As commander in the field in 1257 against Michael II, despot of Epirus, he showed little military ability. George was captured and kept for two years in prison, from which he was released by Michael Palaiologos.[1] Meanwhile, Michael Palaiologos was proclaimed emperor of Nicaea, afterwards expelling the Latins from Constantinople, and became emperor of the restored Byzantine Empire. From this moment Akropolites becomes known in the history of the eastern empire as one of its greatest diplomats. After having discharged the function of ambassador at the court of the Bulgarian Tsar Constantine, he became the first head of the University of Constantinople, where he lectured on mathematics and philosophy.[2] His students included George of Cyprus[3] and George Pachymeres.[4]
In the meantime, Michael, afraid of a new Latin invasion, proposed to Pope Clement IV to reunite the Greek and the Latin Churches; and negotiations ensued which were carried on during the reign of five popes, Clement IV, Gregory X, John XXI, Nicolaus III, and Martin IV. Akropolites was chosen as the emperor's ambassador, and in 1273 he was sent to Pope Gregory X. In 1274, at the Second Council of Lyon, he confirmed by an oath in the emperor's name that that confession of faith which had been previously sent to Constantinople by the pope had been adopted by the Greeks. The reunion of the two churches however roused considerable opposition in Byzantium and was afterwards broken off. It did however serve its main purpose, delaying and ultimately entirely averting a Latin attack on Constantinople.
Later negotiations George Akropolites led included leading a mission to the Empire of Trebizond in 1281 to convince the Emperor John II to discontinue using the title of "Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans"—which Michael Palaiologos held as his sole right. He failed in this endeavor, for John responded to his arguments that he was simply following the practice of his predecessors, and his chief nobles would not permit him to give up this honor.[5]
William Smith in his Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology follows Hankius De Byzantinarum Rerum Scriptoribus Graecis in stating that Akropolites was sent on an embassy to the king of Bulgaria in 1282; George Finlay has shown that both are in error. Finlay notes, "in this case he [Hankius] seems inadvertently to have written Bulgarorum instead of Lazorum Principem, for he quotes at length the passage of Pachymeres as his authority, which states distinctly that Acropolita was sent to the prince of the Lazes, as the vain Constantinopolitan writers called the emperor of Trebizond."[6]
Works
Akropolites' historical work, the Annals, embraces the period from the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade by the Latins in 1204 to its recovery by Michael Palaiologos in 1261, thus forming a continuation of the work of Nicetas Choniates. It is valuable as written by a contemporary, whose official position as Grand Logothete, military commander, and confidential ambassador afforded him frequent opportunities of observing the course of events.[1]
Akropolites is considered a trustworthy authority as far as the statement of facts is concerned, and he is easy to understand, although he exhibits special carelessness in the construction of his sentences. His style is archaising but lucid. He was also the author of several shorter works, amongst them being a funeral oration on John Vatatzes, an epitaph on his wife Irene Laskarina and a panegyric of Theodore II Laskaris of Nicaea. While a prisoner at Epirus he wrote two treatises on the procession of the Holy Spirit.[1]
Editions
Authorities: Editio princeps by Leo Allatius (1651), with the editor's famous treatise De Georgiis eorumque Scriptis; editions in the Bonn Corpus Scriptorum Hist. Byz., by I. Bekker (1836), and Migne, Patrologia Graeca, cxl; in the Teubner series by A. Heisenberg (1903), the second volume of which contains a full life, with bibliography; see also Karl Krumbacher, Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur (1897).[1]
A. Heisenberg (ed). Georgii Akropolitae Opera. Vol. 1-2 (Leipzig, 1903); reprinted with corrections by P. Wirth (Stuttgart, 1978).
Ruth Macrides (intr. and comm.), George Akropolites. The History (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2007) (Oxford Studies in Byzantium).
French translation Acropolitès: chronique du XIIIe siècle by Jean Dayantis, Les Belles Lettres ed., collection "La roue à livres", Paris 2012.
Spanish translation in: Jorge Acropólites: Narración histórica. Estudio preliminar, traducción, notas y comentarios de Teresa Vila Vilar. Granada: Centro de Estudios Bizantinos, Neogriegos y Chipriotas, 2012.
^Steven Runciman, The Last Byzantine Renaissance (Cambridge: University Press, 1970), p. 54
^Steven Runciman, Last Byzantine Renaissance, Cambridge University Press, 1970, p. 58.
^Dimitri Korobeinikov, Byzantium and the Turks in the Thirteenth Century, Oxford University Press, 2014, 1970, p. 14.
^William Miller, Trebizond: The Last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era, 1926 (Chicago: Argonaut, 1969), p. 28
^Finlay, A History of Greece: Medieval Greece and the Empire of Trebizond AD 1204-1461 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1877), p. 345 n. 1
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Acropolita, George". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 156.
R. Macrides, "George Akropolites' Rhetoric," in E. Jeffreys (ed.), Rhetoric in Byzantium. Papers from the Thirty-fifth Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, Exeter College, University of Oxford, March 2001 (Aldershot, 2003), 201–211.
External links
Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes
April 13, 2023
george, akropolites, latinized, acropolites, acropolita, greek, Γεώργιος, Ἀκροπολίτης, georgios, akropolites, 1217, 1220, 1282, byzantine, greek, historian, statesman, born, constantinople, contents, life, works, editions, also, notes, references, external, li. George Akropolites Latinized as Acropolites or Acropolita Greek Gewrgios Ἀkropoliths Georgios Akropolites 1217 or 1220 1282 was a Byzantine Greek historian and statesman born at Constantinople Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Editions 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksLife EditIn his sixteenth year he was sent by his father the logothete Constantine Akropolites the elder to the court of John III Doukas Vatatzes emperor of Nicaea where Akropolites continued his studies under Theodore Hexapterygos and Nicephorus Blemmydes The emperor afterwards entrusted George with important state missions as did his successors Theodore II Laskaris and Michael VIII Palaiologos The office of Grand Logothete or chancellor was bestowed upon him in 1244 As commander in the field in 1257 against Michael II despot of Epirus he showed little military ability George was captured and kept for two years in prison from which he was released by Michael Palaiologos 1 Meanwhile Michael Palaiologos was proclaimed emperor of Nicaea afterwards expelling the Latins from Constantinople and became emperor of the restored Byzantine Empire From this moment Akropolites becomes known in the history of the eastern empire as one of its greatest diplomats After having discharged the function of ambassador at the court of the Bulgarian Tsar Constantine he became the first head of the University of Constantinople where he lectured on mathematics and philosophy 2 His students included George of Cyprus 3 and George Pachymeres 4 In the meantime Michael afraid of a new Latin invasion proposed to Pope Clement IV to reunite the Greek and the Latin Churches and negotiations ensued which were carried on during the reign of five popes Clement IV Gregory X John XXI Nicolaus III and Martin IV Akropolites was chosen as the emperor s ambassador and in 1273 he was sent to Pope Gregory X In 1274 at the Second Council of Lyon he confirmed by an oath in the emperor s name that that confession of faith which had been previously sent to Constantinople by the pope had been adopted by the Greeks The reunion of the two churches however roused considerable opposition in Byzantium and was afterwards broken off It did however serve its main purpose delaying and ultimately entirely averting a Latin attack on Constantinople Later negotiations George Akropolites led included leading a mission to the Empire of Trebizond in 1281 to convince the Emperor John II to discontinue using the title of Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans which Michael Palaiologos held as his sole right He failed in this endeavor for John responded to his arguments that he was simply following the practice of his predecessors and his chief nobles would not permit him to give up this honor 5 William Smith in his Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology follows Hankius De Byzantinarum Rerum Scriptoribus Graecis in stating that Akropolites was sent on an embassy to the king of Bulgaria in 1282 George Finlay has shown that both are in error Finlay notes in this case he Hankius seems inadvertently to have written Bulgarorum instead of Lazorum Principem for he quotes at length the passage of Pachymeres as his authority which states distinctly that Acropolita was sent to the prince of the Lazes as the vain Constantinopolitan writers called the emperor of Trebizond 6 Works EditAkropolites historical work the Annals embraces the period from the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade by the Latins in 1204 to its recovery by Michael Palaiologos in 1261 thus forming a continuation of the work of Nicetas Choniates It is valuable as written by a contemporary whose official position as Grand Logothete military commander and confidential ambassador afforded him frequent opportunities of observing the course of events 1 Akropolites is considered a trustworthy authority as far as the statement of facts is concerned and he is easy to understand although he exhibits special carelessness in the construction of his sentences His style is archaising but lucid He was also the author of several shorter works amongst them being a funeral oration on John Vatatzes an epitaph on his wife Irene Laskarina and a panegyric of Theodore II Laskaris of Nicaea While a prisoner at Epirus he wrote two treatises on the procession of the Holy Spirit 1 Editions EditAuthorities Editio princeps by Leo Allatius 1651 with the editor s famous treatise De Georgiis eorumque Scriptis editions in the Bonn Corpus Scriptorum Hist Byz by I Bekker 1836 and Migne Patrologia Graeca cxl in the Teubner series by A Heisenberg 1903 the second volume of which contains a full life with bibliography see also Karl Krumbacher Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur 1897 1 A Heisenberg ed Georgii Akropolitae Opera Vol 1 2 Leipzig 1903 reprinted with corrections by P Wirth Stuttgart 1978 Ruth Macrides intr and comm George Akropolites The History Oxford Oxford University Press 2007 Oxford Studies in Byzantium French translation Acropolites chronique du XIIIe siecle by Jean Dayantis Les Belles Lettres ed collection La roue a livres Paris 2012 Spanish translation in Jorge Acropolites Narracion historica Estudio preliminar traduccion notas y comentarios de Teresa Vila Vilar Granada Centro de Estudios Bizantinos Neogriegos y Chipriotas 2012 See also EditConstantine Akropolites his sonNotes Edit a b c d Chisholm 1911 Steven Runciman The Last Byzantine Renaissance Cambridge University Press 1970 p 54 Steven Runciman Last Byzantine Renaissance Cambridge University Press 1970 p 58 Dimitri Korobeinikov Byzantium and the Turks in the Thirteenth Century Oxford University Press 2014 1970 p 14 William Miller Trebizond The Last Greek Empire of the Byzantine Era 1926 Chicago Argonaut 1969 p 28 Finlay A History of Greece Medieval Greece and the Empire of Trebizond AD 1204 1461 Oxford Clarendon Press 1877 p 345 n 1References Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Acropolita George Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 1 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 156 Plate William 1867 Acropolita Georgius in Smith William ed Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology vol 1 Boston MA pp 15 16 R Macrides George Akropolites Rhetoric in E Jeffreys ed Rhetoric in Byzantium Papers from the Thirty fifth Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies Exeter College University of Oxford March 2001 Aldershot 2003 201 211 External links EditOpera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Akropolites amp oldid 1127848214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
