Manuel II Palaiologos

Manuel II Palaiologos was the Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425, known for his efforts to strengthen the weakened Byzantine Empire in the face of Ottoman expansion. He was a cultured ruler, promoting arts and scholarship, and is also recognized for his diplomatic relations, including attempts to unite the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. His reign witnessed the decline of Byzantine power, with territories lost to the Ottomans. He famously traveled to Western Europe seeking support against the Ottomans, ultimately embodying the struggles and challenges of the last days of the Byzantine Empire.