The Tree of Europe · Person
Michael VIII Palaiologos
He recovered Constantinople in 1261 and founded the last Byzantine imperial dynasty. He combined diplomacy and military intervention to contain Charles of Anjou; his children’s marriages linked his house with the Black Sea powers.
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 1224 Disputed
Death: 11 December 1282 Documented
Role: Emperor
Dynasty: Palaiologos · ES
Territories: Byzantium (ES)
Recorded governments and reigns
Emperor · Byzantium · Empire Pending review1259–1282Effective rule
Recorded relationships
Sources for this profile
- Treccani · Paleologi
- Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Michael VIII., Byzantinisches Reich, Kaiser
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.
Evidence for this profile
3 recorded claims · 1 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
- BirthDisputed
1224
MedLands and Britannica give 1224 or 1225; 1224 is used in the record.Recorded alternatives: 1225 (MedLands; Britannica) · 1223 (the Atlas’s previous value, for which no specific source was located)Foundation for Medieval Genealogy · MedLands · Byzantium 12611453 · Entry “MIKHAEL Doukas Komnenos Palaiologos ([1224/25]–11 December 1282)”.Encyclopaedia Britannica · Michael VIII Palaeologus · Heading: born 1224 or 1225.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Vital data: birth date (1224) - DeathDocumented
11 December 1282
The authority record gives the death as 1282-12-11.
Governments (0/1 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
Emperor · Byzantium · 1259–1282
A precise source has not yet been added.
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
- 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
- 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
Related stories
Follow this person through history
Keep exploring
More paths from Michael VIII Palaiologos
Family
Andronikos II Palaiologos · ESEmperor1259 – 1332Eudokia Palaiologina of Trebizond · ESConsort1265 – 1302Same dynasty
Michael IX Palaiologos · ESCo-emperor1277 – 1320Andronikos III Palaiologos · ESEmperor1297 – 1341John V Palaiologos · ESEmperor1332 – 1391Manuel II Palaiologos · ESEmperor1350 – 1425Theodore II Palaiologos · ESDespot1396 – 1448Constantine XI PalaiologosEmperor1405 – 1453In their lifetime
Michael IX Palaiologos · ESCo-emperor1277 – 1320Yolande of Montferrat · ESConsort1273 – 1317Rita of Armenia · ESConsort1278 – 1333Anna of Hungary · ESNoble1260 – 1281
Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire“Stupor Mundi”Emperor1194 – 1250
Louis IV of Bavaria“the Bavarian”Emperor1282 – 1347