History of the Byzantine Empire Volume 5: The Laskarids and Palaiologoi (Based Books Exclusive Editions) Paperback – August 7, 2025

VOLUME 5 of 5For the first time in English the complete five volume history:History of the Byzantine EmpireVolume V: The Laskarids and Palaiologoiby Fyodor UspenskyThe fifth and final volume of Fyodor Uspensky’s monumental History of the Byzantine Empire covers the last centuries of Byzantium, from the sack of Constantinople in 1204 to the empire’s fall in 1453. This period—fragmented, contested, and ultimately tragic—saw the endurance of Byzantine culture even as imperial power slipped away.Uspensky opens with the creation of the Latin Empire of Constantinople and the disintegration of Byzantine lands into rival successor states. He examines the competing Greek polities of Epirus, Trebizond, and above all, Nicaea, where the Laskarid dynasty preserved the traditions of imperial governance and Orthodox identity in exile. From this Nicaean base, the Byzantine state would eventually be restored.The narrative continues with the reestablishment of the empire under Michael VIII Palaiologos and the long, troubled rule of the Palaiologan dynasty. Uspensky explores the political instability, dynastic feuds, civil wars, and economic decline that characterized the period, alongside the rising power of the Ottoman Turks and the shifting alliances with Latin and Slavic powers. The volume also addresses the cultural and intellectual life of late Byzantium, which remained vibrant even as territory and influence waned.The final chapters recount the failed efforts to secure Western aid through church union, the shrinking borders of the empire, and the heroic last stand of Constantine XI Palaiologos during the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Uspensky closes his history with a reflection on the legacy of Byzantium and the fate of the remaining Greek states.Scholarly, expansive, and meticulously sourced, this concluding volume provides a definitive account of the final phase of Byzantine history—an era of decline and dissolution, but also of resilience, creativity, and enduring influence.Whether you're a scholar, student, or general reader of history, this volume brings Uspensky’s landmark work to a close with depth, clarity, and historical insight. Read more