A letter came from some strange (I have to admit that despite my knowledge about medieval era of Mytilene, I have never heard anything about Genoan Knights fraternity...), claiming that they had some interesting info about a scroll left by Gattilusi. Some Canadian stamps on the envelope drove my mind to archaeological excavations in the castle of Mytilene since 1984 by the University of British Columbia under the direction of Caroline and Hector Williams which have uncovered the burial chapel of the Gattilusi and a few graves that probably belonged to dependents of the family. The building was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman capture of Mytilene in 1462.
But maybe is better to lay out some historical facts, so you may help me find that scroll it mentions at the end...
The Gattilusi (singular Gattilusio) were a powerful Genoese family who controlled a number of possessions in Lesvos from 1355 until the mid 15th century.
Francesco Gattilusio gained the favor of Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos by helping him oust a rival to the throne, John VI Kantakouzenos, in 1354. As reward, Gattilusio was given lordship of the island of Lesvos (and its stronghold, Mytilene) from July 1355, as well as the hand in marriage of the emperor's sister, Maria. The Gattilusi possessions grew to include, among others, the islands of Imbros, Samothrace, Lemnos and Thasos, and the land city of Aenos (modern Enez in Turkey). From this position, they were heavily involved in the mining and marketing of alum, useful in textile production and a profitable trade controlled by the Genoese.
After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Gattilusi briefly retained control of their possessions under Ottoman suzerainty, but were forced out within a few years. In 1456, the Ottomans appointed a native Greek historian, Michael Critobulus, as governor of Imbros, and likewise removed the Gattilusi from power in the remainder of their possessions, with the exception of Lesvos, which they were permitted to retain in return for an annual payment of 4,000 gold pieces. The lord of Lesbos, Domenico Gattilusio, was murdered and briefly succeeded by his brother Niccolò, before an Ottoman fleet captured the island in September 1462, sending Niccolò as prisoner to Constantinople (where he was later executed) and putting an end to the family's power.
According to research by William Addams Reitwiesner published in 1995, the descendants of the Gattilusio dynasty (and therefore of the Palaiologos dynasty through princess Maria) include Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade (14th generation), Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (22nd generation), Otto von Habsburg, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary (22nd generation), and Brooke Shields (23rd generation).
The Canadian excavations have also added a considerable number of Gattilusi coins to the known corpus, but as the letter says they found also a scroll from the last of Genoan Knights, addressed to the Mytilenean's. I do have to search for that scroll, it seems to be very important...
Check the "The Island's Treasure" series:
The Island's Treasure I
The Island's Treasure II
The Island's Treasure III
The Island's Treasure Final