The fall of Byzantium and the subsequent westward expansion of the Ottoman Empire led to a continuous flow of Greek migration to the West, and the Greeks soon established communities in their new homes, particularly in Italy. At the same time, the revival of interest in the classical heritage (the “Renaissance”) created opportunities for those Greeks who possessed calligraphic skills and knowledge of Greek and Byzantine literature. Drawing on their social networks and cultural capital, these émigrés turned to book production and trade, creating and meeting the demand for Greek manuscripts. Faced with the Ottoman advance and amidst religious turmoil, certain Byzantine sources gained popularity among the elites of Western Europe—the clergy, diplomats, and warlords—who sought to benefit from the extensive knowledge found in the treatises copied by Greek scribes. This doctoral dissertation focuses on the transmission, dissemination, reception, and use of these Byzantine texts, which were instrumental in the struggles of various Western European entities against the Ottomans between 1450 and 1600, with the study placing particular emphasis on Byzantine military texts copied in the 16th century. The research focuses on two main groups of people: first, those who produced and distributed such texts—namely, scribes, printers, book collectors, and book merchants; and second, various Western political and military figures who required such knowledge in their struggle against their adversaries.

At first glance, producing or purchasing manuscripts may not seem practical, given the advancement of the printing press and the volume of printed material available in Italy and the German-speaking regions by the 16th century. Thus, the study looks beyond individuals’ desire simply to read or own manuscript copies, as these cannot be the sole reasons for having manuscript copies of these works produced. By adopting a holistic approach to book collections and private libraries and taking material culture into account, the project aims to offer a new perspective on understanding the intellectual endeavors of individuals, the networks, and the relationships between the key figures on both sides of manuscript production. Thus, the study takes social, cultural, and political contexts into account, enabling the reader to evaluate the same text in a different light. To achieve this goal, the paratexts found in the manuscripts, personal correspondence, and archival documents (such as records of book collection donations) are examined. Although Byzantine military texts constitute the bulk of the research, the manuscripts covered by the study are not exclusively of a military nature. Historiographies, geographical works, and texts containing ethnographic information regarding the Ottomans are also considered.

By examining two main groups—the scribes and their patrons—the project seeks to answer two questions: What motivated the scribes to copy and market the Byzantine texts under study? What motivated patrons to have these specific works reproduced for themselves? Consequently, answering these questions will lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of reproduction, dissemination, and reception of Byzantine military texts in Europe in the 16th century.