Constantine XI

Constantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος (Serbian: Константин Палеолог Драгаш), Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; 8 February 1404 – 29 May 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor (and, as such, the last Roman Emperor) from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty. After his death in battle during the fall of Constantinople, he became a legendary figure in Greek folklore as the "Marble Emperor" who would awaken and recover the Empire and Constantinople from the Turks. His death marked the final end of the Roman Empire, which had continued in the East for 977 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Constantine was born in Constantinople as the...