Demetrius V Palaeologus

Emperor Demetrius V
Birth 23 November 1508 Accession 11 March 1532 Death 24 December 1544 Titles By the Grace of God, Emperor of Pantocratoria, Autocrator of the Romans, Caesar Augustus, Equal of the Apostles, God's Vicegerent on Earth, Sebastocrator, Porphyrogentius, King of Kings Ruling over those who Rule

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Demetrius V was the second son of Emperor Demetrius III Palaeologus, and the brother of Emperor Constantine XII. He married Zoë of Isakiosopolis, the most eligible bride in Pantocratoria at the time, in 1529 at the age of twenty one. Their only child, Demetrius, was born the next year in a difficult pregnancy, after which Zoë was unable to fall pregnant again.

After the unexpected death of his elder brother Constantine XII, he was named regent for the unborn child emperor in his dead brother's widow's womb. The child, Demetrius IV, died three days after he was born, and as a consequence, Demetrius became emperor. He reigned for another twelve years, before dying in suspicious circumstances, possibly poisoned, at the age of thirty six.