Manuel Palaiologos (1455 – 1512) was a Byzantine nobleman, born as an heir to the throne of the Byzantine Empire. In his youth, Manuel became associated with and joined the Templar Order, fueling his hopes of restoring his family's lost empire. Posing as a wealthy Ottoman citizen, Manuel schemed the revival of the Empire and the reclamation of Constantinople, which was at the time ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Together with Shahkulu, Manuel expanded his army of Byzantine Templars, secretly hidden in Derinkuyu, Cappadocia to make his childhood hopes a reality under the Templar banner.