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Despotes

Byzantine imperial titleDespotδεσπότηςSeal of Demetrios Palaiologos, Despot of the Morea in 1449–1460, with the inscription "Demetrios, in Christ the God Faithful, Despot, the Palaiologos, Born-in-the-purple"Despots Theodore and Andronikos Palaiologos (centre) flanked by their father Manuel II Palaiologos (left) and mother Helena Dragaš (right), with their elder brother John VIII (far left).StyleMy despot (Δέσποτά μου)Your Majesty (Ἡ βασιλεία σου)My/our Authentopoulos (Ὁ αὐθεντόπουλός μου/μας)Member ofByzantine Imperial FamilySeatConstantinopleMoreaThessalonikiSelymbriaAppointerByzantine emperorTerm lengthLife tenureFormation1163First holderBéla-AlexiosFinal holderDemetrios and Thomas PalaiologosAbolished29 May 1460SuccessionFirst Despot or despotes was a senior Byzantine court title that was bestowed on the sons or sons-in-law of reigning emperors, and initially denoted the heir-apparent of the Byzantine emperor.

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