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'''Constantine XI Palaeiologos''', or '''Palaeologos''' (Gr: ''Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος''), was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor of the [[Palaiologos Dynasty]], born 1404 AD in [[Mystras]], and ruled from 1449 until his death in [[May 29]], 1453, at the [[Fall of Constantinople]]. He is also referred to as '''Dragases'''.

== Brief history ==

Constantine was the son of Emperor Manuel II. He was trained as a soldier and in 1441 conquered the Morea Peninsula of Greece. It had long been under the Frankish principality of 'Achaia' <ref> 'Achaia': A state established by the Crusaders. </ref> Constantine was crowned Emperor [[January 6]], 1449 AD succeeding his brother and a little less than five years in 1453 AD was killed during the final assaults by the Turkish Sultan, Mehmed II on Constantinople. Constantine, with some 8,000 Greeks, Venetians, and Genoese, had faced 150,000 Turkish besiegers under the Sultan, and after almost two months of heroic defense, directed by the emperor, the city and the empire fell. Constantine died fighting with the last of his men.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/constantine-xi Columbia Encyclopedia: Constantine XI].</ref>. Going back to Augustus and the ancient Roman Empire, he was the 138th and last Roman Emperor.

== Saintly Status ==

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[[Category:Rulers]]

== External Links ==