ACROPOLITA (AKROPOLITES), GEORGE ( I 2 I 7- 82), Byzantine historian and statesman, was born at Constanti nople. At an early age he was sent to the court of John Ducas Batatzes (Vatatzes), emperor of Nicaea, by whom and by his successors (Theodorus II. Lascaris and Michael VIII. Palaeol ogus) he was entrusted with important state missions. The office of "great logothete" or chancellor was bestowed upon him in 1244. Acropolita's most important political task was that of effecting a reconciliation between the Greek and Latin Churches. In 1273 he was sent to Pope Gregory X., and at the Council of Lyons (1274) in the emperor's name he recognized the spiritual supremacy of Rome. In 1282 he was sent on an embassy to John II., emperor of Trebizond, and died in the same year.
His historical work (Xpovuo) Ivry pack, Annales) embraces the period from the capture of Constantinople by the Latins (1204) to its recovery by Michael Palaeologus (1261); thus form ing a continuation of the work of Nicetas Acominatus. It is valu able as written by a contemporary, whose official position gave him access to trustworthy information. He wrote several shorter works, among them being a funeral oration on John Batatzes, an epitaph on his wife Eirene and a panegyric of Theodorus II. Lascaris of Nicaea. While a prisoner at Epirus he wrote two treatises on the procession of the Holy Ghost.