Leonardos Philaras

Leonardos Philaras (Greek: Λεονάρδος Φιλαρᾶς, Leonardos Filaras, French: Leonard Philara also known as Villeret, Villare) was a Greek French scholar, politician, philosopher, writer, diplomat, and doctor of theology. He is best known for his plot to liberate Greece in the early 1600s along with Charles III as Duke of Nevers, who proclaimed himself King Constantine Palaeologus which never surfaced. Philaras wrote a poem for the Virgin Mary entitled Τῇ Θεοτόκῳ καὶ ἀειπαρθένῳ Μαρίᾳ ἁγνῶς καὶ ἀμώμως συλληφθείσῃ and became well known among European aristocracy serving as ambassador to the French court of French King Louis XIII for the Duke of Parma Odoardo Farnese and French King Louis XIV for the Duke of Parma Ranuccio II Farnese. Philaras also became acquainted with Cardinal Richelieu and British statesmen and poet John Milton. Philaras campaigned to liberate Greece his entire life.