Nikiforos Grigoras’ın Kaleminden Bizans İmparatorluğu’nda İç Karışıklıklar Dönemi (1282-1328)
Domestic Disturbance Era in the Byzantium Empire from the Pen of Nikiforos Grigoras

Summary/Abstract: The period of Andronikos II Palaiologos, who was on the throne of the Byzantine Empire between 1282-1328, was a period in which many important issues were experienced. Due to the çivil war that lasted for many years, increased taxes, and enemy attacks, the bond of the people with the state weakened. Although the emperor had to deal with the discontent about the steps taken for the union of the churches, both in the clergy and the public, and spent most of his time on religious issues he could not provide complete tranquility. During this time, especially the advance of the Turks against Byzantium was neglected, the land army was reduced for economic recovery and the navy was disbanded. The empire, which became completely dependent on the Italian state for its naval power, relied on Alan and Catalan mercenaries against the Turkish threat. However, the arrival of the Catalan Company to the imperial lands brought more harm than good. The Byzantine population was persecuted and the payments made to these troops caused the depreciation of Byzantine hyperpyron. While the Byzantine Empire was dealing with these troubles, many Turkmen in Anatolia organized around their own beys and started to act as independent principalities. One of these, the Ottoman Principality, organized successful raids on Byzantine lands and became strong enough to defeat the Byzantine troops in the Battle of Bapheus in 1302. In this study, it has been tried to address the determinant factors especially in the domestic politics of the period, the conflicts experienced within the dynasty and the civil war between Andronikos II and Andronikos III, by using one of the most important Byzantine sources Nikephorus Gregoras’ Romaiki Istoria.

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