Dimitrios Chalkokondylis (1423 – January 9, 1511)

Dimitrios Chalkokondylis (1423 – January 9, 1511)

Born in Athens, he was a Greek scholar and one of the pivotal figures in the revival of classical Greek literature in western Europe and a significant contributor to the intellectual Renaissance period.

In 1435, after his family were persecuted by the then rulers of Athens, the Florentine Dukes, he moved to the town of Mystra, Laconia in the Peloponnese. It was while there, he first studied philosophy.

By 1447 he had moved to the Italian peninsula. First, he went to Rome where he completed his studies and also learned Latin.

Then, for 3 years starting in 1452, he was in Perugia where he taught the Greek language. In Rome, then in Padova in 1463 where he was made Professor, he translated many works and introduced to his students, the philosophical theories of Plato and Aristotle.

By the mid 1470’s, Chalkokondylis was Head of Greek Literature in Florence and later also went to Milan where he again taught Greek.

Throughout his years in Italy, he composed several orations calling for the liberation of the Greek people and Greece, from what he described as “the abominable, monstrous & impious barbarian Turks”.

He continued, calling on all Latins to aid the Greeks against the Ottomans, he identified this as their overdue debt. As he reminded the Latins of when they were oppressed by the Goths and how it was the Greeks who came to their aid in liberation, during the Gothic Wars (535-554AD).

He dies in Milan in 1511.