Palaeologus

Palaeologus, the name of a Byzantine family which came into prominence about the middle of the 11th century, when George Palaeologus helped to confer the purple on Alexius Comnenus II. and to defend Durazzo against the Normans. Michael, in 1260, raised himself to the imperial throne, and founded a dynasty which only ended with Constantine XIII. (1448-53), the last emperor of Byzantium. The brothers of this latter held sway for some years longer in the Morea and Achaia, whilst Zoe, his sister, married Ivan III. of Russia.