Constantine XI Palaiologos

Doukas says that Constantine sent to Rome asking for aid and for the union of Florence to be confirmed, and adds his own opinion that the emperor only pretended to accept it (Doukas, History 36.1–2 (Bekker pp. 252–253)). His friend Sphrantzes records that he had the defenders of the city counted before the siege and kept the low figure secret (Sphrantzes, Chronicle 35.7–10).

He was killed on 29 May 1453. Sphrantzes, who was elsewhere in the city, gives no details, but says that the emperor had lived forty-nine years, three months and twenty days and had reigned four years, four months and twenty-four days, the eighth emperor of his house (Sphrantzes, Chronicle 35.7–10). Doukas and Kritoboulos both have him die in the fighting at the walls (Doukas, History 39.13 (Bekker pp. 286–287)) (Kritoboulos, History 1.235). See the Fall of Constantinople.