Today in History S4 E14: January 6, 1449 A.D. The Coronation of Constantine XI
On January 6, 1449 A.D. Constantine XI was crowned emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire a few months after the death of his brother John VIII. The empire was leaderless during the interim and despite Constantine being named the designated successor. His other brothers Demetrios and Thomas put in a claim for the crown as well but their mother Empress Dowager Helena championed for Constantine to be crowned the next emperor to fulfill John's last wish. Helena went to the sultan of the Ottoman Turks Murad II to have the final say and he felt Constantine should rule Constantinople.
Constantine XI was crowned on January 6 inside the Palace of Despots on the island of Mystras. He had a huge burden placed upon his shoulders after becoming emperor, a broken destitute empire, whether or not to reunite the Greek Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church and the ever growing shadow of the Ottoman Empire that had the Eastern Romans under their heel.
Listen to the Illustrious Narrator talk about "The Coronation of Constantine XI."