Chrysoloras, Manuel (1350–1415)

Byzantine diplomat and scholar. In 1393 he visited Italy to seek aid against the Ottoman Empire and later played a role in preparing for the Council of Constance. Moving to Florence in 1395, he became the founder of Greek studies in the West, his teaching having a profound effect on the development of Renaissance scholarship and philosophy. His Erotemata 1484 was the first Greek grammar used in Europe.

Chrysoloras was born in Constantinople and was a pupil of Plethon. In 1393 Emperor Manuel Palaeologus sent him to seek help from the Italian states. He returned to Constantinople but in 1395 was invited to Florence, where he became professor of Greek. His pupils included Poggio Bracciolini, Leonardo Bruni, and Francesco Barbaro. He also translated Homer and Plato into Latin during his stay in Florence. His influential Greek grammar was printed posthumously in 1484 but was well known long before that. In 1400 he visited Milan and Pavia, and lived for several years in Venice. He then went to Rome and in 1408 was sent to Paris as the Byzantine emperor's representative. In 1413 he served on the embassy that prepared the way for the Council of Constance. He died en route for the council to represent the Greek Church.