Mystras

Mystras (also Mistra, Mystra and Mistras Greek: Μυστράς, Μυζηθράς Mizithras or Myzithras in the chronicle of Morea) was a fortified town in Morea (the Peloponnesus), on Mt. Taygetos, near ancient Sparta. It lies approximately eight kilometres west of the modern town of Sparti.

History

In 1249, Mystras became the seat of the Latin Principality of Achaea, established in 1205 after the conquest of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, and Prince William II Villehardouin, a grand-nephew of the Fourth Crusade historian Geoffrey of Villehardouin, built a palace there.

In 1261, the Latins ceded Mystras and other forts in the southeastern Peloponnese as ransom for William II, who had been captured in Pelagonia, and Michael VIII Palaeologus made the city the seat of the new Despotate of Morea. It remained the capital of the despotate, ruled by relatives of the Byzantine emperor, although the Venetians still controlled the coast and the islands. Mystras and the rest of Morea became relatively prosperous after 1261, compared to the rest of the empire. Under the despot Theodore it became the second most important city in the empire after Constantinople, and William II's palace became the second residence of the emperors.

The frescos in the Peribleptos Church, dating between 1348 and 1380, are a very rare surviving late Byzantine cycle, crucial for the understanding of Byzantine art.

Mystras was also the last centre of Byzantine scholarship; the Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon lived there until his death in 1452. He and other scholars based in Mystras influenced the Italian Renaissance, especially after he accompanied the emperor John VIII Palaeologus to Florence in 1439.

The last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI, was despot at Mystras before he came to the throne. Demetrius Palaeologus the last despot of Morea, surrendered the city to the Ottoman emperor Mehmed II in 1460. The Venetians occupied it from 1687 to 1715, but otherwise the Ottomans held it until 1821 and the beginning of the Greek War of Independence. It was abandoned by King Otto for the newly rebuilt Sparta.

In 1989 the ruins, including the fortress, palace, churches, and monasteries, were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Geography and statistics

Nearest places

• Sparta (east)
• Magoula

Communes

• Magoula
• Mystras

Historical population

The municipality seat of Mystras is in Magoula.

The community has a school and a square ( plateia).

Notable people

• Gemistus Pletho (usually called Plethon,) (1355-1452), philosopher and scholar
• Dimitra Sarantakos, mother of Criss Angel

Burials

• John VI Kantakouzenos
• Manuel Kantakouzenos
• Theodora Tocco

Plan

• 1. Main entrance;
• 2. Metropolis;
• 3. Evangelistria;
• 4. Saint-Theodores;
• 5. Hodigitria-Afendiko;
• 6. Monemvasia's Gate;
• 7. Saint-Nicolas;
• 8. The Despot's Palace and the square;
• 9. Nauplia's Gate;
• 10. Upper entrance to the citadel;
• 11. Saint-Sophia;
• 12. Small Palace;
• 13. Citadel;
• 14. Mavroporta;
• 15. Pantanassa;
• 16. Taxiarchs;
• 17. Frangopoulos' House;
• 18. Peribleptos;
• 19. Saint-Georges;
• 20. Krevata House;
• 21. Marmara (entrance);
• 22. Aï-Yannakids;
• 23. Laskaris' House;
• 24. Saint-Christopher;
• 25. Ruins;
• 26. Saint-Kyriaki.

References

• Runciman, Sir Steven, Mistra (1980)

External links

• GTP - Monastery in Mystras
• GTP - Mystras
• GTP - Municipality of Mystras

See also

• Communities of Laconia

als:Mystras

ast:Mistra bg:Мистра cs:Mystra de:Mystras el:Μυστράς es:Mistra fr:Mistra it:Mistra he:מיסטרס la:Myzethras mk:Мистра nl:Mystras ja:ミストラス no:Mistrá pl:Mistra ro:Mystras ru:Мистра (город) sr:Мистра fi:Mystras sv:Mystras vec:Mistrà

Categories: Buildings | Buildings in Greece | Buildings in , Greece | UNESCO World Heritage Sites | UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe and North America | UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece