John VII, Byzantine emperor

John VII (John Palaeologus) pāˌlēŏlˈəgəs [key], c.1370–1408, Byzantine emperor, grandson of John V. Backed by the sultan Beyazid I, he usurped (1390) the throne from John V but was dethroned by his uncle, Manuel II, six months later. He again ruled (1399–1402) as coemperor when Manuel II went to the West to seek aid against the Turks.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Ancient History, Late Roman and Byzantine: Biographies