John Vii

Related Category: Ancient History, Late Roman and Byzantine: Biographies

(John Palaeologus)(pā´´lēŏl´əgəs), c.1370–1408, Byzantine emperor, grandson of John V. Backed by the sultan Beyazid I, he usurped (1390) the throne from John V but was dethroned by his uncle, Manuel II, six months later. He again ruled (1399–1402) as coemperor when Manuel II went to the West to seek aid against the Turks.