Palæol'ogus, the name of an illustrious Byzantine family, which first appears in history about the 11th century, and attained to imperial dignity in the person of Michael VIII. in 1260 (see BYZANTINE EMPIRE). The last of the dynasty, Constantine XI., fell bravely fighting at the siege of Constantinople. His brothers were princes of the Morea and of Achaia respectively; a daughter of one of them married Ivan III. of Russia. A branch of the family ruled Montferrat from 1306 to 1533.
Palæol'ogus
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 7: Maltebrun to Pearson, p. 707
Source scan(s): p. 0720