The Palaiologos Family
The Palaiologos Family is a very ancient one. The Palaiologoi were originally what would be translated as "Dukes" from Macedonia.
Yorgos Palaiologos was a friend of Alexios I Komnenos and commanded the garrison of Dyrrhachium during the Battle of Dyrrhachium against the Normans in 1081, but its earliest generations are unknown. The first to marry into an imperial family was one Alexios Palaiologos, whose wife was a granddaughter of Zoe Dukaina, youngest daughter of Constantine X, and her husband Adrianos Komnenos, younger brother of Emperor Alexios I. Another Alexios Palaiologos married Irene Angelina, eldest daughter of Alexios III and Euphrosyne Camatera. The latter couple's daughter Theodora Palaiologina married her cousin Andronikos Palaiologos, who descended from Zoe. The couple were the progenitors of the Imperial dynasty. Their son was emperor Michael VIII.
After the Fourth Crusade members of the family escaped to Nicaea and eventually gained control of the empire-in-exile while there. Mihael VIII Palaiologos became emperor in 1259 and recaptured Constantinople in 1261. Michael's descendants ruled until the fall of Constantinople in 1453, becoming the longest-lived dynasty in Byzantine history.
In late years the family started to fade away until in 1823 during the Year of Greek Independence, Count Ioannis Palaiologos became a war hero for use of diplomacy and fighting skills. He was a serious candidate, however they gave it to the brother of the King of the Scandinavian Realm. After that, the family moved to Athens and since then immigrated with others to other nations. Chicago's Police Chief Mike Diamentopolous is actually a descendant of the Palaiologos Family and part of one the first Greek families to move to the NAL.
In the last few years, Constantine Palaiologos has stirred up Greece and has risen to become the nation's emperor. Many remember him from being the star of the Olympics and Greece's best player in the World Games.
