Plot

On the eve of the fall of Constantinople, it is rumoured that the coming disaster is divine punishment for forming an alliance with the Franks. At the palace, Emperor Constantine is deliberating with the nobles and the Franks. While Loukas Notaras launches blistering tirades against the Westerners, the Emperor tries to maintain a delicate balance, as he is waiting both for assistance from Charkoutsis and for the Abbot's answer to proposals for reconciliation.

Unfortunately, Frantzis brings bad news: the Abbot flatly refuses to forgive submission to the Papists. In the meantime, the masses rise up and pillage the homes of the nobles, who appear before Constantine in irate mood, demanding that he restore order. The Emperor tries in vain to avert conflict and persuade them to put their city first.

At that moment an emissary from the Sultan arrives, bearing the terms of a surrender to avoid bloodshed. Despite pressure from the nobles and the people, Constantine rejects the terms. The emissary also bears a confidential communication from the Vizier, a friend of the Emperor, advising him to flee in secret together with the nobles, since the Sultan is not going to keep his word.

Shortly later, the emissaries sent to foreign leaders return with word that no assistance will arrive. The only person who comes to the aid of Constantinople is Charkoutsis, together with his brave young men from Crete. In a heated clash with Constantine, the Abbot acccuses him of betrayal and proclaims himself King of the Greeks. The Emperor offers him the crown, which he wears and waits for a sign from the Virgin Mary, but this never comes. The two men are reconciled and leave the palace.

The people are praying in Hagia Sophia when the news of Constantine's death in battle is announced. In a mass vision, the congregation sees the Virgin Mary holding the Emperor in her arms as if he were the crucified Christ. When the vision disappears, the Turks break down the doors and burst into the church.

Writing history

The first draft of the tragedy was completed on Aegina in 1944. Kazantzakis reworked it again in 1946 (on Aegina) and in 1946 (in Antibes). On Eleni's request he wrote the play for the third time in the summer of 1951.

Greek editions

  • N. Kazantzakis, Konstantinos Paleologos, Nea Estia, vol. 54, issue 630 (1.10.1953) 1363-1399
  • N. Kazantzakis, Theatro II. Tragodies me vizantina themata. Christos, Ioulianos o Paravatis, Nikiforos Fokas, Konstantinos Paleologos, edited by E. C. Kasdaglis Athens: Difros 1956
  • N. Kazantzakis, Theatro II. Tragodies me vizantina themata. Christos, Ioulianos o Paravatis, Nikiforos Fokas, Konstantinos Paleologos, Athens: Eleni Kazantzakis 1964 - and subsequent editions; the one published in 1998, edited by Patroklos Stavrou, is a reprint of the 1956 edition.
  • Apo to piitiko ergo tou N. Kazantzaki, with a prologue by Manolis Karellis. Introduction, selection and notes by Stylianos Alexiou, illustrations by N. Chatzikyriakos-Gikas, Heraklion, Crete: Municipality of Crete 1977 - an anthology of excerpts.

Foreign editions & translations

  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Konstantinos Paläologos, translated into German by Pavlos Tzermias, Zurich / Stuttgart: Flamberg 1964
  • Nikos Kazantzakis, Constantino Paléologo, translated into Spanish by Miguel Castillio Didier, Santiago (Chile): Santiago 1967

Performances & adaptations

  • School Performance at Athens College, 1965
  • Manolis Kalomiris, Konstantinos o Paleologos, Opera, National Lyric Theatre, 1962; several performances given in Greece and abroad.

 Radio

  • Broadcast by the National Radio Foundation, 1953
  • Broadcast by the National Radio Foundation, 1960. Adapted for radio by Tassos Papas, directed by Mitsos Lygizos. Cast: Thanos Kostopoulos, Nikos Chatziskos, Grigoris Vafias, Yiannis Argyris, Zoras Tsapelis and others
  • Kalomiris' opera Konstantinos o Paleologos was broadcast by the Third Programme, Greek Radio and Television (ERT) in 1988.
  • Broacast in the "Thatre Evening Series", First Programme, Greek Radio and Television (ERT), directed by G. Theodossiadis (N. Kazantzakis Museum Archive)

Music

  • Manolis Kalomiris, Konstantinos o Paleologos, a mysical legend and tragedy in three parts, based on the tragedy by Nikos Kazantzakis, Athens, National Lyric Theatre 1961