Bessarion, Johannes
1403? - Basilius Bessarion was born on January 2nd at Trebizond, Trebizond empire (Trabzon, Turkey). Byzantine humanist and theologian, later a Roman cardinal, and a major contributor to the revival of letters in the 15th century.
- He was one of the earliest scholars to transplant Greek literature and philosophy into the West.
1413 - He was sent to Constantinople, where he devoted himself to study, achieving great success in the field of letters.
1423 - He was educated at Constantinople (Istanbul) and adopted the name Bessarion upon becoming a monk in the order of St. Basil.
- Went to the Peloponnese to hear Gemistus Pletho expound the philosophy of Plato.
1436 - He was made Bishop of Nicæa.
1437 - He was made metropolitan of Nicaea by the Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaeologus.
1438 - As Archbishop of Nicaea, he accompanied the Greek emperor, John VIII Palaeologus, to Italy to effect a union between the Greek and the Roman churches.
1439 - He joined the Roman Church, and was made cardinal by Pope Eugene IV.
1449 - Was made Bishop of Ulazzara.
1450-1455 - He was legate at Bologna and was engaged on embassies to many foreign princes.
1463 - Received the title of Latin patriarch of Constantinople.
1470 - Bessarion wrote the letter "De Bello Turcis inferendo".
1472 - He died on 18th of November at Ravenna.
- He was one of the earliest scholars to transplant Greek literature and philosophy into the West.
1413 - He was sent to Constantinople, where he devoted himself to study, achieving great success in the field of letters.
1423 - He was educated at Constantinople (Istanbul) and adopted the name Bessarion upon becoming a monk in the order of St. Basil.
- Went to the Peloponnese to hear Gemistus Pletho expound the philosophy of Plato.
1436 - He was made Bishop of Nicæa.
1437 - He was made metropolitan of Nicaea by the Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaeologus.
1438 - As Archbishop of Nicaea, he accompanied the Greek emperor, John VIII Palaeologus, to Italy to effect a union between the Greek and the Roman churches.
1439 - He joined the Roman Church, and was made cardinal by Pope Eugene IV.
1449 - Was made Bishop of Ulazzara.
1450-1455 - He was legate at Bologna and was engaged on embassies to many foreign princes.
1463 - Received the title of Latin patriarch of Constantinople.
1470 - Bessarion wrote the letter "De Bello Turcis inferendo".
1472 - He died on 18th of November at Ravenna.
Page last updated: 2:09am, 07th Aug '07