Andronikos Kallistos

{{Short description|Byzantine Greek scholar}}

Andronikos Kallistos ({{langx|el|Ανδρόνικος Καλλίστος}}; 1400 – {{circa|1476}}) was a Greek scholar in the Renaissance and a teacher of literature in Bologna, Rome, Florence, Paris and London. He was one of the most able Greek scholars of the 15th century and cousin of the distinguished scholar Theodorus Gaza.{{cite book |author= Diller, Aubrey |title= Studies in Greek manuscript tradition |publisher= A. M. Hakkert |year= 1983 |page= 260 |isbn= 90-256-0837-X |quote= He had put Bessarion in touch with Andronicus Callistus, who was his kinsman. Callistus was cousin (consobrinus) of Theodore Gaza, who remembered him so in his will . }}

He was born in Thessaloniki in 1400. He lived and studied in Constantinople. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Kallistos went to Italy where he joined Basilios Bessarion. He taught in Bologna (1464), Rome (1469), Florence, Paris and London (1476). He began the systematic teaching of Greek literature in France. He communicated the principles of Aristotelian thought to many of his students, whose learning won them distinction in Europe. He possessed a large collection of Greek manuscripts. He traveled extensively in northern Europe and died about 1476 in London, England.

Among his works is a defence of Theodore of Gaza's positions against the criticisms of Michael Apostolius (Andronicus Callistus Defensio Theodori Gazae adversus Michaelem Apostolium).[http://www.princeton.edu/~hellenic/renaissanceconferenceabstracts.html Paul Botley, The Books of Andronicus Callistus, 1475-76, Warburg Institute]William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, 1853, p.176