First-ever portrait of the last Byzantine emperor found in Greece
A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from a monastery in Greece: the first-ever portrait of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last emperor of Byzantium, and the only one found in monumental painting in Greece.
The late Byzantine monastery of Aegilia.
This remarkable finding has emerged from the Old Monastery of Taxiarches in Aegilia, near Aigio, in the northern Peloponnese. In the late Byzantine period, most of this region was controlled by the Despotate of Morea, one of the last strongholds of Byzantium outside Constantinople. Constantine XI himself governed the Despotate for a few years before ascending the Byzantine throne in 1449. At that time, his brothers Demetrios and Thomas were ruling the Despotate. Their tumultuous relationship led to a brief civil war between them, in 1449-50. Their brother Constantine arbitrated its end, according to Laonicus Chalcocondylis. We know from historical sources that they subsequently generously sponsored the monastery’s renovation, and it is therefore not surprising that the portrait of the ruling emperor – as maybe also their own – have been part of the decorative program.
The katholikon (main church) of the monastery features two layers of frescoes from the late Byzantine period, marked by the artistic refinement of the Palaiologan Renaissance. The fresco of Constantine XI, hidden beneath an earlier layer, was uncovered by restoration experts, revealing an extraordinary work of art preserved for centuries.
The portrait of Constantine XI.
The Greek Ministry of Culture, which released the news of the discovery, described the portrait as an authentic representation of Constantine XI’s physical features. They consider that the painter — who probably came from Mystras, the capital of the Despotate — rendered the portrait from his own conception rather than using an official representation as a model.
It is an authentic portrait, which accurately reflects the physiognomic characteristics of the last Byzantine emperor. He is an earthly figure, a mature man, with a slender face and personalized features, exuding calmness and kindness.
Unlike many idealized Byzantine imperial images, the emperor is depicted with personalized, lifelike features. It is possible that the artist personally knew the emperor, as Constantine ruled as Despot of Morea from Mystras for five years. The portrait reflects the aesthetic trends of Constantinople at the time and embraces the canons of the artistic style known as the Palaiologan Renaissance, showing more expression and humanity in the models compared to previous periods. This artistic movement of the 14th and 15th centuries was exemplified by great artists like the Astrapas masters.
Nonetheless, the portrait also respects the traditional representation of a Byzantine emperor. Constantine XI is shown wearing the conical crown, characteristic of the late Byzantine era. His head is crowned with a halo, usually used to depict the sanctity of characters, but also reserved for emperors and empresses. He also holds a cross-bearing scepter, a common representation found in other imperial portraits, with a similar gesture to that of Alexander in the Komnenian mosaic panel in the Hagia Sophia. His purple cloak with golden embroidery is decorated with medallions showing the insignia of the Palaiologos dynasty, the crowned double-headed eagle. These elements allow the viewer to identify the representation unambiguously as an emperor of the Palaiologos dynasty.
As the only known portrait created during the lifetime of Constantine XI, the fresco offers an unprecedented glimpse into the appearance of the last emperor of Byzantium.
The last emperor of Byzantium.
Constantine XI Palaiologos holds a unique place in Byzantine history as the empire’s final ruler and a tragic symbol of its collapse. Born into the Palaiologos dynasty, he was the son of Manuel II and the brother of John VIII. Contemporary accounts describe him as capable and a skilled general, trusted by both his father and brother.
He ascended the throne after the death of John VIII in 1449. By then, the situation in Byzantium was desperate, and Constantine XI could not reverse the tide. He died defending Constantinople in May 1453, embodying the empire’s final chapter. His tragic fate, tied to the loss of the Byzantine capital, soon made him a legendary figure among the vanquished Greeks, who fell under Ottoman rule.
This discovery is particularly significant given the scarcity of Byzantine imperial monumental painting. Apart from a depiction of an emperor in Cappadocia and an empress in Constantinople, it is the only known portrait of an emperor in Byzantine monumental painting. As the only contemporary depiction of Constantine XI that we know of, it provides an invaluable connection to the man behind the myth and to this major historical figure at the twilight of Byzantium.
