The Narrative Voice: The Funeral Oration on His Brother Theodore, Despot of Morea

In this chapter it is suggested that the encomium for Manuel’s deceased brother, Theodore Palaiologos was integrated into a broader account of the affairs of the Morea. Manuel emulated the traditions both of the panegyric oration and of the epic/chronicle. The subject matter, the praise for his brother, is treated in the form of a narrative account, and to a large extent the author is precise about the events he recounts. By this account, the unit dealing with Theodore’s achievements was conceived not as a mere list of glorious deeds illustrating Theodore’s virtues but as a string of interconnected episodes, truly an account of the Morea and not only of the brother. Certainly, these elements did not combine in a composition resembling a historical chronicle. However, they were primarily intended not just to describe military situations but also to convey a political message, as various stylistic devices such as the configuration of a strong narrative voice or the use of criticism indicate. Based on the peculiarities of the author’s literary strategies, this narrative of Theodore’s deeds took the form of a sanitised, official account of events which put forward a message that claimed Morea’s dynastic control.