PACHIMERE, GIORGIO. – Byzantine historian and philosopher, born at Nicaea in 1242, died at Constantinople ca. 1310. He wrote a history of the Byzantine emperors Michael VIII Palaiologos and his son Andronikos. Since it was precisely during the rule of these sovereigns that the preparation and conclusion of the Union under Michael VIII, and its destruction under Andronikos, who had previously embraced it, took place, this work contains interesting information on the subject, written with moderate judgment, although P. did not adhere to the Union. He too admired the gifts of the patriarch Bekkos, who remained constant in his profession of the Catholic faith.
In addition to this historical work, P. composed several theological writings, including a treatise on the Procession of the Holy Spirit, and commentaries on Aristotle and on Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Recently P.’s Quadrivium was edited by P. Tannery and E. Stephanou, with a preface by P. V. Laurent; that is, the treatises concerning mathematics, music, geometry, and astronomy.