical table of the Cantacuzeni, Vol. I. p. 595. ]
from sailing over to Macedonia, and compelling the His history is intimately connected with that of his
self-styled emperor, John Comnenus of Epeirus, ward and rival Joannes VI. Palaeologus. John
Aetolia, and Macedonia, to cede him Macedonia, to Cantacuzenus, the subject of this article, early dis-
renounce the imperial title, and to be satisfied with tinguished himself in the service of his relative, the
that of despot of Epeirus (1242). In 1243 Va- emperor Andronicus Palaeologus the elder, who
tatzes concluded an alliance with Gaiyáth-ed-dín, appointed bim prefect of the sacred bed-chamber.
the Turkish sultan of Iconium, in order to resist United, by friendship and harmony of sentiments,
the approaching Mongols; and having thus secured to the emperor's grandson, Andronicus the younger,
his eastern frontiers, he renewed his attacks upon he took the part of the latter in his rebellion against
the Latins in Constantinople. His fame was his grandfather ; and it was to his valour, wisdom,
then so great, that the Roman emperor, Frederic and exertions, that the younger Andronicus owed
11. , one of his greatest admirers, gave him his his final success and the undisputed crown of Con-
PP 2
## p. 580 (#596) ############################################
580
JOANNES. '
JOANNES
Zenus.
stantinople. In reward for his services, he was January, 1347, he took the capital with scarcely
appointed magnus domesticus. Aetolia and Lesbos, any resistance, the gates having been opened by
both in the hands of usurpers, were re-united Facciolati, an Italian captain, who was the secret ad-
by him to the empire ; and his influence was so herent of Cantacuzenus ; and A pocauchus was slain
great, that he, rather than Andronicus, was the in the tumult. Being now sole master, Cantacu-
real sovereign of the Greeks, His administration zenus consented to acknowledge John Palaeologus
was wise: he enforced the laws with firmness, as co-emperor, on condition that until the majority
but also with forbearance ; and at a time when of the young prince, who was then fifteen years,
every public functionary was a robber of the people, and would be of age at twenty-five, according
he alone escaped the charge of peculation and fiscal to the Greek law, he should be the sole ruler ;
oppression. The emperor bestowed upon him un. and as a guarantee for the future harmony be-
bounded confidence, and was so fondly attached to tween the two princes, he married his daughter
him, that he proposed to share the throne with him. Helena to his youthful colleague. In the same
This Cantacuzenus refused, from motives both of year Cantacuzenus was crowned a second time
modesty and prudence. Andronicus, on his death in the capital, by Isidorus, patriarch of Constan-
bed (a. D. 1311), appointed him guardian of his linople.
infant son, John, in whose name he was to govem The reign of John Cantacuzenus was not blessed
the empire.
with pence. In the year of his accession, the
No sooner had Cantacuzenus begun to exercise plague made great havoc among the inhabitants of
his eminent functions, than he was checked by two the capital and other towns. The Genoese of Pera,
ambitious intriguers, the admiral Apocnuchus and who enjoyed great privileges, despised the imperial
the patriarch of Constantinople, John of Apri, who authority, took up arms, and laid them down only
aspired to the regency, and for that purpose per- after having obtained still greater privileges; and
suaded the widow of the late emperor, Anna, during the same time Duscham, the kral of Servia,
princess of Savoy, to claim the guardianship of her made an inroad into Thrace, but was fortunately
son, although it was lawfully vested in Cantacu- compelled, by severe defeats, to sue for peace.
The conspirators found many adherents; The emperor's relations with the Turks were amic-
and from a system of calumny and petty annoy- able for several years. In his history (ir. 16) Can-
ance, proceeded to bold attacks. During a temporary tacuzenus alludes to a project formed by Merjan,
absence from the capital, Cantacuzenus was suddenly an eunuch in the service of sultan Urkhan, to
charged with high treason ; and his enemies being poison his young colleague; but it would seem as if
his judges also, he was found guilty, sentenced to the story had been invented by himself, for the
death, and deprived of his estates and emoluments. purpose of frightening young Palaeologus, and thus
Under such circumstances he had no alternative bringing him under a still closer watch. His friend-
but rebellion or death : yet he hesitated till his ship with Urkhan was, however, not very sincere,
friends showed him that even by submission and for he sent ambassadors to pope Clement VI. pro-
imploring the clemency of his adversaries, he could mising to bring the Greek church under the papal
not save his life. Accordingly Cantacuzenus took authority if the holy father would preach a crusade
up arms, not against the infant emperor, but against against the Turks; but Clement declined the pro
his powerful councillors, and assumed the title of position, knowing that the Greeks and Latins
emperor. On the 21st of March, 1342, he was would agree upon religion only so long as the
crowned with great solemnity, together with his crusaders did upon a common plan of attack, and
wife, Irene, at Adrianople, by Lazarus, patriarch an equal mode of division in case of success
of Jerusalem. His adherents not being numerous, Meanwhile, dissensions arose between Cantacu-
he sought assistance at the court of Stephen Dus- zenus and Palaeologus, who grew tired of his
cham, kral or king of Servia ; and having reason to inactivity, and listened to the advice of the former
suspect the faith of this prince, he reluctantly con- party of Apocauchus, although he was kindly
cluded an alliance with Umur Bey, the Turkish treated and allowed full domestic freedom by his
prince of Aidin (Lydia, Maeonia and Caria). father-in-law, which, it would seem, was quite
During the transactions which led to this alliance enough for so young a man. Suspecting some
Cantacuzenus was at the Servian court, and his treachery, Cantacuzenus sent him to reside at
wife was at Didymoticum. Umur Bey sailed over Thessalonica, and employed Anne of Savoy, though
to Greece with a fleet of 380 vessels, and an army in vain, as mediator between her son and him : the
of 28,000 men ; and after having left a strong gar- young prince emancipated himself from the surveil-
rison at Didymoticum, marched upon Servia. An lance of the officers charged with guiding and
early and very severe winter compelled him to re- watching him, and in 1353 raised the standard of
turn to Asia without having had an interview with rebellion. Defeated in a pitched battle by the
Cantacuzenus ; but the two princes met in the fol- united forces of Cantacuzenus and Urkban, Palaeo-
lowing year, 1343, at Clopa, near Thessalonica, and logus took refuge with the Latins in Tenedos ; and
in their operations against Apocauchus and his in order to exclude him for ever from the throne,
party, Greece and Thrace were dreadfully ravaged. the emperor proclaimed his son, Matthaeus, co-
Bribed by Apocauchus, Umur Bey ceased assisting emperor, and his future successor. However well
Cantacuzenus, who, however, found a more powerful calculated this step might have been had the em-
ally in the person of Crkhan, sultan of the Turks peror enjoyed universal popularity, it proved
Osmanlis, to whom he gave his daughter in mar- disastrous under contrary circumstances, as the
riage. During five years Greece was desolated by Greeks felt much more sympathy with the house
a civil war. In 1346, however, Cantacuzenus be of the Palaeologi than with the Cantacuzeni, and
came the more powerful; and having made a sort the emperor soon learned that the people's attach-
of reconciliation with the dowager empresá, Anna, ment to a distinguished person is often much less
he advanced upon Constantinople, after re-enforcing strong than their love of a distinguished family.
bis army by a body of Latin mercenaries. In / Numerous bands organised themselves for the suy
a
## p. 581 (#597) ############################################
JOANNES.
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:
port of the son of their late emperor, but the forces | legitimate; they conspire and rebel without any
upon which the latter could rely with more security views of interest, and the violence which they
were the mercenary band and the ships of Gaste inflict or suffer is celebrated as the spontaneous
luzzi or (tatteluzzi, a noble Genoese who promised effect of reason and virtue. "
to help him to the crown on condition of obtaining This work was first made known to the world
the hand of his sister and the grant of some lands. through Gretserus, who published a Latin transla-
The descendants of Gasteluzzi became sovereign tion of it by Jacob Pontanus, with notes and the
princes, and were conspicuous in the latter part of life of the author by the same, Ingolstadt, 1603,
Byzantine history. Palaeologus and Gasteluzzi fol. Pontanus perused a MS. which was kept in
made sail for Constantinople ; and pleading distress the Munich library: The Greek text first appeared,
and want of provisions as pretext for their admis- from a Paris MS. , in the splendid edition of Pierre
sion within the Golden Horn, the chain across the Seguier, chancellor of France, Paris, 1645, 3 vols.
entrance of the port was lowered by the watch of fol. , with the revised translation of Pontanus,
the harbour, who were either bribed by Palaea his and the editor's notes, and the life of the
logus, or were not aware that the ships had hos- author by Pontanus. It was badly reprinted in
tile intentions. The inhabitants of Constantinople 1729 by the editors of the Venice collection of the
now took up arms against Cantacuzenus, who, al Byzantines. The last edition is that of Louis
though he asserts the contrary, was apparently Schopen, 1828–32, 3 vols. in 8vo. in the Bonn
forsaken by most of his adherents, abdicated (Janu-collection of the Byzantines, a careful reprint of the
ary, 1355), and four days after his abdication Paris edition: the editor, however, had no MS. to
renounced the world, and assumed the monastic peruse. The other works of Cantacuzenus are of
habit.
no great importance. Apologiae (Kard tñs Tv
Under the name of Joasaph or Joseph, he spent Eapaxnvar aipéoews 'Anodoylai A), the principal,
the remainder of his days in devotion and literary are in four books, being a refutation of the religion
occupation in the convents of Constantinople and of Mohammed; and Kard tov Mwáued lógoi A,
Mount Athos ; and in his solitude he wrote the four orations against Mobammed. The author was
history of his times. His wife, Irene, likewise evidently well acquainted with the Koran ; but in
retired to a convent. The time of the death of John refuting Mohammedanism, and proving the truth
Cantacuzenus is uncertain. He was still alive in of the Christian religion, he allowed himself to be
1375, for in that year pope Gregory XI. wrote a guided by the prejudices of his time and all sorts
letter to him ; but if he died only in 1411, as of vulgar stories, legends and fables. The Greek
has been pretended, and Ducange (Fam. Byzant. text and a Latin translation of these works, along
p. 260) believes, he would have attained an age of with a translation of the Koran, was first published
more than one hundred years, because he was a by Rudolphus Gualterus, Basel, 1543, fol. ; the
contemporary of, and probably of the same age with, translation alone, ib. 1550. Cantacuzenus also
Andronicus Palaeologus the younger.
wrote a Paraphrasis of the Ethics of Aristotle ; six
His principal work is the “ History” (ʻIOTOPI@V epistles extant in MS. at Oxford; and several
Bibaia A), which comprises in four books the reign smaller treatises, chiefly on religious subjects.
of Andronicus the younger and his own, and The chief sources are the works of Cantacuzenus
finishes with the year 1357. It is written with and Nicephorus Gregoras, especially lib. viii-xv. ;
elegance and dignity, and shows that the author Ducas, c. 1, &c. ; Phranza, i. 1-14; Fabric.
was a man of superior intelligence, and fully able to Bibl. Graec. vol. vii. p. 787 ; Hankius, De By
understand and judge of the great events of history: zantin. Rerum Script. Graec. , p. 602, &c. ; Pon-
but it is far from being written with impartiality; tanus, Vita Jounnis Cantacuzeni. ) (W. P. ]
he throws blame upon his adversaries wherever he JOANNES VI. PALAEOʻLOGUS ('Iwávvns
can, and praises his party, and especially himself, • Dalaiolóyos), emperor of Constantinople (A. D.
in a manner which betrays a great deal of vanity 1355—1391), often called Joannes V. , the only son
and hypocrisy. For the knowledge of the time it and heir of the emperor Andronicus III. Palaeologus
is invaluable, especially as the history of Nice the younger was born in 1332, and nominally suc-
phorus Gregoras is a sufficient check upon bis ; ceeded his father in 1341. It has been narrated
80 that if the two works are compared, a sound in the preceding article how the young prince first
and sagacious mind will correct the one by the reigned under the guardianship of Joannes Canta-
other.
cuzenus, then under the authority of a party headed
? Gibbon speaks of this history in the following by the admiral Apocauchus and the empress Anne
terms, and his judgment is as true as it is expres- of Savoy, and at last as a nominal colleague of
sive: “ The name and situation of the emperor John Cantacuzenus, who held the title and the
John Cantacuzene might inspire the most lively power of emperor, till he ceded both to John Pa-
curiosity. His memorials of forty years extend laeologus, in 1355, whose real accession conse-
from the revolt of the younger Andronicus to his quently begins with that year. For the same
own abdication of the empire ; and it is observed reason he stands in the series of emperors as John
that, like Moses and Caesar, he was the principal VI. , although strictly he was the fifth of that name.
actor in the scenes which he describes. But in this John VI. was a weak prince. “After his enfran-
elegant work we should vainly seek the sincerity chisement from an oppressive guardian," says
of a hero or a penitent. Retired in a cloister from Gibbon," he remained thirty-six years the helpless
the vices and passions of the world, he presents not and, as it should seem, the careless spectator of the
a confession, but an apology, of the life of an am- public ruin. Love, or rather lust, was his only
bitious statesman. Instead of unfolding the true vigorous passion; and in the embraces of the wives
counsels and characters of men, he displays the or virgins of the city, the Turkish slave forgot the
smooth and specious surface of events, highly var- dishonour of the emperor of the Romans. ” The
nished with his own praises and those of his friends. reign of this emperor is nevertheless full of the
Their motives are always pure, their ends always most important events, and nothing affords a better
.
3
P P 3
## p. 582 (#598) ############################################
582
JOANNES.
JOANNES.
insight into the causes of the final overthrow of the with its district, a few islands, and some districts
Greek empire than the history of his time. Our in the Peloponnesus and northern Greece, and im-
space, however, is too confined to give more than a plored him to do bis utmost for his delivery should
sketch of those events which are most remarkable he even be obliged to sell the holy vessels of the
for ecclesiastical as well as political history. The churches. Andronicus, in pursuit of some selfish
young emperor was scarcely seated on his throne and ambitious plans, remained deaf to the prayers
when the Turks crossed the Bosporus, and by the of his father. Manuel, however, the emperor's
capture of the fortress of Tzympe, now Chini or second son and lord of Thessalonica, was no sooner
Jemenlik, laid the foundation of all their further inſorined of the misfortune of his father, than he
conquests in Europe. The plan of extending the sold his whole property, hastened to Venice, and
dominions of the Osmanlis over Europe was formed released his father, who immediately returned to
by Soliman, the son of sultan Urkhan, the governor Constantinople (1370), although not without
of Cyzicus, while he was wandering in the silence serious apprehensions of vengeance from sultan
of a moonlight night through the ruins of that an- Mürad. In order to soothe him he sent his third
cient and once splendid town; and having crossed son, Theodore, as a hostage, to Adrianople; where-
the Bosporus with 10,000 horse, he soon conquered upon he deprived Andronicus of his supreme au-
an extensive district near the mouth of the llebrus. thority, and appointed the faithful Manuel co-
He died in 1358 ; but his brother Mürad, who emperor.
mol. Mag. s. v. Eybola. ) Another place is Byzan- (the Don or Cuban), which she is to follow up to its
tium, in the foundation of which Argive colonists sources, in the highest parts of Mount Caucasus, in
bad taken part, and where the Bosporus derived its order there to cross it. Thence she is to proceed
name, from the cow lo having swam across it. southward, where she is to meet the Amazons (who
From the Thracian Bosporus the story then spread at that time are conceived to live in Colchis, after-
to the Cimmerian Bosporus and Panticapaeum. wards in Themiscyra, on the river Thermodon),
Tarsus and Antioch likewise had monuments to who are to conduct her to the place where the Sal-
prove that lo had been in their neighbourhood, mydessian rock endangers all navigation. This
and that they were colonies of Argos. lo was latter point is so clear an allusion to the coast north
further said to have been at Joppa and in Aethio- of the mouth of the Bosporus, that we must sup-
pia, together with Perseus and Medusa (Tzetz. ad pose that Aeschylus meant to describe lo as cross-
Lycoph. 835, &c. ); but it was more especially the ing the Thracian Bosporus from A sia into Europe.
Greeks residing in Egypt, who maintained that Io From thence he leads her to the Cimmerian Bos-
had been in Egypt, where she was said to have porus, which is to receive its name from her, and
given birth to Epaphus, and to have introduced the across the palus Maeotis. In tbis manner she
worship of Isis, while Epaphus became the founder would in part touch upon the same countries
of a family from which sprang Danaus, who sub- which she had traversed before. After this she
sequently returned to Argos. This part of the is to leave Europe and go to Asia, according to
story seems to have arisen from certain resem which the poet must here make the Maeotis the
blances of religious notions, which subsequently boundary between Europe and Asia, whereas
even gave rise to the identification of Io and Isis. elsewhere he makes the Phasis the boundary.
Herodotus (i. 1, &c. , ii. 41) tells us that Isis was The description of the wanderings of Io is taken
represented like the Greek lo, in the form of a up again at verse 788. She is told that after cross-
woman, with cows' horns.
ing the water separating the two continents, she is
2. The wanderings of 10. —The idea of Io having to arrive in the hot countries situated under the
wandered about after her metamorphosis appears to rising sun. At this point in the description there
have been as ancient as the mythus respecting her, is a gap, and the last passage probably described
but those wanderings were extended and poeti- her further progress through Asia. Io then has again
cally embellished in proportion as geographical to cross a sea, after which she is to come to the Gor-
knowledge increased. The most important pas- gonaean plains of Cisthenes (which, according to
sage is in the Prometheus of Aeschylus, 705, &c. , the scholiast, is a town of Aethiopia or Libya), and
although it is almost impossible to reconcile the to meet the Graeae and Gorgones. The sea here
poet's description with ancient geography, so far as mentioned is probably the so-called Indian Bospo-
we know it. From Argos lo first went to Molossis rus (Steph. Byz. s. v. Bóotopos ; Eustath, ad Din
## p. 577 (#593) ############################################
JOANNES.
577
JOANNES.
onys. Perieg. 143), where the extremitics of Asin the united armies of Asan, king of Bulgaria, and
and Libya, India and Aethiopia, were conceived John Vatatzes, the Greek emperor of Nicaea, as
to be close to each other, and where some writers is narrated in the life of the latter. (JOANNES
place the Gorgones. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. x. 111. ) Constantinople would bave fallen but for
72. ) The mention, in the verses following, of the him. Marvellous stories are told of his bravery
griffine and Arimaspae, who are generally assigned and the power of his arm. After a reign of nine
to northern regions, creates some difficulty, though years John of Brienne died in 1237, leaving seve-
the poet may have mentioned them without mean- ral sons ; but he was succeeded on the throne
ing to place them in the south, but only for the of Constantinople by Baldwin II. A daughter
purpose of connecting the misfortunes of lo with of John of Brienne was married to the emperor
the best-known monsters. From the Indian Bos. Frederic II. of Germany. . [JOANNES 111. ; Bado
porus, lo is to arrive in the country of the black DUINUS II. ) (The sources quoted in the lives
people, dwelling around the well of the sun, on the of these two emperors ; Du Cange, Histoire de
river Aethiops, that is, the upper part of the Nile or Constantinople sous les Empereurs Français, p. 88,
the Niger. She is to follow the course of that river
; & OANNES 1. ZIMISCES ("lwárvas Timoras),
(W. P. )
until she comes to the cataracts of the Nile, which
river she is again to follow down to the Delta, emperor of Constantinople (A. D. 969—976), was
where delivery awaits her. (Comp. Eurip. Iphig. descended from an illustrious Armenian family. He
Taur. 382, &c. ; Apollod. ii. 1. $ 3; Hygin. Fab. was the grandson of Theophilus, whose name was
145. )
conspicuous during the reign of Romanus I. Le-
The mythus of Io is one of the most ancient, capenus, and the grand-nephew of Curcuas, the
and at the same time one of the most difficult to brother of Theophilus, who was still more eminent.
explain. The ancients believed Io to be the moon, The surname Zimisces was given to Joannes on ac-
and there is a distinct tradition that the Argives count of his diminutive size, that word signifying
called the moon 1o. (Eustath. ad Dionys. Perieg. in the Armenian language a man of very small sta-
92; Suid. and Hesych. s. v. 'IK. ) This opinion ture. Zimisces served from his early youth in the
has also been adopted by some modern critics, who Greek armies, and astonished both his friends and
at the same time see in this mythus a confirmation foes by the heroic deeds which he performed on the
of the belief in an ancient connection between the field of battle. During the regency of Theophano,
religions of Greece and Egypt. (Buttmann, Mytho the widow of the emperor Romanus, Nicephorus
log. vol. ii. p. 179, &c. ; Welcker, Die Aeschyl. Trilog. Phocas became the leader of the empire, and was
p. 127, &c. ; Schwenk, Etymol. Mythol. Andeutun- constantly supported by Zimisces, who saved him
gen, p. 62, &c. ; Mytholog. der Griech. p. 52, &c. ; from ruin when the eunuch Bringas conspired
Klausen, in the Rhein. Museum, vol. iii. p. 293, against his life. Believing that the friendship be-
&c. ; Voelcker, Mythol. Geogr. der Griech. 2. Röm. tween Nicephorus and Zimisces was only pretended,
vol. i. ) That Io is identical with the moon cannot | Bringas wrote to Zimisces, offering him great re-
be doubted (comp. Eurip. Phoen, 1123; Macrob. ward-perhaps the crown-if he would kill Nice-
Sat. i. 19), and the various things related of her phorus, but Zimisces not only showed the letter to
refer to the phases and phenomena of the moon, his friend, but urged him to assume the imperial
and are intimately connected with the worship of crown. This Nicephorus did in 963, and reigned
Zeus and Hera at Argos. Her connection with as colleague of the two minor sons of Romanus and
Egypt seems to be an invention of later times, and Theophano, Basil II. and Constantine VIII. Ni-
was probably suggested by the resemblance which cephorus married the widow Theophano, and ap-
was found to exist between the Argive lo and the pointed Zimisces second commander of the armies,
Egyptian Isis.
[L. S. ] himself being the first. In this capacity Zimisces
JOANNES, Latin emperor of Constantinople, the performed such extraordinary exploits, and gained
third son of Everard, count of Brienne, and Agnes, such decisive victories, that he became the idol of
countess of Mümpelgard, was born in 1148. He the army, and was acknowledged to be the first
was one of the leaders of the Latins who took general in the East. The Arabs were then masters
Constantinople in 1204, and in 1210 was chosen of all Syria and Cilicia. In the battle at Adana
king of Jerusalem, which was then in the hands of (963) they were routed with great slaughter by
the Turks. In 1218 he commanded the famous Zimisces, and 5000 of their veteran troops having
Latin expedition against Egypt, and made himself entrenched themselves on a steep hill, refusing to
so conspicuous, through his military skill and un- surrender, the gallant commander of the Greeks
daunted courage, that he was looked upon as the put himself at the head of a chosen body, stormed
greatest hero of his time. It was for this reason the entrenchments, and exterminated the infidels.
that in 1228 the Latins of Constantinople chose Henceforth that hill was called the blood hill. In
him, though he was then merely titular king of the following year Zimisces conquered the greater
Egypt, to govern for the minor emperor, Baldwin part of Cilicia, crossed Mount Amanus, entered
II. ; and in order to strengthen his authority, they Syria, and spread terror through the valley of the
invested him with the title and power of em- Orontes. Mopsuestia, which was then called
peror. Although 80 years old, John accepted the Massissa, resisted the protracted siege of Nicepho-
offer, but first went to Europe to levy troops, with rus, who gave up all hopes of taking it, and was
which he arrived at Constantinople in 1231, where retiring, when Zimisces approached with a few
he was crowned with great solemnity, and pleased brave troops, and took the town by storm. His
both the Latins and Greeks by his majestic appear- eminent services were rewarded with ingratitude.
ance (he was the tallest man they had ever seen) Through the intrigues of the emperor's brother,
and his energetic administration. Not only un- Leo, he was deprived of his command, and sent
broken by age, but still uniting the strength of a into exile. The empress Theophano, however, who
powerful man with the agility of a youth, he de- was his mistress in secret, contrived that he should
fended Constantinople with great success against ! be sent to Chalcedon, opposite Constantinople.
VOL. IL
PP
## p. 578 (#594) ############################################
378
JOANNES.
JOANNES.
1
From Chalcedon Zimisces continued his adulterous / were followed by the marriage of Theophano or
intercourse with Theophano, and was received by Theophania--not the banished empress, but the
her in disguise in the very apartments of her hus. daughter of the late emperor Romanus II. -with
band. They concerted a plan to kill Nicephorus, Otho II. , Roman emperor and king Germany.
and to have Zimisces proclaimed emperor. In the A fresh war with the Arabs called the emperor
night of the 11th to the 12th of December, 969, from his capital to Syria. Zimisces fought with his
Zimisces crossed the Bosporus with a few daring usual fortune, defeated the Arabs in several pitched
followers, and having been wound up, by means of battles, and pursued them as far as the confines of
baskets attached to ropes, to the upper story of the Palestine, when they sued for peace. On his re-
imperial palace by some of the servants of the em- turn to Europe the emperor beheld with pleasure a
press, they were led to the bedroom of Nicephorus, large extent of land in Cilicia, covered with beau-
who soon fell under their weapons. Before he ex- tiful villas and thriving farms ; but having been
pired he was exposed to most unmerciful tortures, informed that those fine estates belonged to the eu-
and, abusing him with the most opprobrious terms, nuch Basilius, who was one of the principal officers
Zimisces broke his jaw-bone with the pommel of of his household, " Is it for eunuchs,” he cried out,
his sword.
" that brave men fight, and we endure the hardships
Being proclaimed emperor, Zimisces imitated the of so many campaigns! " Basilius was informed
example of his unfortunate predecessor, and reigned of this, but disguised his apprehensions or anger.
as colleague of the two sons of Romanus. His A few days afterwards, however, Zimisces felt
first act was to send his enemy Leo, the brother of symptoms of a serious illness; he grew worse and
Nicephorus, into exile ; his second, to obey the worse, and on his arrival in his capital he was on
summons of Polyeuctes, the patriarch of Constan- the verge of death. He expired shortly after his
tinople, who urged him to banish Theophano ; his return, on the 10th of January, 976, at the
third, to divide part of his property among the age of fifty-one, leaving the memory of one of
poor, and spend the rest in building a vast and the most distinguished rulers of the Byzantine em-
splendid hospital on the Asiatic shore of the Bos- pire. His successor was Basil II. , who reigned
porus. 'He then sent his general Nicolaus against together with his brother Constantine VIII. (Ce
the Arabs, who were besieging Antioch with the dren. vol. ii. p. 375–-415, ed. Bonn ; Zonar. xvi.
flower of their army; and his general Bardas 28, &c, xvii, 1–5; Leo Diaconus, l. ii. -ix. , X. c. 1
Sclerus against the Russians, who had overrun and -12. )
(W. P. ]
traversed Bulgaria, and laid siege to Adrianople. JOANNES II. (Calo-JOANNES. )
Both of the generals were successful, and the JOANNES III. VATATZES ('Iwávvas ó Ba-
Greek arms obtained decisive victories in Europe TátŚns), also called Joannes Ducas VatatzES,
and Asia. The triumph of Zimisces was checked because he was descended in the female line from
by a rebellion of Bardas Phocas, the son of the the great family of the Ducas, emperor of Nicaea
exiled Leo, who assumed the imperial title at (A. D. 1222_1255), was one of the most remark-
Caesareia, and was supported by his father and his able among the successors of Constantine.
He first
brother Nicephorus ; but the rebellion was soon distinguished himself in the defence of Constan-
quelled, and Leo and Nicephorus were taken pri- tinople against the Latins in 1204, and after its
soners, and condemned to death. The emperor, loss fled with Theodore Lascaris to Nicaea. Next
nevertheless, spared their lives, and sent them into to this distinguished prince, Vatatzes was the most
exile, till, having rebelled a second time, they were active and successful in preventing the whole of the
blinded, and kept in confinement. Bardas Phocas Greek empire from becoming a prey to the Latins,
having surrendered to Bardas Sclerus, was com- and he was likewise one of those who supported
pelled to assume the monastic habit, and to spend Theodore Lascaris after he had assumed the im-
the rest of his life in a convent in Chios. Previous perial title, and taken up his residence at Nicaea.
to these events (970), Zimisces, who was then a In reward for his eminent services in the field as
widower, having lost his
wife Maria, the sister of well as in the council, Theodore gave him the hand
Bardas Sclerus, married Theodora, the daughter of of his daughter Irene, and appointed him his fu-
Constantine Porphyrogenneta, and the sister of the ture successor, because, having no children, he
late Romanus II. , a marriage agreeable to the thought Vatatzes more fit and worthy for the
Greeks, who revered the memory of the learned crown than either of his four brothers, Alexis,
and mild Constantine. Meanwhile, the Russians John, Manuel, and Michael
. Vatatzes thus suc-
had again in vaded Bulgaria ; and they would have ceeded Theodore Lascaris on the imperial throne
formed lasting settlements in that country but for of Nicaea in 1222. In the same year Theodore
the valour of Zimisces, who took the command in Angelus, despot or prince of Epeirus and Aetolian
the field, while a Greek fleet sailed up the Danube, made himself master of Thessalonica and of
cutting off the retreat of the northern barbarians. nearly the whole of Macedonia, assumed the title
Parasthlava, the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, of emperor, and was crowned by the bishop
had been taken by the Russians, and the Bulgarian of Achrida.
king, Bosisa, was kept there by the Norman Sven- Four emperors now reigned over the remnants of
tislav (Sviatoslav, Wenceslaus), or Sphendosthlaba, the Eastern empire, Andronicus I. Gidon in Trebi-
as the Greeks call him, the prince of the Russians zond, Theodore Angelus in Epeirus and Macedonia,
of Kiew. Under the walls of Parasthlava the Robert of Courtenay in Constantinople, and Jolin
Russians suffered a bloody defeat ; a large body of Vatatzes in Nicaea; and it is curious that the im-
their best troops, who defended the castle, was cut perial crown devolved upon three of them in the
to pieces ; and Zimisces once more gave proof of same year, 1222, while the fourth, Robert of Cour-
military genius and undaunted courage. Sphen- tenay, took actual possession of his dominions only
dosthlaba made peace, and withdrew to Russia, in the previous year, 1221. Of these, the emperor
while Bosisa was generously re-established by Zi- in Nicaea was the greatest.
misces on his hereditary throne. These events No sooner had Vatatzes ascended the throne
## p. 579 (#595) ############################################
JOANNES.
579
JOANNES.
than Manuel and Michael Lascaris abandoned him, natural daughter Anne in marriage, in 1244, the
went to Constantinople, and persuaded Robert to first wife of Vatatzes having died in 1240.
declare war against Vatatzes. Its issue was un- Never despairing of putting an end to the
favourable to the Latins. In a pitched battle at Latin domination in the East, but obliged to give
Poemanene or Poemanium, in 1224, the Latin up the plan of effecting it with the Bulgarian king,
troops were completely defeated ; and such was the Vatatzes undertook to subdue the Bulgarian nation,
hatred of the Greeks against the foreign intruders, and to force those warlike barbarians to serve under
that they neither gave nor accepted quarter : the his banners against the intruders at Constantinople.
two Lascaris were taken prisoners, and payed their In 1246 he had already conquered the south-
treason with the loss of their eyes. In consequence western portion of Bulgaria, and given its govern-
of this victory, the greater part of the Latin pos- ment, together with that of Thessalonica (Mace-
sessions in Asia fell into the hands of the Greeks. donia) to his Magnus Domesticus Andronicus Pa-
On the sea the Latins were successful ; they block. laeologus, when his progress was checked by a com-
aded the Greek fleet in the port of Lampsacus, and bined attack of the Latins and Michael Comnenus,
Vatatzes preferred burning his own ships to having despot of Epeirus. The issue of a protracted war
them burnt by his enemy. However, Vatatzes had was favourable to Vatatzes, who took several of the
little to lose on the sea, and the Latin emperor was towns of the Latins in Thrace, and made peace
finally compelled to sue for peace, and to leave the with Michael in 1253. The following years were
greater part of bis Asiatic possessions in the hands peaceful, and Vatatzes employed his leisure in pro-
of Vatatzes. The peace was of short duration. The moting the happiness of his subjects. He patronised
old John of Brienne, who after the death of Ro- arts and sciences, constructed new roads, distri-
bert, in 1228, exchanged his nominal kingdom of buted the taxes equally, and made himself beloved
Jerusalem for the real though tottering throne of by every body through his kindness and justice.
Constantinople, attacked Vatatzes in 1233, in Asia, Michael of Epeirus having threatened a new war,
but was routed in Bithynia, and hastened back to Vatatzes set out against him, but was taken ill in
Thrace. Supported by the fleets of the Venetians, Macedonia, returned to Asia, and died, after long
he could, however, renew his inroads whenever he sufferings, at Nymphaeum, on the 30th of October,
saw a favourable opportunity. Accordingly, Va- 1255, at the age of sixty or sixty-two. Vatatzes
tatzes conceived the plan of making himself master is justly called one of the greatest emperors of the
of the sea, and had he succeeded, the national East; and the merit of having put an end to the
Greek empire would have been soon restored to its Latin empire belongs as much to him as to Michael
limits of 1204. Samos, Lesbos, Chios, Cos, Rhodes, Palaeologus, who carried out, in 1261, the plan which
and many other islands, were conquered by the had been conceived and successfully begun by Va-
Greeks, but the main force of the Venetians was in tatzes. The successor of Vatatzes was Theodore Las
Candia; and though Vatatzes conquered the greater caris II. (The sources referred to in BALDUINUS II. ,
part of that island, bis progress was checked by the among which Acropolita is the principal. ) (W. P. )
Venetian governor Marino Sanuti, the historian, JOANNES IV. LA'SCARIS ('Iwávunis
who at last forced the Greeks to sail back to Asia. Adokapıs), emperor of Nicaea (A. D. 1259—1261),
Baffled on the sea, Vatatzes renewed his con- was the son of the second emperor of Nicaea,
tinental plans, and concluded, in 1234, an alliance Theodore II. , Lascaris, whom he succeeded in
with Asan, king of Bulgaria Their united forces 1259, at nine years of age. He first reigned under
besieged Constantinople in 1235, by land and sea, the guardianship of the patriarch Arsenius and the
but the superiority of the Latin mariners over the Magnus Domesticus Muzalon. The latter was
Greek led to a total defeat of the Greek fleet, and slain, with his adherent, in a revolt of the guards,
twenty-four Greek gallies fell into the hands of the kindled by Michael Palaeologus, who was pro-
victors, and were paraded in triumph in the port of claimed emperor ; and after having taken Constan-
Constantinople. Listening to the persuasions of tinople from the Latins, in 1261, he deprived the
Messire Anseau de Cahieu, who acted as regent in youthful emperor of his eyes and sent hiin into
the absence of the emperor Baldwin II. , Asan exile, where he died in obscurity. (MICHAEL
showed symptoms of defection, and forsook his ally VIII. )
(W. P. )
in 1237, when they were just besieging Constan- JOANNES V. CANTACUZE'NUS ('Iwdvrns
tinople a second time. By land, however, Vatatzes • Kavrakousávos), emperor of Constantinople (A. D.
was more successful, and conquered the rest of the 1342-1355), often called Joannes VI. His full
Latin possessions in Asia. The assistance which name was Joannes Angelus Comnenus Palaeologus
Baldwin II. obtained in Europe is mentioned in Cantacuzenus. He was the eldest son of Joannes
the life of that emperor ; but the formidable knights Cantacuzenus, the chief of a great Greek family,
of France and Italy tried in vain to obtain a firm and Theodora Palaeologina, and was born early in
footing in Asia, and Baldwin was reduced to such the beginning of the 14th century.
(See the
weakness, that he was unable to prevent Vatatzes genealogical table of the Cantacuzeni, Vol. I. p. 595. ]
from sailing over to Macedonia, and compelling the His history is intimately connected with that of his
self-styled emperor, John Comnenus of Epeirus, ward and rival Joannes VI. Palaeologus. John
Aetolia, and Macedonia, to cede him Macedonia, to Cantacuzenus, the subject of this article, early dis-
renounce the imperial title, and to be satisfied with tinguished himself in the service of his relative, the
that of despot of Epeirus (1242). In 1243 Va- emperor Andronicus Palaeologus the elder, who
tatzes concluded an alliance with Gaiyáth-ed-dín, appointed bim prefect of the sacred bed-chamber.
the Turkish sultan of Iconium, in order to resist United, by friendship and harmony of sentiments,
the approaching Mongols; and having thus secured to the emperor's grandson, Andronicus the younger,
his eastern frontiers, he renewed his attacks upon he took the part of the latter in his rebellion against
the Latins in Constantinople. His fame was his grandfather ; and it was to his valour, wisdom,
then so great, that the Roman emperor, Frederic and exertions, that the younger Andronicus owed
11. , one of his greatest admirers, gave him his his final success and the undisputed crown of Con-
PP 2
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580
JOANNES. '
JOANNES
Zenus.
stantinople. In reward for his services, he was January, 1347, he took the capital with scarcely
appointed magnus domesticus. Aetolia and Lesbos, any resistance, the gates having been opened by
both in the hands of usurpers, were re-united Facciolati, an Italian captain, who was the secret ad-
by him to the empire ; and his influence was so herent of Cantacuzenus ; and A pocauchus was slain
great, that he, rather than Andronicus, was the in the tumult. Being now sole master, Cantacu-
real sovereign of the Greeks, His administration zenus consented to acknowledge John Palaeologus
was wise: he enforced the laws with firmness, as co-emperor, on condition that until the majority
but also with forbearance ; and at a time when of the young prince, who was then fifteen years,
every public functionary was a robber of the people, and would be of age at twenty-five, according
he alone escaped the charge of peculation and fiscal to the Greek law, he should be the sole ruler ;
oppression. The emperor bestowed upon him un. and as a guarantee for the future harmony be-
bounded confidence, and was so fondly attached to tween the two princes, he married his daughter
him, that he proposed to share the throne with him. Helena to his youthful colleague. In the same
This Cantacuzenus refused, from motives both of year Cantacuzenus was crowned a second time
modesty and prudence. Andronicus, on his death in the capital, by Isidorus, patriarch of Constan-
bed (a. D. 1311), appointed him guardian of his linople.
infant son, John, in whose name he was to govem The reign of John Cantacuzenus was not blessed
the empire.
with pence. In the year of his accession, the
No sooner had Cantacuzenus begun to exercise plague made great havoc among the inhabitants of
his eminent functions, than he was checked by two the capital and other towns. The Genoese of Pera,
ambitious intriguers, the admiral Apocnuchus and who enjoyed great privileges, despised the imperial
the patriarch of Constantinople, John of Apri, who authority, took up arms, and laid them down only
aspired to the regency, and for that purpose per- after having obtained still greater privileges; and
suaded the widow of the late emperor, Anna, during the same time Duscham, the kral of Servia,
princess of Savoy, to claim the guardianship of her made an inroad into Thrace, but was fortunately
son, although it was lawfully vested in Cantacu- compelled, by severe defeats, to sue for peace.
The conspirators found many adherents; The emperor's relations with the Turks were amic-
and from a system of calumny and petty annoy- able for several years. In his history (ir. 16) Can-
ance, proceeded to bold attacks. During a temporary tacuzenus alludes to a project formed by Merjan,
absence from the capital, Cantacuzenus was suddenly an eunuch in the service of sultan Urkhan, to
charged with high treason ; and his enemies being poison his young colleague; but it would seem as if
his judges also, he was found guilty, sentenced to the story had been invented by himself, for the
death, and deprived of his estates and emoluments. purpose of frightening young Palaeologus, and thus
Under such circumstances he had no alternative bringing him under a still closer watch. His friend-
but rebellion or death : yet he hesitated till his ship with Urkhan was, however, not very sincere,
friends showed him that even by submission and for he sent ambassadors to pope Clement VI. pro-
imploring the clemency of his adversaries, he could mising to bring the Greek church under the papal
not save his life. Accordingly Cantacuzenus took authority if the holy father would preach a crusade
up arms, not against the infant emperor, but against against the Turks; but Clement declined the pro
his powerful councillors, and assumed the title of position, knowing that the Greeks and Latins
emperor. On the 21st of March, 1342, he was would agree upon religion only so long as the
crowned with great solemnity, together with his crusaders did upon a common plan of attack, and
wife, Irene, at Adrianople, by Lazarus, patriarch an equal mode of division in case of success
of Jerusalem. His adherents not being numerous, Meanwhile, dissensions arose between Cantacu-
he sought assistance at the court of Stephen Dus- zenus and Palaeologus, who grew tired of his
cham, kral or king of Servia ; and having reason to inactivity, and listened to the advice of the former
suspect the faith of this prince, he reluctantly con- party of Apocauchus, although he was kindly
cluded an alliance with Umur Bey, the Turkish treated and allowed full domestic freedom by his
prince of Aidin (Lydia, Maeonia and Caria). father-in-law, which, it would seem, was quite
During the transactions which led to this alliance enough for so young a man. Suspecting some
Cantacuzenus was at the Servian court, and his treachery, Cantacuzenus sent him to reside at
wife was at Didymoticum. Umur Bey sailed over Thessalonica, and employed Anne of Savoy, though
to Greece with a fleet of 380 vessels, and an army in vain, as mediator between her son and him : the
of 28,000 men ; and after having left a strong gar- young prince emancipated himself from the surveil-
rison at Didymoticum, marched upon Servia. An lance of the officers charged with guiding and
early and very severe winter compelled him to re- watching him, and in 1353 raised the standard of
turn to Asia without having had an interview with rebellion. Defeated in a pitched battle by the
Cantacuzenus ; but the two princes met in the fol- united forces of Cantacuzenus and Urkban, Palaeo-
lowing year, 1343, at Clopa, near Thessalonica, and logus took refuge with the Latins in Tenedos ; and
in their operations against Apocauchus and his in order to exclude him for ever from the throne,
party, Greece and Thrace were dreadfully ravaged. the emperor proclaimed his son, Matthaeus, co-
Bribed by Apocauchus, Umur Bey ceased assisting emperor, and his future successor. However well
Cantacuzenus, who, however, found a more powerful calculated this step might have been had the em-
ally in the person of Crkhan, sultan of the Turks peror enjoyed universal popularity, it proved
Osmanlis, to whom he gave his daughter in mar- disastrous under contrary circumstances, as the
riage. During five years Greece was desolated by Greeks felt much more sympathy with the house
a civil war. In 1346, however, Cantacuzenus be of the Palaeologi than with the Cantacuzeni, and
came the more powerful; and having made a sort the emperor soon learned that the people's attach-
of reconciliation with the dowager empresá, Anna, ment to a distinguished person is often much less
he advanced upon Constantinople, after re-enforcing strong than their love of a distinguished family.
bis army by a body of Latin mercenaries. In / Numerous bands organised themselves for the suy
a
## p. 581 (#597) ############################################
JOANNES.
581
JOANNES
:
port of the son of their late emperor, but the forces | legitimate; they conspire and rebel without any
upon which the latter could rely with more security views of interest, and the violence which they
were the mercenary band and the ships of Gaste inflict or suffer is celebrated as the spontaneous
luzzi or (tatteluzzi, a noble Genoese who promised effect of reason and virtue. "
to help him to the crown on condition of obtaining This work was first made known to the world
the hand of his sister and the grant of some lands. through Gretserus, who published a Latin transla-
The descendants of Gasteluzzi became sovereign tion of it by Jacob Pontanus, with notes and the
princes, and were conspicuous in the latter part of life of the author by the same, Ingolstadt, 1603,
Byzantine history. Palaeologus and Gasteluzzi fol. Pontanus perused a MS. which was kept in
made sail for Constantinople ; and pleading distress the Munich library: The Greek text first appeared,
and want of provisions as pretext for their admis- from a Paris MS. , in the splendid edition of Pierre
sion within the Golden Horn, the chain across the Seguier, chancellor of France, Paris, 1645, 3 vols.
entrance of the port was lowered by the watch of fol. , with the revised translation of Pontanus,
the harbour, who were either bribed by Palaea his and the editor's notes, and the life of the
logus, or were not aware that the ships had hos- author by Pontanus. It was badly reprinted in
tile intentions. The inhabitants of Constantinople 1729 by the editors of the Venice collection of the
now took up arms against Cantacuzenus, who, al Byzantines. The last edition is that of Louis
though he asserts the contrary, was apparently Schopen, 1828–32, 3 vols. in 8vo. in the Bonn
forsaken by most of his adherents, abdicated (Janu-collection of the Byzantines, a careful reprint of the
ary, 1355), and four days after his abdication Paris edition: the editor, however, had no MS. to
renounced the world, and assumed the monastic peruse. The other works of Cantacuzenus are of
habit.
no great importance. Apologiae (Kard tñs Tv
Under the name of Joasaph or Joseph, he spent Eapaxnvar aipéoews 'Anodoylai A), the principal,
the remainder of his days in devotion and literary are in four books, being a refutation of the religion
occupation in the convents of Constantinople and of Mohammed; and Kard tov Mwáued lógoi A,
Mount Athos ; and in his solitude he wrote the four orations against Mobammed. The author was
history of his times. His wife, Irene, likewise evidently well acquainted with the Koran ; but in
retired to a convent. The time of the death of John refuting Mohammedanism, and proving the truth
Cantacuzenus is uncertain. He was still alive in of the Christian religion, he allowed himself to be
1375, for in that year pope Gregory XI. wrote a guided by the prejudices of his time and all sorts
letter to him ; but if he died only in 1411, as of vulgar stories, legends and fables. The Greek
has been pretended, and Ducange (Fam. Byzant. text and a Latin translation of these works, along
p. 260) believes, he would have attained an age of with a translation of the Koran, was first published
more than one hundred years, because he was a by Rudolphus Gualterus, Basel, 1543, fol. ; the
contemporary of, and probably of the same age with, translation alone, ib. 1550. Cantacuzenus also
Andronicus Palaeologus the younger.
wrote a Paraphrasis of the Ethics of Aristotle ; six
His principal work is the “ History” (ʻIOTOPI@V epistles extant in MS. at Oxford; and several
Bibaia A), which comprises in four books the reign smaller treatises, chiefly on religious subjects.
of Andronicus the younger and his own, and The chief sources are the works of Cantacuzenus
finishes with the year 1357. It is written with and Nicephorus Gregoras, especially lib. viii-xv. ;
elegance and dignity, and shows that the author Ducas, c. 1, &c. ; Phranza, i. 1-14; Fabric.
was a man of superior intelligence, and fully able to Bibl. Graec. vol. vii. p. 787 ; Hankius, De By
understand and judge of the great events of history: zantin. Rerum Script. Graec. , p. 602, &c. ; Pon-
but it is far from being written with impartiality; tanus, Vita Jounnis Cantacuzeni. ) (W. P. ]
he throws blame upon his adversaries wherever he JOANNES VI. PALAEOʻLOGUS ('Iwávvns
can, and praises his party, and especially himself, • Dalaiolóyos), emperor of Constantinople (A. D.
in a manner which betrays a great deal of vanity 1355—1391), often called Joannes V. , the only son
and hypocrisy. For the knowledge of the time it and heir of the emperor Andronicus III. Palaeologus
is invaluable, especially as the history of Nice the younger was born in 1332, and nominally suc-
phorus Gregoras is a sufficient check upon bis ; ceeded his father in 1341. It has been narrated
80 that if the two works are compared, a sound in the preceding article how the young prince first
and sagacious mind will correct the one by the reigned under the guardianship of Joannes Canta-
other.
cuzenus, then under the authority of a party headed
? Gibbon speaks of this history in the following by the admiral Apocauchus and the empress Anne
terms, and his judgment is as true as it is expres- of Savoy, and at last as a nominal colleague of
sive: “ The name and situation of the emperor John Cantacuzenus, who held the title and the
John Cantacuzene might inspire the most lively power of emperor, till he ceded both to John Pa-
curiosity. His memorials of forty years extend laeologus, in 1355, whose real accession conse-
from the revolt of the younger Andronicus to his quently begins with that year. For the same
own abdication of the empire ; and it is observed reason he stands in the series of emperors as John
that, like Moses and Caesar, he was the principal VI. , although strictly he was the fifth of that name.
actor in the scenes which he describes. But in this John VI. was a weak prince. “After his enfran-
elegant work we should vainly seek the sincerity chisement from an oppressive guardian," says
of a hero or a penitent. Retired in a cloister from Gibbon," he remained thirty-six years the helpless
the vices and passions of the world, he presents not and, as it should seem, the careless spectator of the
a confession, but an apology, of the life of an am- public ruin. Love, or rather lust, was his only
bitious statesman. Instead of unfolding the true vigorous passion; and in the embraces of the wives
counsels and characters of men, he displays the or virgins of the city, the Turkish slave forgot the
smooth and specious surface of events, highly var- dishonour of the emperor of the Romans. ” The
nished with his own praises and those of his friends. reign of this emperor is nevertheless full of the
Their motives are always pure, their ends always most important events, and nothing affords a better
.
3
P P 3
## p. 582 (#598) ############################################
582
JOANNES.
JOANNES.
insight into the causes of the final overthrow of the with its district, a few islands, and some districts
Greek empire than the history of his time. Our in the Peloponnesus and northern Greece, and im-
space, however, is too confined to give more than a plored him to do bis utmost for his delivery should
sketch of those events which are most remarkable he even be obliged to sell the holy vessels of the
for ecclesiastical as well as political history. The churches. Andronicus, in pursuit of some selfish
young emperor was scarcely seated on his throne and ambitious plans, remained deaf to the prayers
when the Turks crossed the Bosporus, and by the of his father. Manuel, however, the emperor's
capture of the fortress of Tzympe, now Chini or second son and lord of Thessalonica, was no sooner
Jemenlik, laid the foundation of all their further inſorined of the misfortune of his father, than he
conquests in Europe. The plan of extending the sold his whole property, hastened to Venice, and
dominions of the Osmanlis over Europe was formed released his father, who immediately returned to
by Soliman, the son of sultan Urkhan, the governor Constantinople (1370), although not without
of Cyzicus, while he was wandering in the silence serious apprehensions of vengeance from sultan
of a moonlight night through the ruins of that an- Mürad. In order to soothe him he sent his third
cient and once splendid town; and having crossed son, Theodore, as a hostage, to Adrianople; where-
the Bosporus with 10,000 horse, he soon conquered upon he deprived Andronicus of his supreme au-
an extensive district near the mouth of the llebrus. thority, and appointed the faithful Manuel co-
He died in 1358 ; but his brother Mürad, who emperor.
