Fall of Mystras: What Happened
In May 1460, the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II captured Mystras, the capital of the Despotate of the Morea, the last major Byzantine territory on the Greek mainland. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the despotate was ruled jointly by two brothers of the last emperor, Demetrios and Thomas Palaiologos. Instead of uniting against the Ottoman threat, the brothers quarreled and fought each other, and their lands were also shaken by revolts of local nobles and Albanian settlers. Both brothers paid tribute to the sultan, but they failed to keep up payments and invited Western intervention. Mehmed led an army into the Peloponnese in 1460. Demetrios, who had sided with the Ottomans, surrendered Mystras without a fight and was later given lands elsewhere in the empire. Thomas fled to Italy, bringing with him the relic of the head of Saint Andrew. Several castles resisted for a time, and Monemvasia placed itself under papal and then Venetian protection. The fall of Mystras ended Byzantine rule in Greece, and the town slowly declined, leaving its remarkable churches to survive as ruins.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Mystras fall?
Mystras, the capital of the Despotate of the Morea, fell to the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II in May 1460, ending Byzantine rule in Greece.
Who ruled Mystras before its fall?
The despotate was ruled by two brothers of the last Byzantine emperor, Demetrios and Thomas Palaiologos, who quarreled and fought each other.
Did Mystras surrender without a fight?
Yes. Demetrios, who had sided with the Ottomans, surrendered Mystras without a fight and was later given lands elsewhere in the Ottoman Empire.
What happened to Thomas Palaiologos?
Thomas fled to Italy, bringing with him the relic of the head of Saint Andrew, and lived in Rome under papal protection.
What remains of Mystras today?
After its fall, Mystras slowly declined. Its remarkable Byzantine churches, monasteries and palaces survive as ruins and form a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Sparta.
