John V Palaiologos

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John V Palaiologos
Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans
Restored mosaic of John V Palaiologos in the eastern arch of Hagia Sophia.[1]
Byzantine emperor
1st reign	19 November 1341[2] – 12 August 1376
Predecessor	Andronikos III Palaiologos
Successor	Andronikos IV Palaiologos[a]
Co-rulers	John VI Kantakouzenos[b] Matthew Kantakouzenos[c]
2nd reign	1 July 1379 – 14 April 1390
Successor	John VII Palaiologos
3rd reign	17 September 1390 – 16 February 1391
Successor	Manuel II Palaiologos[d]
Born	18 June 1332 Didymoteicho, Byzantine Empire[3]
Died	16 February 1391 (aged 58) Constantinople
Spouse	Helena Kantakouzene
Issue	Andronikos IV Palaiologos Irene Palaiologina Manuel II Palaiologos Theodore I Palaiologos Michael Palaiologos Maria Palaiologina Four unnamed daughters Zampia Palaiologina (ill.)
Names John Palaiologos Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος
House	Palaiologos
Father	Andronikos III Palaiologos
Mother	Anna of Savoy
Religion	Eastern Orthodox then converted to Eastern Catholicism

John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος, Iōánnēs Palaiológos; 18 June 1332 – 16 February 1391) was Byzantine emperor from 1341 to 1391, with interruptions. His long reign was marked by constant civil war, the spread of the Black Death and several military defeats to the Ottoman Turks, who rose as the dominant power of the region.

John V became emperor at age eight, which resulted in a civil war between his regent John VI Kantakouzenos and a rival council led by his mother Anna of Savoy, who pawned the crown jewels to Venice in order to raise funds. Kantakouzenos was recognized as emperor in 1347, coinciding with the arrival of the Black Death. Shortly after, another civil war erupted in 1352, with John V seeking help from Serbia against John VI's son Matthew and his enlisted Ottoman Turks. The Turks used the ensuing chaos to gain their first European territory on former Byzantine soil.

John V assumed real power in 1354, removing John VI and his son Matthew. He attempted to gain Western support for the war against the Turks, resulting in his conversion to Catholicism in 1369 in presence of the Pope. These efforts were useless, as he was imprisoned in Venice due to his debts and was eventually forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty. Political intriguing continued to plague his late reign; John was twice usurped from the throne, first by his son Andronikos IV in 1376 and then by his grandson John VII in 1390. He died in 1391 and was succeeded by his son Manuel, while his younger son Theodore ruled the Despotate of the Morea.

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