Graitzas descended from an obscure branch of the Palaiologos family, but showed far more valor than his distant relatives, namely the siblings and co-ruling despotesThomas Palaiologos and Demetrios Palaiologos. Whereas Thomas fled to Modon, Corfu, and finally to Rome as a refugee, his brother Demetrios surrendered outright to the Sultan. Meanwhile, Graitzas maintained his position, holding his redoubt until July 1461, nearly 8 years after the Fall of Constantinople.
Mehmed the Conqueror personally oversaw the attack. The elite Janissaries managed to subdue the town by cutting off its water supply. Its remaining residents (approximately 6000) were sold into slavery, with 900 children chosen for the Devşirme.[1] Graitzas and his garrison continued to hold out in the castle citadel. At this point, Gratizas agreed to surrender the castle to Mehmed in return for safe passage and immunity for his troops. Following Mehmed's departure however, two successive subordinates disregarded the promise, arresting the first soldiers to leave the citadel and then renewing the siege. By mid July 1461, Salmeniko citadel was isolated and surrounded and, as the last garrison of the Roman Empire, without hope of relief. Graitzas led a sortie of his remaining troops and escaped the besiegers. They sought refuge in the Venetian fortress of Lepanto (modern Naupactus).
With the Roman Empire he served having ceased to exist, Graitzas accepted a commission as general in the armed forces of the Republic of Venice.
Sourcesedit
The Immortal Emperor (1992), by Donald Nicol, p. 113.
graitzas, palaiologos, konstantinos, greek, Κωνσταντίνος, Γραίτζας, Παλαιολόγος, commander, byzantine, garrison, salmeniko, castle, near, patras, during, invasion, despotate, morea, forces, mehmed, ottoman, empire, 1460, graitzas, descended, from, obscure, bra. Konstantinos Graitzas Palaiologos Greek Kwnstantinos Graitzas Palaiologos was the commander of the Byzantine garrison at Salmeniko Castle near Patras during the invasion of the Despotate of Morea by the forces of Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire in 1460 61 Graitzas descended from an obscure branch of the Palaiologos family but showed far more valor than his distant relatives namely the siblings and co ruling despotes Thomas Palaiologos and Demetrios Palaiologos Whereas Thomas fled to Modon Corfu and finally to Rome as a refugee his brother Demetrios surrendered outright to the Sultan Meanwhile Graitzas maintained his position holding his redoubt until July 1461 nearly 8 years after the Fall of Constantinople Mehmed the Conqueror personally oversaw the attack The elite Janissaries managed to subdue the town by cutting off its water supply Its remaining residents approximately 6000 were sold into slavery with 900 children chosen for the Devsirme 1 Graitzas and his garrison continued to hold out in the castle citadel At this point Gratizas agreed to surrender the castle to Mehmed in return for safe passage and immunity for his troops Following Mehmed s departure however two successive subordinates disregarded the promise arresting the first soldiers to leave the citadel and then renewing the siege By mid July 1461 Salmeniko citadel was isolated and surrounded and as the last garrison of the Roman Empire without hope of relief Graitzas led a sortie of his remaining troops and escaped the besiegers They sought refuge in the Venetian fortress of Lepanto modern Naupactus With the Roman Empire he served having ceased to exist Graitzas accepted a commission as general in the armed forces of the Republic of Venice Sources editThe Immortal Emperor 1992 by Donald Nicol p 113 The Fall of Constantinople 1453 by Steven Runciman Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit IX no 21497 ed E Trapp et als References edit Stefanos Thomopoulos History of the city of Patras Patras 1999 Achaikes Publishers Volume II nbsp This Byzantine biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This biographical article related to the European military is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Graitzas Palaiologos amp oldid 1180790618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
