Theodore II Palaiologos has a son

Theodore II was brother to two Byzantium emperors, and was Despot of Morea.

His marriage to an Italian aristocrat only produced one child, a daughter who later became Queen of Cyprus. What I am wondering is what if this marriage produced a son who survived his father?

What would this son go on to do, and what might happen if this son had descendants that survived on following the taking of Constantinople, if that still happens.
 
It appears Theodore didn't get along with his brother Constantine, with the latter being the preferred heir of John VIII despite being a decade younger, and eventually surrendered his rights to the throne in exchange for an appanage.

A son could dispute Constantine's succession (if born around the same time as his sister he'd be in his late teens/early 20s) and further weaken the Byzzies, he might even throw in his lot with the Ottomans and become their pet claimant. There's even a chance he could nab the throne himself, in which case it's hard to see him getting out of Constantinople.

Assuming he survives the fall of Constantinople he'd probably join his uncles in the Morea or go to Italy (which is where Thomas ended up anyway after Demetrius joined the Ottomans). In Italy he'd either attach himself to his mother's family (who seemed to be lords and condottieri on the Adriatic directly north of Rome), where it's not unlikely he'll end up dead in one of Italy's internecine wars, or he'll go to Rome and get a pension off the Pope (as did his uncle Thomas and Thomas' sons Andreas and Manuel).

Of course there's a chance he doesn't get along with Thomas/Andreas/Manuel and bickers with them over who's the rightful heir.

There's also the branch of the Palaiologos family still-reigning- as the Marquis of Montferrat- but the relation here is pretty remote (their closest shared ancestor is Andonikos II, who is Theodore's great-great-great grandfather). Nevertheless, he could hang out with them.

If Italy's not to his liking he could accompany his sister to Cyprus or another female relative to Russia, or he could even throw himself on the mercy of the Ottomans- his cousin Manuel (son of Thomas) did this in the 1470s and renounced his imperial rights in exchange for an estate and pension, whilst his uncle Demetrios received an appanage in Thrace after surrendering Morea. Any existence in the Ottoman Empire is rather fraught, though- a Sultan could decide he's a threat and summarily execute him on a whim (Demetrios managed to fall out of favour in 1467 and plunged into poverty).

So, he either goes to Italy to leech off the Pope/hang out with relatives, gives up and bows to the Ottomans, or goes to Russia/Cyprus/somewhere alongside a female relative who's getting married. He could pick up some minor lands here-and-there, but his descendants probably disappear into obscurity.
 
It appears Theodore didn't get along with his brother Constantine, with the latter being the preferred heir of John VIII despite being a decade younger, and eventually surrendered his rights to the throne in exchange for an appanage.

A son could dispute Constantine's succession (if born around the same time as his sister he'd be in his late teens/early 20s) and further weaken the Byzzies, he might even throw in his lot with the Ottomans and become their pet claimant. There's even a chance he could nab the throne himself, in which case it's hard to see him getting out of Constantinople.

Assuming he survives the fall of Constantinople he'd probably join his uncles in the Morea or go to Italy (which is where Thomas ended up anyway after Demetrius joined the Ottomans). In Italy he'd either attach himself to his mother's family (who seemed to be lords and condottieri on the Adriatic directly north of Rome), where it's not unlikely he'll end up dead in one of Italy's internecine wars, or he'll go to Rome and get a pension off the Pope (as did his uncle Thomas and Thomas' sons Andreas and Manuel).

Of course there's a chance he doesn't get along with Thomas/Andreas/Manuel and bickers with them over who's the rightful heir.

There's also the branch of the Palaiologos family still-reigning- as the Marquis of Montferrat- but the relation here is pretty remote (their closest shared ancestor is Andonikos II, who is Theodore's great-great-great grandfather). Nevertheless, he could hang out with them.

If Italy's not to his liking he could accompany his sister to Cyprus or another female relative to Russia, or he could even throw himself on the mercy of the Ottomans- his cousin Manuel (son of Thomas) did this in the 1470s and renounced his imperial rights in exchange for an estate and pension, whilst his uncle Demetrios received an appanage in Thrace after surrendering Morea. Any existence in the Ottoman Empire is rather fraught, though- a Sultan could decide he's a threat and summarily execute him on a whim (Demetrios managed to fall out of favour in 1467 and plunged into poverty).

So, he either goes to Italy to leech off the Pope/hang out with relatives, gives up and bows to the Ottomans, or goes to Russia/Cyprus/somewhere alongside a female relative who's getting married. He could pick up some minor lands here-and-there, but his descendants probably disappear into obscurity.

Hmm interesting, you're the second person I've spoken to about this to seems to think his descendants would disappear into obscurity, and whilst I could see that happening if they do not remain prominent, if they did, they are a big calling card are they not?
 
Hmm interesting, you're the second person I've spoken to about this to seems to think his descendants would disappear into obscurity, and whilst I could see that happening if they do not remain prominent, if they did, they are a big calling card are they not?

I mean, it depends on the time frame really- they could remain prominent for awhile, maybe even several generations if they play their cards right- but no one's going to support a bunch of Byzzie claimants indefinitely- they'll be dropped when it's politically expedient or financially necessary or because they don't act the part (Andreas got scolded IOTL for not being 'imperial' enough), and with regards to the Pope there'll always be religious tension.

Initially they will remain a big 'calling card' and be involved in numerous schemes to restore the ERE, and may tag along during any anti-Ottoman wars. Hell, if Theodore's son is exceedingly charismatic and gets along with the Pope he might even string together an anti-Ottoman coalition (but I doubt it'd be successful).

However, as more time passes and any chance of restoration gets increasingly unrealistic (and it wasn't all that likely to begin with), and people grudgingly accept the permanence of the Ottomans, then the value of any Byzzie pretenders starts to drop.

Now, I'm a cynic, but I don't think people will be supporting the Palaiologoi and a Byzantine restoration out of the goodness of their hearts- they'll want to derive some benefit from it. So, when the potential benefits to be derived from having a pet Byzantine pretender are outweighed by the costs of maintaining said pretender then the Palaiologoi will be dropped and forced to make their own way in the world.
 
I mean, it depends on the time frame really- they could remain prominent for awhile, maybe even several generations if they play their cards right- but no one's going to support a bunch of Byzzie claimants indefinitely- they'll be dropped when it's politically expedient or financially necessary or because they don't act the part (Andreas got scolded IOTL for not being 'imperial' enough), and with regards to the Pope there'll always be religious tension.

Initially they will remain a big 'calling card' and be involved in numerous schemes to restore the ERE, and may tag along during any anti-Ottoman wars. Hell, if Theodore's son is exceedingly charismatic and gets along with the Pope he might even string together an anti-Ottoman coalition (but I doubt it'd be successful).

However, as more time passes and any chance of restoration gets increasingly unrealistic (and it wasn't all that likely to begin with), and people grudgingly accept the permanence of the Ottomans, then the value of any Byzzie pretenders starts to drop.

Now, I'm a cynic, but I don't think people will be supporting the Palaiologoi and a Byzantine restoration out of the goodness of their hearts- they'll want to derive some benefit from it. So, when the potential benefits to be derived from having a pet Byzantine pretender are outweighed by the costs of maintaining said pretender then the Palaiologoi will be dropped and forced to make their own way in the world.
That is true, I do think that if they were still around and kicking when the first stirrings of Greek independence come about, they'd be prime retail.
 
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