Byzantine Mystras - The Jewel of the Peloponnese

INTRODUCTIONcontinually attempted to seize the area. This, coupled
The old city of Byzantine Mystras was once a thrivingwith labyrinthine Byzantine political manoeuvring, led to
hub of Byzantine culture and politics. From the 13thEmperor John VI Katakouzenos sending his son,
century until the 19th century, when the foundation ofManuel, to stop the continual infighting. This task he
modern Sparti sounded the final death knell for theperformed admirably and he continued to develop the
citadel, Mystras was one of the most important citiesgrowing settlement. Again, political power struggles led
in the Eastern Mediterranean. Although time andto changes in the balance of power in Byzantine
seismology have taken their toll, Byzantine Mystras isMystras. The nephew of Manuel, Demitrius, tried to
still an impressive sight, blending crumbling ruins with adeclare independence from the new emperor in
cascade of wildflowers.Constantinople, John V Palaiologos, and was ruthlessly
THE FOUNDING OF MYSTRAS BY THE FRANKSdefeated. The son of the emperor, Theodore, took the
Mystras, as we know it, was founded in 1249 byreins of command in the area, and Mystras was bound
Frankish crusaders, who were trying to strengthenever more tightly to the Byzantine sphere of influence.
their hold on the Peloponnese. They occupied the area,Under the Palaiologoi, the influence of Byzantine
in 1204, after the capture of Constantinople during theMystras grew, encompassing the whole of the
IVth crusade. Guillaume II de Villehardouin wasPeloponnese. Despite continued internal wranglings and
responsible for building the castle here, but theexternal pressures, the city thrived for nearly 80 years,
Byzantines regained control of the area in 1262. Duringuntil 1460. Throughout this period, the strengthening
the Battle of Pelagonia, in 1259, when the Principate ofTurkish presence in the Middle East was a major
Achaia fought against the Greek Empire of Nicaea,threat, not just to Mystras, but to the whole Byzantine
Guillaume was captured. Mystras, along withEmpire. In 1423, the Turks raided the Peloponnese and
Monemvasia and Greater Mani, formed part of hiscaused mayhem, until Theodore II stabilised the area,
ransom payment, and was ceded to the Greeks.with the aid of his brother Constantine. After yet
Although sporadic outbursts of fighting continued, theanother Turkish invasion, in 1446, and a revolt of ethnic
Greeks dominated the Peloponnese for many years.Albanians in the Peloponnese, the tensions bubbled to
MYSTRAS UNDER THE BYZANTINESthe surface. Some elements of the ruling class
After 1262, the entire district, known as the Morea,agitated for alliance with the Turks, others advocated
was governed by a Byzantine general based atseeking aid from the Latin powers. A large army of
Mystras. Fighting with the Franks continued for manyTurks, under Mohammed II, invaded Byzantine Mystras,
years, resulting in the inhabitants of the city of Spartaand a new period of Turkish rule began.
moving behind the protective city walls of ByzantineTHE TURKISH PERIOD
Mystras. The increase in population was the primaryFor a long period of time, until the Greek War of
reason for the development of the site, from defendedIndependence, in 1825, the town of Mystra remained
village to full blown town and centre of culture. Insteadunder Turkish dominion. Without the authority of the
of being solely a military garrison, monasteries,Byzantine church, it no longer wielded the same
churches and a library were built, and the See of theamount of influence, but it was still an important
Bishop of Lacedaemonia was established here. Inprovincial capital. In 1464 and 1687, some attempts
addition, the governorship of Byzantine Mystraswere made, by the Venetians, to capture the citadel.
became a permanent and hereditary position.The 1687 assault was successful, and the town
Gradually, the site was tied to Constantinople, by bondsreached its peak population, of about 42 000 people. In
of blood and religious hierarchy.1714, the Turks recaptured Mystras, and used it as a
THE DESPOTATbase against the troublesome Maniots. This was the
Throughout all periods of history, the strategicbeginning of the end for the town, and by the end of
importance of the Peloponnese, as a crossroads forthe War of Independence, it was a shadow of its
the eastern Mediterranean, influenced its cultural andformer glory. The building of the modern town of
political development. This significance was no differentSparti, in 1831, delivered the final blow to Byzantine
in the mid-fourteenth century, when Franks and TurksMystras.