ACROPOLITA, GEORGE, one of the writers in the
Byzantine history, was born at Constantinople in the year
1220, and educated at the court of the Emperor John
Ducas at Nice. He was employed in the most important
affairs of the empire, being sent ambassador to Larissa
to establish a peace with Michael of Epirus; and was
constituted judge to try Michael Comnenus, who was sus-
pected of engaging in a conspiracy. Theodorus Lascaris,
the son of John, whom he had taught logic, appointed him
governor of all the western provinces in his empire. In
1255, he was taken prisoner in a war with Michael An-
gelus; but gaining his liberty in 1260, by means of the
Emperor Palaeologus, he was sent by him ambassador to
Constantine, prince of Bulgaria; and was employed in
several other negotiations. He wrote, a Continuation of
the Greek History, from the taking of Constantinople by
Acquire the Latins till it was recovered by Michael Palæologus in 1261, which makes part of the Byzantine history; A Treatise concerning Faith, Virtue, and the Soul; An Exposition of the Sermons of St Gregory Nazianzen, and other pieces. Gregory Cyprian, patriarch of Constantinople, in an extravagant encomium upon him, prefixed to Acropolita's history, says he was equal to Aristotle in philosophy, and to Plato in the knowledge of divine things and Attic eloquence.