Mystras - Centre of Byzantine culture

This volume tells the story of the monuments of Mystras, and shows contemporary photographs of the monuments.
The history of Mystras began after the conquest of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. On the top of the mountain of Mystras the Frankish William II Villehardouin II built a castle in 1249. He became the ruler of the Frankish Principate of Achaia (most of Peloponnese and Athens).
The Frankish stronghold  was in 1259 taken by Michael VIII Paleologus, emperor of the Byzantines. He recaptured the Peloponnese and made the city of Mystras his headquarters. Many eminent Byzantine artists, architects, intellectuals and philosophers contributed to a great flowering of the Byzantine culture.
In the 15th century Turks occupied the castle and the Byzantine palace, churches and monasteries,
During the Greek War of Independence Greek freedom fighters fought near Mystras against Egyptian forces supporting the Turks. The Greeks lost that battle. Since then (1832) abandoned Mystras has the appearance of a bombed and partly restored city..
In 1989 the ruins were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Close to Mystras, near the river Eurotas, are situated ancient and new Sparta.

ISBN: 9789073021181
Digital edition, 30 pages, full colour

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