Abstract
Fourteenth-century Byzantium witnessed civil wars between cliques of the ruling elite,
constant financial crisis and dramatic territorial reduction. As a result of two catastrophic
civil wars that were fought in 1321-1328 and 1341-1347, the Byzantine empire evolved into a
small state which was struggling to survive and defend itself against large numbers of hostile
neighbours, some of whom had or gradually acquired the resources to develop military forces
far superior to those of Byzantium. In the 1350s and1360s the Ottoman Turks began the
conquest of European territories that belonged to the Byzantine empire and threatened the
very existence of the Byzantine state. Seeing that it was impossible to face the Ottomans
militarily many Byzantines began to support the idea of a Crusade against the Ottomans and
the reconciliation between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches. One of the most
staunchest supporters of this policy was the prolific author and politician Demetrios Kydones.
This article will discuss how Kydones promoted the policy of reconciliation and alliance with
Western European powers against the Ottomans.