Hi!
A bit of an odd one, but as part of my fairly unfocused reading, I've somehow landed upon the Palaiologos Marquis (Marquises?) of Montferrat, and the post-Imperial Palaiologi (i.e, after 1453), and it got the ol' imagination and inspiration going!
I was wondering, does anyone know if there are any detailed descriptions around banners and engagements involving the Montferrat Palaiologi in the early Italian Wars (where they had a pro-French policy?)? I imagine their force composition would be pretty typical of an Italian state of the time, given that they were fairly assimilated over the previous two centuries!
At the same time, do we know if there are any descriptions of banners, coats-of-arms, or any peculiarities of members of the Palaiologos (or big-name-Byzantine) family fighting as Stratioti in the late 15th century, or where/who they fought for? I remember ages ago reading that a 'Manuel Palaiologos' took up service in the Low Countries, but I'm not sure if this is the same direct "son of Thomas Palaiologos" Manuel, or a more distant cousin...and I'm also not sure *where* I read that, so I'm a bit suspicious on the accuracy at the moment!