The Three Last Years of Manuel II Palaeologus’ Reign Between Two Stroke Attacks: Aphasia or Not?

Abstract

The authors attempt to solve the enigma about the possible aphasia of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus (1391–1425) in the 3-year period between his first and his second and fatal stroke. The texts of historians and chroniclers reveal that Manuel remained semi-paralyzed at bed and his motor disability alienated him from the state affairs and condemned him to isolation from all embassies and contact with others, except his family. Only the funeral oration of the Bishop Bessarion raises the suspicion of a speechless emperor. All testimonies referring to this infirmity are examined.

Keywords:

• stroke
• hemiplegia
• aphasia
• Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus
• Byzantine medicine

Notes

¹Translation by the authors.

²This text is available only in Greek, so it has been translated by the authors.