Theodore Palaeologo (pretender)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people by this name, see Theodore Palaiologos.

Theodore Palaeologo or Theodore Attardo di Cristoforo de Bouillion (c. 1823–1912), self-styled as Theodore Attardo di Cristoforo de Bouillion, Prince Nicephorus Comnenus Palaeologus, was a Maltese pretender to the throne of Greece, active in the late 19th century.

Biography[]

Theodore Palaeologo was born c. 1823 (being 89 years old at the time of his death in 1912),[1] probably in Malta.[2] Palaeologo is first attested in 1862, then living in England, when he upon the deposition of King Otto of Greece put forward his own claim to the throne of Greece.[2][3][4] Palaeologo claimed descent from the Palaiologos dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire,[2][3] of which the last confidently historically verified members died out in the 16th century.[4] According to his tombstone, the claim to the Greek throne was made in 1863 (rather than 1862).[1][3] Nothing ultimately came of Palaeologo's attempt to become the king of Greece; ultimately, the Danish prince William was elected to succeed Otto as King George I of Greece.[4]

Palaeologo married Laura, daughter of the Maltese noble Nicholas Testaferrata Marchese di Noto.[1] Both Palaeologo[1] and his wife died in 1912.[4] They are both buried at West Norwood Cemetery in London.[2][3] It is possible that Palaeologo was related to another Byzantine pretender buried at West Norwood, Eugenie Paleologue (1849–1934),[1] with him and Laura potentially being her parents.[4] Like Palaeologo before her, Eugenie claimed to be the heir to the Palaiologoi emperors and at times also put forth her supposed claim to the Greek throne.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Nicol, Donald M. (1992). The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-511-58369-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Nicol, Donald M. (1992). The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-511-58369-8.
  3. ^ a b c d Hall, John (2015). An Elizabethan Assassin: Theodore Paleologus: Seducer, Spy and Killer. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0750962612. p. 226
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Princess Paleologue". www.theauxiliaries.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
Stub icon

This Maltese biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""