Mystras or Mistras (Greek: Μυστρᾶς/Μιστρᾶς),[2] also known in the Chronicle of the Morea as Myzethras or Myzithras (Μυζηθρᾶς), is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Situated on Mt. Taygetus, above ancient Sparta, and below a Frankish castle,[3] it served as the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries, experiencing a period of prosperity and cultural flowering during the Palaeologan Renaissance, including the teachings of Gemistos Plethon.[2] The city also attracted artists and architects of the highest quality.[2]
Mystras remained inhabited throughout the Ottoman period, when Western travellers mistook it for ancient Sparta. In the 1830s, it was abandoned and the new town of Sparti was built, approximately eight kilometres to the east. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the Sparti municipality.[4] As an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Byzantine city and because of its testimony to the development of Late Byzantine and Post-byzantine art, Mystras was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.[5]
^"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
^ abcGregory & Ševčenko 1991, p. 1382.
^Ousterhout, Robert (2021). "Late Byzantine Secular Architecture". In Freeman, Evan (ed.). A Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art. Smarthistory.
^"ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
^"Archeological Site of Mystras". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Late Byzantine and Post-byzantine art, Mystras was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989. Mystras is situated on the slopes of Taygetos Mountain...
Mystra may refer to Mystra, a Byzantine city and archaeological site in Greece today known as MystrasMystra (Forgotten Realms), a deity in the Dungeons...
Despotate of the Morea (Greek: Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως) or Despotate of Mystras (Greek: Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μυστρᾶ) was a province of the Byzantine Empire which...
the cession of Monemvasia, Grand Magne, and Mystras. The handover was effected in 1262, and henceforth Mystras was the seat of the governor of the Byzantine...
Frankish Principality of Achaea. In the 1260s, the Byzantines recovered Mystras and other fortresses in the region and managed to evict the Franks from...
Morea was Guillaume II de Villehardouin (1246–1278), who fortified Mistra (Mystras) near the site of Sparta in 1249. After losing the Battle of Pelagonia...
take Mystras and devastate Constantine's lands while Murad II led his forces in the north of the Peloponnese. Although Turahan failed to take Mystras, this...
escaped into exile, Demetrios was captured at the despotate's capital, Mystras, and surrendered to the Ottomans on 29 May 1460, exactly seven years after...
The Archaeological Museum of Mystras (Greek: Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Μυστρά) is a museum in Mystras in Greece. In spite of its naming it is classified as...
of the International Congress of Plethon and His Time, Mystras, 26–29 June 2002, Athens-Mystras, 2003 ISBN 960-87144-1-9 Brown, Alison M., 'Platonism in...
Classe Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Other locations Daphni Monastery Hosios Loukas Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Gorgoepikoos Saint Catherine's Monastery Mystras...
with several previous lovers, including the goddess Mystra — although his relationship with Mystra changed when the goddess was slain during the Time of...
years since the Fall of Constantinople, Mystras was handed over to the Ottomans. Mehmed II arrived in Mystras on 31 May. The Sultan received Demetrios...
the ruins, in the shadow of Mystras. The Palaiologos family (the last Byzantine Greek imperial dynasty) also lived in Mystras. The Despotate of the Morea...
Classe Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Other locations Daphni Monastery Hosios Loukas Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Gorgoepikoos Saint Catherine's Monastery Mystras...
cuisine, and is especially suited for sprinkling over hot pasta. The town of Mystras takes its name from a cone-shaped hill, called Mizithra from its resemblance...
was in Mystras. A body of 150 horsemen was sent against him, but Ananias was secretly notified by a special envoy. In the metropolis of Mystras, 20 Maniates...
Classe Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Other locations Daphni Monastery Hosios Loukas Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Gorgoepikoos Saint Catherine's Monastery Mystras...
George Kodinos George Sphrantzes Major centres Thessaloniki Athens Corinth Mystras Patras Thebes Arta Ioannina Greek states after 1204 Despotate of Epirus...
Classe Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Other locations Daphni Monastery Hosios Loukas Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Gorgoepikoos Saint Catherine's Monastery Mystras...
Classe Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Other locations Daphni Monastery Hosios Loukas Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Gorgoepikoos Saint Catherine's Monastery Mystras...
decline, especially in the Middle Ages, when many of its citizens moved to Mystras. Modern Sparta is the capital of the southern Greek region of Laconia and...
most fertile area. Mystras and Monemvasia were populous and prosperous, even after the Black Plague in the mid-14th century. Mystras rivaled Constantinople...
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