The Second Byzantine Period — Monemvasia's Golden Age (1263 — 1460)

The Frankish surrender of Maina, Mistra, and Monemvasia was the first step toward the Byzantine recovery of all of Greece. For the Morea, the reconquest meant a war of some fifty years, which devastated its countryside, destroyed its riches, and despoiled its populace. All combatants were equally guilty of rapine and bloodshed. During this period, the first Turkish soldiers appeared in Greece, fighting as mercenaries for the Byzantine emperor against the Franks. The Turks arrived in Monemvasia in 1263, brought by Genoese ships under the orders from the Emperor to advance against the Franks.

As Constantinople's bridgehead in the Frankish Morea, Monemvasia was especially valuable to the Byzantine emperor. Michael VIII realized this, and under his sovereignty, the city became the seat of an Orthodox metropolitan. He also gave the residents tax reductions and other special privileges. For example, the city's merchants received the right of unimpeded, tax free access to the markets of the Byzantine Empire; this gave them a significant advantage over their competitors. Another special privilege was the right to use all fines levied against the citizens of Monemvasia for the improvement of the city's defences. These are only a few examples of the numerous kinds of advantages that Monemvasia enjoyed.

While the Byzantine emperors extended their influence in the Morea, and put ever more pressure on the Frankish knights, the residents of Monemvasia went about their business and commerce. Mistra became the capital of a Byzantine despotate on the Morea, ruled by a relative of the Byzantine emperor, usually by his brother. Mistra developed one of the most important centers of Byzantine art and culture after Constantinople. Monemvasia was the chief seaport of the despotate, and, as such, was able to acquire numerous special rights for its citizens. Well documented examples show that, if necessary, the archons and Orthodox clergy of Monemvasia did not hesitate to forge charters and documents. They would present these to a new emperor, upon his succession, for him to confirm as "ancient" privileges. Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282 — 1328), the great friend and patron of Monemvasia, promulgated a "Golden Bull" (Chrysobullo), in which he confirmed explicit properties, rights, and privileges of Monemvasia and of the metropolitan (1301). In this same document he also admiringly cited the city's wealth, and the residents' excellence, bravery, and loyalty to the imperial house.

Under the sovereignty of the Despot of Mistra, the fourteenth century was not only a period of relative political stability on the Morea, it was also the time of Monemvasia's golden age. The citizenry prospered, and the city itself took part in the cultural revival that emanated from the Byzantine court at Mistra. The impetus for the neo Platonic renaissance, which spread to western Europe through the work of Gemistus Pletho, came from Mistra. The residents of Monemvasia were also known for their learning. As the seat of a metropolitan, Monemvasia had more than forty cloisters and churches, and numerous clergy. There were also schools, and extensive libraries, the best known of which belonged to the Likinios family. Monemvasia today retains none of these treasures; now there are only traces of this glorious past.

Monemvasia remained under Greek control until 1460. As late as 1450 Demetrius Palaeologus, the last Despot of Mistra, described the city as one of the most important and useful communities in his domain. But the impending decline of the Byzantine Empire also threatened to affect Monemvasia. Thus, the archons concluded that they themselves would have to defend their independence and autonomy. For decades the corrupt Byzantine sovereigns had been consumed with intrigues and civil wars, while their incompetence became ever clearer. At the same time, rival powers were struggling to gain control of Greece. In this situation, the archons of Monemvasia began to try to play one power off against the other. For example, they tried to appear as allies of Venice, while at the same time appealing to the Turkish Sultan, who had forcefully brought the archon, Pavlos Mamonas, back to power, against the will of Theodore, Despot of Mistra. On this occasion (1394 or 1395), Monemvasia had a Turkish garrison within its walls for the first time. After the fall of Constantinople (1453), and the final destruction of the Despotate of Mistra, the city was left entirely to its own devices. Indeed, the last despot, Demetrius Palaeologus, fled to Monemvasia with his family. But in 1460, when the Turkish army approached the city, he fled, leaving both his family and the city to their fates. After becoming the Sultan's prisoner, Demetrius asked Monemvasia to deliver up his wife and daughter to the Turks. Monemvasia did so, but it took the opportunity to warn the Turks that they should not dare to "lay their wanton hands on the city that God had made invincible." This proud attitude — together with the strength of the city's fortifications — impressed the Turkish commander, and he withdrew his army.