Demetrios Kydones
Demetrios Kydones, Latinized as Demetrius Cydones or Demetrius Cydonius (Greek: Δημήτριος Κυδώνης; 1324, Thessalonica – 1398, Crete), was a Byzantine Greek theologian, translator, author and influential statesman, who served an unprecedented three terms as Mesazon (Imperial Prime Minister or Chancellor) of the Byzantine Empire under three successive emperors: John VI Kantakouzenos, John V Palaiologos and Manuel II Palaiologos.
Demetrios Kydones | |
|---|---|
| Δημήτριος Κυδώνης | |
| Born | 1324 Thessalonica |
| Died | 1398 |
| Era | Byzantine philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Thomism |
As Imperial Premier, Kydones' West-Politik effort during his second and third stints was to bring about a reconciliation of the Byzantine and Roman Churches, in order to cement a military alliance against the ever-encroaching Islam, a program that culminated in Emperor John V Palaiologos' reconciliation with Catholicism.
His younger brother and somewhat-collaborator in his efforts was the noted anti-Palamite theologian Prochoros Kydones.