Manuel II Palaiologos was the last Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1391 to 1425. He was born in 1350 and was the son of John V Palaiologos. His reign was marked by the decline of the Byzantine Empire, which faced threats from the Ottoman Empire and internal strife. During his rule, Manuel II sought to strengthen his empire through diplomacy and alliances. He traveled to Western Europe to garner support against the Ottomans and engaged in discussions about the unification of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Despite his efforts, the empire continued to weaken until its eventual fall in 1453.