Byzantine after byzantium: Romanity and hellenism in the work of Michael Kritovoulos
Byzantine after byzantium: Romanity and hellenism in the work of Michael Kritovoulos

Summary/Abstract: The onset of the early modern era in the Eastern Mediterranean heralded significant political and social transformations, predominantly spearheaded by the Ottomans in tandem with their conquests. In the wake of the Byzantine Empire’s disappearance, tumultuous ideological shifts ensued, giving rise to the anticipated formulation of new identity principles. Dispersed across various regions, members of the Roman intellectual elite in the 15th century endeavored to impart distinctive perspectives on their contemporary epochs, all the while contemplating their own attachment to the extinguished homeland post-1453. Among these intellectuals, Michael Kritovoulos of Imbros, recognized as one of the ‘historians of the fall’, infused his ‘Conqueror’s History’ with a personal contemplation of his connection to the Orthodox Roman homeland. In this paper, we delve into several fragments of his work, dissecting its implications.

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