George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza (Greek: Γεώργιος Σφραντζής or Φραντζής, 1401-c. 1478) was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete (chancellor). At the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks (1453) he fell into their hands, but managed to escape to Peloponnesus, where he obtained protection at the court of Thomas Palaiologos, Despot of the Morea. After the downfall of the Peloponnesian Despotate (1460) Sphrantzes retired to the monastery of Tarchaneiotes in Corfu. Here he wrote his Chronicle, which like most Byzantine Chronicles begins with the creation of the world but is more detailed when talking of the history of the House of the Palaiologoi from 1258-1476. It is a most valuable authority for the events of his own times.
Editions by I. Bekker (1838) in the Corpus scriptorum hist. byz., and in J. P. Migne, Patrologia graeca, civi; see also C. Krumbacher, Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur (1897).