Never trust a painter - Greek Historical Novel

Never trust a painter... to rule the empire

An approach to the historical novel "Never Trust a Painter" by Panos Papamichalis, which brings to life a little known but significant period, as at its end, at the beginning of the 14th century, Byzantium ceased to be a major economic military power and followed a downward path until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It is also particularly important because during this period what was called the Palaeologan Renaissance takes place in civilization.
The Union of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church after the agreement between Pope Gregory X and Michael VIII Palaiologos in 1274 ignites the Unionist Anti-Unionist conflict in Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire The Bithynian supporters of Theophilus Laskaris will repeat the Battle of  Trikokkia. Frankish knights, Venetian sea captains, Mongols, and Ottomans in their onset are involved and interact over a period of thirty years.

A few words about the author - Contact

Panos Papamichalis, born in 1975, lives in Koropi. He studied at the Technical University of Crete in Chania and works as a Mechanical Engineer. As a counterweight to balance his life, he has chosen to train his body in cultivating olive trees and his spirit with literature, both as a reader and creator.

His involvement with literature began early, however, in 2019 his first historical novel entitled "Still Wanted Much Light to Dawn " was published by Gavrielidis Publications. His work "From Sydney to Tuong" was awarded in the 38th Literary Novel Competition of the Panhellenic Association of Writers. His short stories have been published in print and digital literary magazines.

For orders, all you have to do is a single search on the Internet.

You will find it directly on the shelves of selected bookstores and:

24 Letters Publications

https://24grammata.com/product/71768/

Bookstore Ianos

https://www.ianos.gr/books/logotechnia/elliniki-logotechnia/pote-min-empistevese-enan-zografo-0558848

References - Acknowledgements

I had to dig like a mole, or rather like a gold miner, into the books, blogs, and websites relating to the period in which the action unfolds and discover troves of information. Many thanks to those who made this information accessible.

This is my own reading of the history. I do not claim historical infallibility, nor am I a historian, but it would be a good thing if some people, inspired by my reading, would start to read more history, and not grasp chronic beliefs to feed their intolerance.

For this reason, I list the major works that have been pillars in my thinking:

 

Ostrogorsky, George "History of the Byzantine State", Εκδ. Στ. Βασιλόπουλος

Volume IX of "History of the Greek Nation", Ekdotiki Athinon

Speros Vryonis "The Decline of Medieval Hellenism in Asia Minor and the Process of Islamization from the Eleventh through the Fifteenth Century", Εκδ. Μορφωτικό Ίδρυμα Εθνικής Τραπέζης

Georgios Georgiades Arnakis "Οι πρώτοι Οθωμανοί. Συμβολή στο πρόβλημα της πτώσης του Ελληνισμού της Μικράς Ασίας (1282-1337)", Εκδ. Αρχιπέλαγος

Phaidōn I. Koukoules "Βυζαντινών βίος και πολιτισμός Τόμοι ς, Δ, Ε", Εκδ. Παπαζήση

"Ptochoprodromos" κριτική έκδοση του Hans Eideneier, Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης

Photis Kontoglou "Προς αγιογράφον", Εκδ. Αρμός

"Digenes Akritas" του Βασίλη Χ. Μάνη, Εκδ. Επικαιρότητα

"Acritic songs" του Βασίλη Χ. Μάνη, Εκδ. Επικαιρότητα

Roux Jean-Paul "Histoire des Turcs", Εκδ. Γκοβόστης

Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest regards to my good friend, John Tolias, that made this internet space happen.

Battles - Never trust a painter

Battle of Neopatras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Neopatras

Battle of Demetrias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Demetrias

Siege of Berat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Berat_(1280%E2%80%931281)

Sicilian Vespers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Vespers

Battle of Bapheus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bapheus

Maps - Never trust a painter

 

Byzantine Asia Minor in the 11th c. (Source: Σπ. Βρυώνη "Η παρακμή του μεσαιωνικού ελληνισμού στη Μ. Ασία", Εκδόσεις Μορφωτικό Ίδρυμα Εθνικής Τραπέζης)

Byzantine Empire during the reign of  Michael VIII Palaiologos (1261-1282) (Source: τόμος Θ' της "Ιστορίας του Ελληνικού Έθνους" της Εκδοτικής Αθηνών)

Bithynia at the age of the appearence of the first Ottomans (Source: Γ. Αρνάκη-Γεωργιάδη "Οι πρώτοι Οθωμανοί", Εκδόσεις Αρχιπέλαγος)

Nations - Never trust a painter

Byzantine Greeks:

Franks: 

 

 

Latins:

            Republic of Venice: 

 

 

            Republic of Genoa: 

 

Mongols:

 

Turkoman: 

 

 

Bulgarian: 

Serbs: 

 

Cumans:

 

Catalan: 

 

 

Mamluk: 

 

Historical Figures - Never trust a painter

Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_VIII_Palaiologos

Charles I of Anjou: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_Anjou

Tsar Konstantin Tih: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tih

Theodore II Laskaris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_II_Laskaris

Elena Asenina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Asenina_of_Bulgaria

Irene Doukaina Laskarina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Doukaina_Laskarina

John IV Laskaris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_IV_Laskaris

Andronikos II Palaiologos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andronikos_II_Palaiologos

Michael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_IX_Palaiologos

Andronikos III Palaiologos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andronikos_III_Palaiologos

Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Palaiologina_Kantakouzene

John I Doukas of Thessaly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_I_Doukas_of_Thessaly

John I de la Roche: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_I_de_la_Roche

John Palaiologos (brother of Michael VIII): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Palaiologos_(brother_of_Michael_VIII)

Alexios Philanthropenos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexios_Philanthropenos

Licario: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licario

Ivaylo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivaylo_of_Bulgaria

Ertuğrul: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ertu%C4%9Frul

Osman I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osman_I

Manuel Holobolos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Holobolos

Manuel Panselinos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Panselinos

Arsenios Autoreianos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenios_Autoreianos

Patriarch Joseph I of Constantinople: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_I_of_Constantinople

Pope Gregory X: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_X

Irene Palaiologina (later nun Eulogia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Komnene_Palaiologina

Hugh of Sully: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_of_Sully

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (Mevlana): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi

John III Doukas Vatatzes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_III_Doukas_Vatatzes

Manfred, King of Sicily: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfred,_King_of_Sicily

Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikephoros_I_Komnenos_Doukas

Eudokia Laskarina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudoxia_Laskarina

Helena Angelina Doukaina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Angelina_Doukaina

Michael Tarchaneiotes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Tarchaneiotes

Mouzalon Family: http://www.ehw.gr/asiaminor/Forms/fLemma.aspx?lemmaid=8357&contlang=58

George Pachymeres: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pachymeres

Constantine Akropolites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_Akropolites

John Raoul Petraliphas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Raoul_Petraliphas

Irene Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Palaiologina,_Empress_of_Bulgaria

Philip III of France: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_III_of_France

Baybars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybars

Theophilos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilos_Hatzimihail

Historical frame - Never trust a painter

Union of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church - Second Council of Lyon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Council_of_Lyon

Treaty of Viterbo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Viterbo

Palaeologan Renaissance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeologan_Renaissance

13th century according to wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century

Conflict between unionist - anti-unionist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_the_Byzantine_Empire#The_failed_Union_of_the_Churches

Storyline - Never trust a painter

At the end of the 13th century, emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos' attempt to prevent the invasion of the Frankish troops in Constantinople leads to the Union of the Churches, which, however, triggers opposition among his faithful Orthodox citizens.

The young Theophilus is called upon to claim his father's crown, unjustly taken from his brother by the usurper Michael. While his defender Alexios Dukas prepares their troops, Theophilus is sent to the capital of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, Great Tarnovo, under the protection of his uncle in law, Tsar Constantine Tih, in order to escape the back to back assassins sent by the emperor. The young tsarina will make him her lover and hatch a plot to elevate him to the throne of Constantinople with herself as coempress at his side. She sends him to the palace of wealth magnate Philaretus Kantakouzenos to secure his financial support. During his time there, young Theophilus slowly acquires his own will.

He gains the support of the wealthy magnate and, apart from Bithynia, he is now recognized as the legitimate emperor of the island of Rhodes. But Theophilus shows no particular eagerness to rule, instead he discovers the world around him and searches for the meaning of life.

Tsarina's plan to besiege the Bulgarian troops united with the troops of the rebellious Bithynians in Constantinople is wrecked when a wave of Mongols sent by Palaiologos sweeps in and plunders the country. Bulgaria's defender emerges to be an unknown swin eherd, called Ivailo, who will kill Tsar Tih, marry tsarina, and ascend the throne.

The rebels regroup but Theophilus does not show the same talent for ruling as he does for painting. They will win a Pyrrhic victory over the imperial troops and now Theophilus must decide if he will continue the devastating civil war.

What happens when a man has grown up with the conviction that he is destined to bring salvation, justice, and prosperity to his people, when, inspired by Christian ethics and Aristotle's ideal of eudaimonia (well being), has a great talent in his quiver? He will try to do his best with the means at his disposal.

Never trust a painter to rule the empire...

Ήταν μια όμορφη βραδιά για μένα και τους λιγοστούς θαρραλέους που αψήφησαν το δριμύ ψύχος. Η αίθουσα ήταν ζεστή και όχι μόνο από την θέρμανση. Τους ευχαριστώ όλους από καρδιάς!

Τα αγαπημένα μας μελομακάρονα

 Είχα σκοπό σαν πρώτη ανάρτηση να γράψω για την ελάχιστα γνωστή Μάχη της Τρικοκκίας, οι συνέπειες της οποίας αναλύονται στο βιβλίο μου, όμως λόγω των εορταστικών ημερών που διανύουμε προτίμησα να παραθέσω το παρακάτω απόσπασμα:

Ψάχνοντας να βρω τι είναι η παράξενα ελκυστική και μυστηριώδης λέξη σεμίδαλις βρήκα ότι είναι το σιμιγδάλι όπου στη χρήση του στη ζαχαροπλαστική βρίσκω στο Βικιπαίδεια ότι "γλυκά που παρασκευάζονται με βάση το σιμιγδάλι είναι τα παραδοσιακά στην Ελλάδα μελομακάρονα".

Συνεχίζοντας την ανάγνωση στον Τόμο ς' του έργου του Φαίδωνος Κουκουλέ "Βυζαντινών βίος και πολιτισμός" βρίσκουμε:

Αυτά λοιπόν για τα αγαπημένα μας μελομακάρονα, που ούτε οι αιώνες, ούτε οι απειλές και οι διώξεις κατάφεραν να βγάλουν από τη ζωή μας. Ας τα έχουν όλοι σε αφθονία τις γιορτινές τούτες μέρες!