Constantine XI Palaiologos, last Byzantine emperor. From a statue at Mystras, Greece. Constantine's death marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, which traced its origin to Constantine the Great's foundation of Constantinople as the Roman Empire's new capital in 330. He reigned as a member of the Palaiologos dynasty from 1449 to his death in battle at the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Following his death, he became a legendary figure in Greek folklore as the 'Marble Emperor' who would awaken and recover the Empire and Constantinople from the Turks. His death marked the end of the Roman Empire, which had continued in the East for 977 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.