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CANTACUZENO-CANTATA. 485
clian freedom, were assembled. He re- mission to convey to Petersburg the soceived, at this place, from Alex. Ypsilanti, ]icitations of the Greeks for succor from
orders to repair to the Morea. April 16, the Russian government; but, being un-.
0. S., he proceeded to Trieste, by way of able to obtain a passport for this purpose,
Vienna and Laybach. At Laybach, he he remained in Dresden. His brother
had two interviews with count Nesselrode, George, under the command of Ypsilanti,
the Russian minister, who said, among was engaged in the unsuccessful struggle
other things, "It is the will of his majesty, in Moldavia and Walachia, and published
that you do not go to Greece; but you may a memorial on the subject at Kischenaw,
continue your travels." This made Alex. Oct. 28, containing, likewise, a vindicaCantacuzeno irresolute what to do; but, tion of his conduct. Both of the brothers
being informed, during his residence of have been erroneously estimated by many.
four weeks in Venice, of the murder of Even Pouqueville, in his Hist. de la Rlethe patriarch, and the breaking out of the generation de la Grece (Paris, 1824, 4 vols.),
Greek insurrection in the Morea, the idea has represented the two Cantacuzenos as
that his absence might corroborate the one person, and given an incorrect view
suspicion that the revolution met with of their character. (See Ypsilanti.)
the disapprobation of Russia, induced CANTAcUZENUS, John, a Byzantine emhim to sacrifice every thing to the cause peror and historian, was born in 1295.
of his country. He obtained fiom the While minister of Andronicus III, he neRussian consul a passport to return to gotiated a favorable peace with the GenOdessa by water, and went to Greece oese in 1336, and repelled the encroachwithout interruption. For this step, he ments of the Turks in 1337. On the
was subsequently forbidden to return to death of Andronicus in 1341, C. became
Russia. 60 young Greeks, from the vari- regent during the minority of the young
ous universities, the French captain Ba- emperor, John Palmologus. Hle defeated
lestras, and Demetrius Ypsilanti, who the Bulgarians and Turks, assumed the
had been intrusted, by his brother Alex- diadem, and entered Constantinople, vicander, with the management of the insur- torious over his rivals, in 1346. He used
rection in the Morea, embarked with him. his power with moderation, and endeavJune 19, they reached Hydra, where they ored to heal the wounds which five years
were received with the greatest rejoicings. of civil war had inflicted on the state;
Alex. Cantacuzeno immediately under- but religious disputes, civil dissensions
took the charge of the department of war, and foreign enemies soon disturbed his
organized a general administration of the government; and the jealousy of Palkislands, and formed a band of volunteers, ologus, the rebellion of his own son, war,
whom Balestras commanded. But they plague, the firightful disorders which pre.were soon in want of arms and powder. vailed in the empire, and his own loss of
June 20, Cantacuzeno and Demetrius popular favor, induced him to renounce
Ypsilanti proceeded to the Peloponnesus, the crown. He retired to a monastery
to Gerusia, in Vervena, a village near (1355), where he employed himself in litTripolizza. Cantacuzeno immediately in- erary labors. He is considered one of the
vested the fortress of Malvasia (Epidau- greatest among the successors of Constanrus), and reduced it by famine, July 21, tine. His Four Books of Byzantine His1821. He next deliberated with the Hy- tory were printed in 1645 (Paris, 3 vols.,
driots and Spezziots respecting the form- folio), and belong to the collection of the
ation of a national senate, and was, in Byzantine historians. His other works,
other respects, active in establishing order. principally theological, are partly printed,
He then proceeded to Tripolizza, and, at and partly in manuscript.
the head of the Albanian soldiers, took CANTAL; a chain of mountains in Uppart in the siege of the place; refused, in per Auvergne, France, the highest peak of
the meanwhile, an offer of the Cretans, which, called le plomb de Cantal, is said to
who wished to confer on him the com- be nearly 6000 feet above the level of the
mand oftheir island; travelled through the sea. They give name to a departmenlt.
provinces of Hellas, in order to establish (See Department.)
elective assemblies, and undertook the CANTATA; an elegant and passionate
charge of fortifying Missolonghi, though species of vocal composition, consisting
he had to contend with great obstacles, of an intermixture of air and recitative.
confusion and discord prevailing every- It was invented by Barbara Strozzi, a Vewhere. The management of Greek af- netian lady, who flourished about the
fairs having passed into other hands, he middle of the 17th century, and was at
received, from the Greek senate, the com- one time extended to such length as to
41 *