Demetrios Palaiologos[]
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Governor of Morea | |
| Predecessor | Marcus Terebius |
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Imperial Senator of Morea | |
| Born | 1337 Constantinople, Roman Empire |
| Died | February 26, 1416 (aged 68) Mystras, Imperial Province of Greece, Roman Empire |
| Spouse | Giovanna Arcimia |
| Oligarchy | Palaiologos |
| Father | Antiochus Octavianus Palaiologos |
| Mother | Anna Nikanora Komnenina |
| Political Party | Merchant Union |
| Religion | Imperial Orthodox Cult |
| Profession | Governor, politican, imperial official |
Demetrios Palaiologos was one of most capable government official and governors of Arcadius II, Valerianus II and Valerianus III, personal friend of Arcadius II and Valerianus III, imperial senator and politician in post-Dark Age history.
He had vital role in reconstruction and restoration of Morea after Dark Age.
Demetrios Palaiologos was son of Antiochus Palaiologos, son of Octavius Palaiologos and thus great-grandson of Theodore Palaiologos, another very capable and talented government official during reign of Emperor Romanos V.
Antiochus wanted to sent Demetrios in to military training, but last mention about Antiochus is from September 1348, when he hastly asked governor of Greece, Nicodemus, for permission to leave Imperial Province of Greece (Nicodemus answer is not known).
Demetrios returning in 1359, when he at age of joined School of Scribes in Athens, local prestigeous school for administrators and clerks focusing on languages, diplomacy, legal code, Roman Law, commerce and administrative.
In 1364, passed exams with excellent degree and joined Marcus Terebius administrative in Morea. He was assigned to made report about situation in Morea. Report was firstly published in 1627. Based on Imperial Census of 1345, Demetrios written in his report this summary:
"Morea is in state ot total collapse, corruption and misery. Agricultural production is only tenth of 1345 level. Trade and commerce virtually cease exist. Total volume of trade exchange within Morea ports decreased from 40,000 tonns per year to 100 tonns per year (in better years). Of six ports, only two are still active. Population decreased from 124,899 to 17,306. Most of them living in half abandoned and ruined Mystras. Of 57 villages and towns, 49 are abandoned, rest partly abandoned. Woods are plagued by bandits and rebels, which preventing restoration of woodcutting and timber trade. Morea is heavily taxed by so-called Restoration Tax and so about third of their very low income is sent to imperial treasury, which with terrible corruption of remaining government officials, preventing any possibility of restoration, reconstruction and repopulation of Morea."
In secret appendix, Demetrios Palaiologos accused (with documents and proofs) Marcus Terebius for corruption and embezzlement of government property. In 1365, Demetrios was recall and lost all positions because of this, but in 1367, he was summoned to Constantinople on meeting with Emperor Arcadius II, who was pleasantly surprised by Demetrios capabilities and boldness.
Arcadius informed Demetrios that Marcus (and 75 other government officials) will be arrested for corruption and executed, as Arcadius initiated anti-bureaucratic and anti-corruption campaign in top ranks. He also asked Demetrios to candidate to governor position. After short hestitation, Demetrios accepted proposal and in Winter 1367, he joined Merchant Union, as he was supporter of free trade, industrialism and legalism.
Because of depopulation, election in Summer 1368 was simple direct election of two candidates.
| Candidate/Parties | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
Demetrios Palaiologos
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79% | 2,892 |
Demetrios Komnenos
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21% | 768 |
Election caused some problems, as both candidates were Demetrios, but Komnenos very soon left Morea and returned to judicial career, include campaigns and hunts against corrupted officials.
On July 10, 1368, Demetrios Palaiologos was appointed as newly elected governor of Morea.
Administration of Morea[]
Demetrios Palaiologos implemented radical reforms and policy to reorganize and rebuilding Morea. First of his very controversial reforms was so-called "Scattered Tax". It was tax collected from people living outside of city Coron. City of Coron was designed as new capital city of province and this "Scattered Tax" had to "persuade" people to move from semi-abandoned villages and isolated towns, in to the Coron. To prevent rebellion and unrests, Demetrios borrowed 500,000 Hp ($25 million) from Palaiologos banking guilds to provide financial support to farmers and villagers moving to Coron.
At first, civilians and citizens were dissatisfied with this policy, but very soon, they found out that policy prevented bandit raids, as it was much easier to target village with few dozens to hundreds peasants, than to attack town with thousands people.
Second reform was foundation of Morea Guard. During "Governors Assembly" (irregular meeting event between Emperor and imperial governors), Demetrios asked for special permission to form own militia, because Imperial Army was overloaded with missions, tasks and combat in other parts of provinces, where banditism was worse, or provinces more imporant and valued. Emperor Arcadius II accepted on the condition that militia will be commanded by Emperor appointed officer and Emperor choosen "Spaniard". Mercenary commander from Hispania, who was experienced warrior, but who was known only under his nickname "Spaniard". Spaniard commanded, organized and trained Morea Guard, while Demetrios borrowed another money to arming militia (80,000 Hp/$4,000,000) and was able to form militia of 1,000 mediocre trained, poor armed, but well organized militiamen.
Third reform was "Scavengers Groups". Demetrios Palaiologos formed groups of so-called Scavengers to collect any and all resources, clothes, food, construction materials, weapons, tools and other supplies from abandoned towns and villages and under protection of Morea Guard, transport them in to Coron for rebuilding city. Scavengers Groups were important in restoration policy and supplied Coron with dozens tonns of food and other vital materials and supplies.
Meanwhile, "Guards" raided many bandit camps, killed numerous bandits, but also had high casualties. They lost 357 troops and killed about 944 bandits and rebels.
Fourth reform was economic reorganization, as Demetrios de facto forced peasants to became fishers, at least for first few years. In 1371, three years after start of his tenure, Coron was still impoverished, but living fishermen town with nearly 18,000 civilians and citizens (most of them living in harsh conditions, as homeless, in nearly ruined houses or quickly reconstructed houses), who produced 3,000 tonns of fishes (however, only about thousand was sent in to markets, most were consumed by locals). To improve production, Demetrios ordered building ponds, which increased fish production and he also initiated production of fish oil as another source of finances for Coron.
In 1373, Coron port was expanded, so ships sailing between various parts of Empire, could stop here for resupplying and rest. Corona collected fee 0.5 Hp per ton of ship cargo and yearly collected between 30,000-50,000 Hp. Two years later, Demetrios repaid most of debts and called engineers and surveyors to search in local mountains for ore.
In 1377, "Golden Age of Morea" has began, when surveyors found out coal deposits in Arcadia mountains in central Morea. After long and harsh negotiations, Demetrios Palaiologos failed in attempts to reach monopoly of coal mining on Morea, but Imperial Government granted Morea shares from coal production profits. About 7% of all profits were granted to Morea administrative. More important, demand for coal was high, because of weapons and armor production, gun powder production and introduction of more advanced blast furnaces. However, mining did not meant end of fishery or port services. Most of miners were slaves, or gathered miners from other provinces and only small portion of miners were Moreans.
As display of thanks, about 300 troops of Morea Guard were sent in to Arcadius Campaign of Caucasus, where they participated on victorious siege of Tbilisi.
Since 1378, because of financial relief, Demetrios Palaiologos focused on rebuilding infrastructure, restoring routes and trails, reconstruction projects, restoring administrative and bureaucracy and summoning civilians and citizens from other parts of Empire to Morea. With natural born, population of Morea increased from 18,000 in 1371 to 47,000 in 1379 (exclude slaves and miners from other provinces).
Coal production reached in 1380 about 8,000 tonns and was important for proto-industrialization of Athens and Southern Greece.
Aside of mining, population boom allowed Demetrios to restore timber production, build furniture workshops and export various goods and products from Morea. His policy follow industrialization sentiment of Merchant Union and Commercial Council of Morea, which represented wealthiest artisans, merchants and producers, was granted large portion of political power over Morea and their members were in Demetrios administrative and governor council.
Since 1384, governor elections of Morea were dismissed as Demetrios was sole candidate with overwhelming support. However, in 1386, group of ambitious former nobles and locals started conspiracy to enthrone him as King of the Morea. He ordered arrest and execute all conspirators and declared that he will step down, when he reach 60 years and also announced that he will not promote any of his relatives, to participate in election, as he was staunch supporter of meritocratic bureaucracy and not hereditary aristocracy.
Both Demetrios attempts to restore Corinth Canal construction (in 1386 and 1398) were unsuccessfull. Instead, during this period, Demetrios Palaiologos builded about 300km of paved roads through Morea to Athens and other places to improve trade and transport.
In 1390, Demetrios initiated project of "Morea Fortress", heavily fortified base for Imperial Army to improve defense capabilities of Morea. His cousin, Supreme Stratégos Marius Palaiologos, supervise construction and fortification of the base and in 1397, Morea Fortress hosted garrison of 2,500 troops and cavalry.
In 1394, Morea was visited by Ibn Khaldun, who praised local development, improvements and successes and participation of Morea on overall imperial economy, but criticized too strong state and governor influence on economics and also criticized local high taxes. Ibn Khaldun remarks on Morea participation frustrated many Moreans, include Demetrios, because coal mining production in Morea were not counted in Morea economy, but in Greece economy and because of that, Morea was still officially mid-income province, rather than high-income province.
In 1396, Demetrios Palaiologos presented petition to Emperor Valerianus III to change counting of mining production and transfer it in to Morea economic value. Emperor accepted and in 1397, economy of Greece officially fall by 6%, while economy of Morea increased by 17%, but it was mostly statistical change. However, Morea reached self-confidence to new expansion and improvements.
Forge of Iron and Coal Collegium of Morea, 1390. Similar forges supplied markets in Morea and southern Greece.
Year later, people of Morea feasted to celebrate 30-years of Demetrios governorate and Emperor Valerianus III participated on feast, where he praised Demetrios role and called him "good friend and great servant of our Empire".
In 1403, Morea was still depopulated in comparison to pre-Dark Age era, but it had higher economic output and higher income per capita, than it that time. Population reached 92,000 in 1407 and 100,000 in 1409, year before Demetrios left position of senator and two years before leaving position of governor.
In this time, Demetrios appointed many young, but capable and well educated officials, merchants, experts and engineers to many management positions. His last goal in his position was to secure continuation of his policy and prosperity of Morea.
In 1410, Moreans elected Janis Ardapis as new senator of Morea and in 1411, Demetrios left governor position and Morean elected Nicolaos Vatatzes to governor position. In last years of his life, Demetrios focused on charity and building social services on Morea. He financed building three orphanages for children of miners, six local clinics and two schools (School of Arts and School of Labour focused on artisanry, trade and production).