Doukas Greek historian Date of Birth: 01.01.1400 Country: Greece

1. Early Life and Family
2. Service to the Genoese
3. Diplomatic Missions and the Siege of Constantinople
4. Later Life and Historiography
5. "Byzantine History"
6. Characteristics as a Historian

Early Life and Family

Michael Doukas was born around the mid-1390s, his exact birthplace and date unknown. His grandfather, Michael Doukas, participated in an uprising against Emperor Alexios Apokavkos and fled to Ephesus after the rebellion failed. Michael Doukas settled in Ephesus as a physician and presumably witnessed the invasion of Timur in 1402.

Service to the Genoese

After 1415, Doukas served as personal secretary to Giovanni Adorno, son of the Doge of Genoa. Adorno was podestà of Phokaia and leased the local alum mines. Following Adorno's death or departure in 1423, Doukas joined the Genoese Gattilusio family as a personal secretary and diplomat. He settled in Mytilene, where his proficiency in Turkish, Greek, and Italian made him a valuable asset.

Diplomatic Missions and the Siege of Constantinople

Between 1452 and 1456, Doukas undertook five diplomatic missions to the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II's residences on behalf of the Gattilusio family. He visited Didymoteichon, Adrianople, Izladi, and Constantinople multiple times during the siege of the city.

Later Life and Historiography

After Mytilene was captured by the Ottomans in 1462, Doukas' whereabouts are uncertain. It is assumed that he fled to Venice, where an Italian translation of his "Byzantine History" was published after 1462. Doukas likely died in Venice after this date.

"Byzantine History"

Doukas' "Byzantine History" is a comprehensive work comprising 45 chapters. It covers the period from 1341 to 1462, with a focus on events after 1391. Doukas drew on personal observations, eyewitness accounts, and various documents to compile his work. He provided a detailed account of the siege and fall of Constantinople in 1453, based on meticulous research and firsthand testimonies.

Characteristics as a Historian

Doukas was known as a knowledgeable and cautious historian. He held aristocratic views, expressing contempt for the common people. His experiences among the Genoese made him an advocate for the unification of the churches.