Despotate of the Morea

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Despotate of the Morea Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως
1349–1460
Flag of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty Seal of Demetrios Palaiologos as Despot of the Morea
The Despotate of the Morea in 1450, divided between the two brothers, Thomas and Demetrios Palaiologos
Status	Semi-autonomous appanage of the Byzantine Empire
Capital	Mystras (main capital, 1349–1460) Glarentza (Constantine, 1428–1432) Kalavryta (Thomas, 1428–1432, Constantine, 1432–1443) Elis (Thomas, 1432–1449) Patras and Leontari (Thomas, 1449–1460)
Common languages	Medieval Greek
Religion	Eastern Orthodox Church[1]
Government	Feudal monarchy
Despot of Morea
• 1349–1380	Manuel Kantakouzenos
• 1449–1460	Thomas Palaiologos and Demetrios Palaiologos
Historical era	Late Medieval
• Established	1349
• 1450s peasant revolt	1453–1454
• Ottoman conquest	29 May 1460
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Achaea Rumelia Eyalet
Today part of	Greece Peloponnese

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The Despotate of the Morea (Greek: Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως) or Despotate of Mystras (Greek: Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μυστρᾶ) was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. Its territory varied in size during its existence but eventually grew to include almost all the southern Greek peninsula now known as the Peloponnese, which was known as the Morea during the medieval and early modern periods. The territory was usually ruled by one or more sons of the current Byzantine emperor, who were given the title of despotes (in this context it should not be confused with despotism). Its capital was the fortified city of Mystras, near ancient Sparta, which became an important centre of the Palaiologan Renaissance.