Manuel Philes
Byzantine poet
Manuel Philes (born c. 1275—died 1345) was a Byzantine court poet whose works are of chiefly historical and social interest. At an early age Philes (who was born in Ephesus) moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul), where he was the pupil of George Pachymeres. Philes’ character, as shown in his poems, is that of a begging poet, always pleading poverty and ready to descend to the grossest flattery. He was acquainted with the chief persons of...