The Lost Capital of Byzantium: The History of Mistra and the Peloponnese by Steven Runciman (PDF)

Description

Clinging to a rugged hillside in the lush valley of Sparta lies Mistra, one of the most dramatically beautiful Byzantine cities in Greece, a place steeped in history, myth, and romance. Following the Frankish conquest of the Peloponnese in the thirteenth century, William II of Villehardouin built a great castle on a hill near Sparta that later came to be known as Mistra. Ten years later, in a battle in northern Greece, Villehardouin was defeated and captured by the Byzantine emperor. The terms for his release included giving Mistra to the Byzantine Greeks. Under their rule, the city flourished and developed into a center of learning and the arts and was a focal point for the cultural development of Europe. Sir Steven Runciman, one of the most distinguished historians of the Byzantine period, traveled to Mistra on numerous occasions and became enchanted with the place. Now published in paperback for the first time, Lost Capital of Byzantium tells the story of this once-great city―its rise and fall and its place in the history of the Peloponnese and the Byzantine empire.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “Mistra is one of the most romantic of the medieval cities of Europe. Sir Steven Runciman, the most elegant of Byzantine historians, has encapsulated its history, topography and personalities in a masterpiece of compressed learning.”―C. M. Woodhouse, The Observer“One comes away from this book certainly a great deal better informed–but also filled with a longing to see once again the view from the Pantanassa–and feel the centuries of violence settling into their grave.”―Dilys Powell, Sunday Times“It is a history rich with political intrigue, dynastic ambition and petty battles. It is also a history of Byzantine complexity. With the eloquence, learning and love of his subject that we have come to expect from him, Sir Steven demonstrates how Mistra is one of the tangled main roots to our golden past.”―Philip Howard, The Times“Deep learning and graceful style.”―Bulletin of the Institute of Archaeology About the Author Sir Steven Runciman, one of the most acclaimed historians of the Byzantine era, was the author of many influential works, including the three-volume History of the Crusades.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐”The Lost Capital of Byzantium: The History of Mistra and the Peloponnese” is a reissue of Sir Steven Runciman’s 1980 “Mistra: Byzantine Capital of the Peloponnese”, with a new foreword by author John Freely. In this book, Runciman tells the story of the city of Mistra, which began as a Crusader fortress built near the site of ancient Sparta. After its recovery by the Byzantines, it would go on to become not only the administrative center of the Byzantine Peloponnese, but also the cultural and intellectual center of the dying Byzantine Empire.Runciman provides a very brief history of the Peloponnese prior to the Fourth Crusade in the first chapter, focusing on Sparta. The next seven chapters document the history of the region from the Latin conquest, through the Byzantine Despotate and the golden age of Mistra, to the final Ottoman conquest of the peninsula in 1460.The next two chapters are a detour from what has been a fairly linear history to this point – the first covering the physical site, the layout of the city and its principal buildings, and the second chapter covering some of the highlights of the final Byzantine cultural renaissance centered at Mistra, particularly the contributions of George Gemistos Plethon. The final two chapters and epilogue document Mistra under the Ottomans and its final destruction and abandonment in the Nineteenth Century during the Greek war for independence.As with any book dealing with the final centuries of the Byzantine Empire, there is no escaping a feeling a melancholy as you read about the final ineffectual efforts to revive the fortunes of the Byzantines, hampered as always by the squabbling of the imperial family and the nobles, and continually opposed by the usual multitude foreign enemies: Turks, Albanians, Venetians, the Catalan and Navarrese Companies, and various other Latin foes.Runciman himself laments that portions of the history of Mistra are sketchy due to limited sources. The book itself weighs in at a scanty 144 pages (including foreword and index). Still, Sir Steven does his usual excellent job of organizing the material into an eminently readable and interesting account of this largely forgotten city. I would neither recommend nor expect a reader who has little familiarity with this period of history to read this, as the author assumes a certain amount of knowlege on the part of the reader.This book should not be mistaken for a history of the Byzantine Empire as a whole. Runciman keeps his focus pretty exclusively on his subject, and does not spend much time on events outside of the Peloponnese if they have no bearing on Mistra itself (I recommend Donald Nicol’s “The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453″ for a thorough account of this period from the viewpoint of the Empire as a whole). If, however, you are interested learning about the history of Mistra and medieval Laconia, this is possibly the best source you are likely to encounter. If you have enjoyed any of Runciman’s other books on Byzantium or the Crusades, you would probably enjoy this book as well.This volume also includes 16 pages of black-and-white photos and engravings of Mistra, a map of the medieval Peloponnese, a map of the modern site of Mistra, and a family tree of the Palaeologi and Cantacuzeni.

⭐Steven Runciman absolutely never disappoints, and this wonderful book keeps his record perfect. I am a medieval historian, but with a limited familiarity (and less interest) in things Byzantine. I bought this book on faith, and was not disappointed. Another reviewer commented on the multitude of characters and similarity of their names, and I sympathize; the subject matter, unfortunately, requires it. I enjoyed learning more about an obscure, but fascinating subject. Runciman treats the history of medieval Mithras with depth and exposition, allowing someone unfamiliar with the subject to absorb the information and desire more.

⭐Have always been a great admirer of Runciman’s books but I got bogged down on this one. There were way too many names of people and their families that made it difficult to piece together without referring back to who they were- that is if you could find where you first read their name. I have been to Mistra a few times so I was ready to enjoy the book and was looking forward to its history and legacy but unfortunately I had to put it down halfway through.

⭐Although, the history is rather short on details it is not the authors fault. The area never really had much interest by outsiders but if you have ever been there your interest swells. A decent job.

⭐I visited Mystra in 2005 and I came away wanting to know MORE about the history of the town and region. This book is very thorough and well-written. I can’t wait to visit Mystra again with this book in hand.

⭐Wonderful book beautifully written of course by Sir Steven.

⭐In a close proximity of the ruins of ancient Sparta, in the historical period known under the name of High Middle Ages, an settlement had been established. The name of this particular settlement was Mistra. This city was established by French participants of the infamous fourth crusade that did not reached its goals, and ended up with the destruction of Constantinople and following partition of the defeated Byzantine Empire among the greedy conquerors and the newly formed Greek successor states.Very beautiful story about Mistra has been told by an acclaimed British Byzantinist of the 20th century Sir Steven Runciman (1903 – 2000), who is known thanks to his narrative works that were written with a great passion on the history of the Byzantine Empire as well as the Crusades to the Levant. Author presents the history of Mistra and Peloponnese, which was full of turbulent events, from the 13th till the 19th century. Mutual coexistence of Latin conquerors who came from the West with the native Greek orthodox Christians was very sophisticated. With time Latins were replaced by Ottomans, who became the questionable rulers of these lands for a very long period of time.Steven Runciman provides within his books an unique insight and objectiveness a very comprehensive picture of a very sophisticated relations between two very different societies of Greek natives and Latin conquerors. These relations were from the very beginning heavily marked by a lack of trust caused by the treason that resulted in the brutal sack of Constantinople by the crusader army in 1204. Readers who are interested in the Byzantine art will find within this outstanding book interesting passages describing buildings of Mistra as well. Syncretism between traditional Byzantine motifs with the western influences introduced by crusader conquerors gave unique effects.Flowering of the Byzantine culture and the role of the scholars who were concentrated and acting in Mistra are very hard to be overestimated. The proximity of Italy facilitated the flow of people and ideas together with the knowledge on the heritage of classical antiquity to the western countries. This very much contributed to the awakening of a deep interest in classical civilization, what resulted in the beginning of the great renaissance period in the European history.During the ages that are described in the Steven Runciman’s book different political and military powers of Europe as well as Western Asia were interested in the Peloponnese. Greek inhabitants of these lands and all masterpieces of culture and art they created were the main victims of all of these great international political intrigues between the main powers. Some of these powers were offering their help (up to 19th century very much unsuccessfully) to the Greeks in regaining the independence from the Ottoman Empire. As an example of such unsuccessful help may serve a support, which was offered to the Greek rebels by Russia under the rule of Katherine the Great in the 1760’s. Entire operation resulted in a great catastrophe for the region and its population and can be compared only with so-called ”devastating Russian renovation” of historical landmarks.Reviewed book on Mistra by the acclaimed British Byzantinist is a very fascinated read of a great narrative history that should be recommended to all admirers of history.

⭐Beautıfully wrıtten and scholarly account of a lıttle-known or understood perıod of medieval hıstory. Runcıman makes the reader wısh to vısıt (or revısıt!) the sıte.

⭐All you ever wanted to know about the medieval Peloponnese. Amazingly erudite but readable at the same time.

⭐La ciudad de Mistra tuvo una historia fascinante. Conquistada por la familia Villehardouin, después de la Cuarta Cruzada, se convirtió en uno de los lugares más prósperos y culturalmente ricos del Mediterráneo. Tras la reconquista bizantina allí se juntaron grandes artistas y pensadores alrededor de la brillante corte de los déspotas. Fue un sitio legendario, un lugar donde la genialidad griega dio sus últimos frutos en la época de ocaso del Imperio Bizantino.Nunca he estado en Mistra pero, después de leer este libro, me encantaría visitarla. Y doy gracias a Runciman por haberme metido el deseo de conocerla.Parfait pour redécouvrir l’immense rôle culturel de cette ancienne cité grecque sous l’empire Byzantin. C’est un excellent ouvrage pour tous les amateurs d’histoire grecque.

⭐

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