Греко-английские отношения в контексте антиосманской политики в XV веке

Средние века. 2021. Т. 82. № 1. С. 199–227.

Рязанов П. А., Loshkareva M. E.

The paper explores the Greek-English relations in the 15th century determined by the Turkish conquests and the fall of the Byzantine Empire. Developing allies against Turks was the top priority of Byzantine diplomacy in the first half of the century. The idea of a crusade against the Ottomans for the sake of saving the Christian state was at the core of negotiations with those sovereigns who had no grounds to fear Turkish military clout. At the beginning of the 15th century, Emperor Manuel II visited England in the hope of receiving military assistance. His visit coincided with the war in Scotland, the largest national revolt in Wales, and serious problems in Ireland, which became the reason for the denial of military support, but not a financial one. It would not be entirely correct to reproach the English Crown for ignoring the appeals of the Holy See. In the 15th century, England responded to the aspirations of the Byzantine Empire and Eastern Christians, but the issue of providing real military assistance was not on the political agenda. Fundraising campaigns for the crusade against the Ottomans were carried out regularly in England in that period. Thus, England supported the crusading idea, but solely through financial assistance.

Keywords: Византия, Byzantium, Англия, England, Constantinople, Crusades, крестовый поход, Константинополь, Greek-English relations, anti-Ottoman policies, Turkish conquest, Manuel II, Palaeologus dynasty, Henry IV, греко-английские отношения, антиосманская политика, Мануил II, Палеологи