On 6 August 1384, an earthquake struck Lesbos. Amongst the dead were Francesco I Gattilusio and his two eldest sons, Andronico and Domenico. However the third son Jacopo survived: at the time the earthquake struck, he was sleeping by the side of his brothers in a tower of their castle, but the next day he was discovered in a vineyard at the base of the castle. He succeeded in the rule of Lesbos under the name Francesco II. Francesco II was still underage and was placed under the regency of his paternal uncle Niccolò of Ainos.[1]
The regency lasted three years when an argument between the two ended it and Niccolò returned to his own demesne.[2] On the recommendation of their mutual friend, Demetrius Cydones, Francesco allowed Manuel Palaiologos to shelter on Lesbos for at least two months in the summer of 1387, after Manuel had fled Thessalonica. However Francesco did not allow Manuel to take up residence inside the walls of Mytilene, possibly due to the size of his entourage or because Francesco did not want to anger the Ottoman Sultan Murad I.[3]
In November 1388, Francesco joined in an alliance with the Knights of Rhodes, the Genoese of Chios, Jacques I of Cyprus, and the Genoese of Galata against Sultan Murad. In the summer of 1396 when Pera was besieged by the soldiers of Bajazet I, his galley happened to be stationed in the Golden Horn; the Genoese community of Pera petitioned Francesco for his help; he subsequently assisted the Venetians making a sortie to relieve Constantinople.[2] Francisco, along with his uncle Niccolò, also pledged considerable sums in ransoming prisoners taken at the Battle of Nicopolis (1396); of the total ransom, fixed at 200,000 ducats, the two men made themselves liable for 150,000—which the prisoners promised to repay as soon as they could.[4]
This act, as well as the location of Lesbos, resulted in his home being frequently visited by traveling important personages from Western Europe: "this was their last stopping-place in Latin lands on their way to Constantinople or to Asia," William Miller writes.[4]Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo, the ambassador Henry III of Castile sent to Tamerlane in 1403, stayed with Francesco at one point in his outward journey, and records he met John VII Palaiologos, "the young Emperor" in his household; de Clavijo notes that John "resided a good deal in this island".[5]
The name of Francesco's wife is not known. A clue to her identity is the statement of Konstantin the Philosopher, biographer of Stefan Lazarević, who wrote around 1431 that Stefan's wife (a daughter of Francesco II) was "through her mother a niece of the emperor Manuel, from whom the lords and lineage of her family were named Palaiologi." Which niece of the Emperor Manuel this was, or if her existence is otherwise recorded, remains a mystery.[6]
Francesco reportedly died in an unusual manner. After having been bitten by a scorpion, the number of people rushing to his aid resulted in the wooden floor of his room collapsing under their combined weight. The poison did not kill him but the fall did.[7]
Helena Gattilusio. Married in 1405 Stefan Lazarević, without any known issue.
Caterina Gattilusio. Married Pietro Grimaldi, Baron of Bueil.
According to George T. Dennis, Francesco also had an illegitimate son named Giorgio, who was the recipient of at least one letter from the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, who served as his emissary for Francesco to the Duke of Burgundy in September/October 1397.[8]
Referencesedit
^William Miller, "The Gattilusj of Lesbos (1355–1462)", Byzantinische Zeitschrift22 (1913), p. 411f
T. Ganchou, Valentina Doria, épouse de Francesco II Gattilusio, seigneur de l'île de Mytilène (1384–1403), et sa parenté. Le Lesbian puzzle résolu, in Nuova Rivista Storica LXXXVIII, 2004, p. 619-686.
External linksedit
"The Lesbian ancestors of Prince Rainier of Monaco, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, Brooke Shields and the Marquis de Sade" by William Addams Reitwiesner, an extensive article on the Gattilusio and their descendants
francesco, gattilusio, born, giacomo, gattilusio, jacopo, 1365, october, 1403, 1404, second, gattilusio, lord, lesbos, from, 1384, death, third, francesco, gattilusio, maria, palaiologina, sister, byzantine, emperor, john, palaiologos, bronze, denaro, francesc. Francesco II Gattilusio born Giacomo Gattilusio or Jacopo c 1365 26 October 1403 1404 was the second Gattilusio lord of Lesbos from 1384 to his death He was the third son of Francesco I Gattilusio and Maria Palaiologina the sister of the Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos Bronze denaro of Francesco II with the Gattilusi arms and the tetragrammic cross of the Byzantine EmpireRelief at the Castle of Mytilene showing the eagle of the Doria family far left the family cypher of the Palaiologoi center left and the Gattilusi coat of arms center right Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife editOn 6 August 1384 an earthquake struck Lesbos Amongst the dead were Francesco I Gattilusio and his two eldest sons Andronico and Domenico However the third son Jacopo survived at the time the earthquake struck he was sleeping by the side of his brothers in a tower of their castle but the next day he was discovered in a vineyard at the base of the castle He succeeded in the rule of Lesbos under the name Francesco II Francesco II was still underage and was placed under the regency of his paternal uncle Niccolo of Ainos 1 The regency lasted three years when an argument between the two ended it and Niccolo returned to his own demesne 2 On the recommendation of their mutual friend Demetrius Cydones Francesco allowed Manuel Palaiologos to shelter on Lesbos for at least two months in the summer of 1387 after Manuel had fled Thessalonica However Francesco did not allow Manuel to take up residence inside the walls of Mytilene possibly due to the size of his entourage or because Francesco did not want to anger the Ottoman Sultan Murad I 3 In November 1388 Francesco joined in an alliance with the Knights of Rhodes the Genoese of Chios Jacques I of Cyprus and the Genoese of Galata against Sultan Murad In the summer of 1396 when Pera was besieged by the soldiers of Bajazet I his galley happened to be stationed in the Golden Horn the Genoese community of Pera petitioned Francesco for his help he subsequently assisted the Venetians making a sortie to relieve Constantinople 2 Francisco along with his uncle Niccolo also pledged considerable sums in ransoming prisoners taken at the Battle of Nicopolis 1396 of the total ransom fixed at 200 000 ducats the two men made themselves liable for 150 000 which the prisoners promised to repay as soon as they could 4 This act as well as the location of Lesbos resulted in his home being frequently visited by traveling important personages from Western Europe this was their last stopping place in Latin lands on their way to Constantinople or to Asia William Miller writes 4 Ruy Gonzales de Clavijo the ambassador Henry III of Castile sent to Tamerlane in 1403 stayed with Francesco at one point in his outward journey and records he met John VII Palaiologos the young Emperor in his household de Clavijo notes that John resided a good deal in this island 5 The name of Francesco s wife is not known A clue to her identity is the statement of Konstantin the Philosopher biographer of Stefan Lazarevic who wrote around 1431 that Stefan s wife a daughter of Francesco II was through her mother a niece of the emperor Manuel from whom the lords and lineage of her family were named Palaiologi Which niece of the Emperor Manuel this was or if her existence is otherwise recorded remains a mystery 6 Francesco reportedly died in an unusual manner After having been bitten by a scorpion the number of people rushing to his aid resulted in the wooden floor of his room collapsing under their combined weight The poison did not kill him but the fall did 7 Family editFrancesco had six known children Jacopo Gattilusio Ruled Lesbos from 1403 04 to 1428 Dorino I Gattilusio Ruled Lesbos from 1428 to 1455 Palamede Gattilusio Ruled Ainos from 1409 to 1455 Irene Gattilusio Married John VII Palaiologos mother of Andronikos V Palaiologos Helena Gattilusio Married in 1405 Stefan Lazarevic without any known issue Caterina Gattilusio Married Pietro Grimaldi Baron of Bueil According to George T Dennis Francesco also had an illegitimate son named Giorgio who was the recipient of at least one letter from the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos who served as his emissary for Francesco to the Duke of Burgundy in September October 1397 8 References edit William Miller The Gattilusj of Lesbos 1355 1462 Byzantinische Zeitschrift 22 1913 p 411f a b Miller The Gattilusj p 412 Dennis The Letters of Manuel II Palaeologus Washington D C Dumbarton Oaks 1977 p 204 n 1 a b Miller The Gattilusj p 413 Narrative of the Embassy of Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo translated by Clements R Markham London Hakluyt Society 1859 pp 23ff Anthony Luttrell John V s Daughters A Palaiologan Puzzle Dumbarton Oaks Papers 40 1986 p 104 Miller The Gattilusj p 417 Dennis Letters of Manuel II pp xliv 164ffFurther reading editT Ganchou Valentina Doria epouse de Francesco II Gattilusio seigneur de l ile de Mytilene 1384 1403 et sa parente Le Lesbian puzzle resolu in Nuova Rivista Storica LXXXVIII 2004 p 619 686 External links edit The Lesbian ancestors of Prince Rainier of Monaco Dr Otto von Habsburg Brooke Shields and the Marquis de Sade by William Addams Reitwiesner an extensive article on the Gattilusio and their descendants His entry in Bizarre deaths in History Marek Miroslav Gattilusio family Genealogy EU Marek Miroslav A listing of the line of Grimaldi Bueil descendants of Francesco II Genealogy EU Francesco II GattilusioGattilusioBorn c 1365 Died 1404Preceded byFrancesco I Gattilusio Lord of Lesbos1384 1404 Succeeded byJacopo Gattilusio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francesco II Gattilusio amp oldid 1165487107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
