John V Palaiologos faces rebellions from his sons and Grandsons. Forcing the Romans to become both Ottomans vassals and the pawns of Venice and Genoa.

Period: 1371-91

Pic: John V Palaiologos  (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

We look at the details of how the Ottomans ran their state. Including the creation of loyalty to the ruling dynasty, succession policy, military recruitment and slave trading.

Period: 1280-1371

Pic: Sultan Murad I (16th century miniature)

We follow the last century of narrative from an Ottoman point of view.

Period: 1280-1371

Pic: Sultan Orhan (painted by Konstantin Kapıdağlı, 19th century)

John V Palaiologos takes charge of the Empire but finds he has only one option left to save his state. He must travel West and beg for Latin help. Meanwhile the Turks conquer Thrace.

Period: 1355-71

Map: The breakup of the Serbian Empire c 1360 AD

In order to gain the throne John Kantakouzenos destroys what is left of the Roman Empire. He allows the Serbs to conquer Macedonia while his Turkish allies enslave his people.

Picture: Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (fresco painted between 1341-7 in the Lesnovo monastery in North Macedonia).

Period: 1343-47

Andronikos III Palaiologos died on the 15^th June 1341. Four months later his nearest and dearest were at each others throats.

His right hand man John Kantakouzenos declared himself Emperor but was rejected by the people at every turn. Refusing to give up he invited foreign powers to intervene on his behalf.

Picture: John VI Kantakouzenos (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

Period: 1341-43

Andronikos III Palaiologos takes charge of a Roman state still recovering from the loss of Anatolia and the raids of the Catalans.

He takes on the challenge with enthusiasm and tangles with the Turks, Latins and Serbs. He also reunites Epiros and Thessaly with Constantinople.

Pic: Andronikos III Palaiologos, 14th century miniature from the State Library of Württemberg, Stuttgart.

This is part two of my Q&A with Father John Strickland. We talk about the Protestant reformation, Autocephalous churches and connections to Byzantium amongst other topics.

John is the pastor of an Orthodox Church in Poulsbo in Washington State. He wrote a four-volume series about the history of Christian civilization called Paradise and Utopia. He’s also recorded a podcast of the same name as an accompaniment to the books which you can find wherever you get your podcasts or at www.ancientfaith.com.