Constantine Palaiologos

For an archaeologist, the moment of a discovery is unparalleled—especially when it involves a find of historical magnitude and uniqueness, such as the sole surviving contemporary portrait of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine Palaiologos.

May 29 marks the day when the greatest Christian city in the medieval times fell to the Muslim armies. 564 years ago on this day, Constantine Palaiologos XI, the last Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, later known as Byzantium, fell in battle against the Ottoman Turks before the Gates of Romanos.