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Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Latin Emperors of the Fourth Crusade at Constantinople / Frankokratia (AD 1204-1261)

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From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

In 1185 the 'Dynasty of the Angeli' had started off badly, by insulting the powerful Asen Bulgarian lords and creating a running sore on that flank. It was even an Angeli claimant who invited Crusaders to capture Constantinople for him, which they promptly did in 1204 as part of the redirected Fourth Crusade. Instead of installing Alexius Angelus (for very long) they sacked the city, brought to an end the Angeli dynasty, and create a Latin kingdom.

Western European (Latin) rulers now governed the city and areas of the former empire, backed by Venice and France. The leaders of the Fourth Crusade also set up other minor Crusader states in Greece, notably the principality of Achaia and the duchies of Athens and Naxos in 1204-1205, but other territories were lost, including the Albanian principality of Arbanon.

The dispossessed Eastern Roman court withdrew to Nicæa in Anatolia, but rival claimants also established holdings in Trebizond, Epirus, and Thessalonica so that, at one point, there were four claimants to the Eastern Roman throne, as well as the Bulgar and Serb states which also claimed dominance over it.

The idea of Christians crusading against other Christians was strange even by the standards of the Middle Ages, but the reasons behind this are numerous. The 'Great Schism' of 1054 during the latter days of the 'Macedonian Dynasty' and the subsequent decades of separation between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Rome was a significant factor.

People from the west had been massacred in Constantinople in 1182, a major reminder of the schism in practices and belief. This meant that, in 1203, a number of cash-strapped crusaders who were looking for money to finance a military expedition to Egypt were willing to hear out Alexius Angelus, claimant to the Eastern Roman throne who encouraged the crusaders to journey to Constantinople.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from the John De Cleene Archive, from The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade, Susan Wise Bauer (2010), from The Despotate of Epiros, Donald McGillivray Nicol (Blackwell & Mott, 1957), from the World Heritage Encyclopaedia, from the BBC documentary series, The Crusades, first broadcast on 18 January 2012, from The Turks in World History, Carter Vaughn Findley (Oxford University Press 2005), and from External Links: Encyclopædia Britannica, and Jewish Encyclopaedia, and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive), and Encyclopaedia Iranica, and Byzantine Empire, CWC Oman (Fisher Unwin, 1892, and available via Heritage History).)

1204 - 1205

Count Baldwin IX of Flanders. Defeated, captured, died.

1204 - 1205

Count Baldwin IX of Flanders is installed as Baldwin I of Constantinople to replace the Angeli emperor, but the fracturing of the Eastern Roman state continues. The Albanian principality of Arbanon achieves full independence while the Eastern Roman court has withdrawn to Nicæa in Anatolia.

Under the leadership of Boniface, marquis of Montferrat, and Dandolo, doge of Venice, the Fourth Crusade was diverted from its original purpose, instead ending up storming the walls of Constantinople and setting up a Latin kingship there

Rival claimants have also been quick to establish their own holdings. These include Trebizond, Epirus, and Thessalonica, while the Bulgar and Serb states also claim dominance over former imperial holdings.

The principality of Achaia and the duchies of Athens and Naxos are also created, in 1204-1205, in these cases as opportunistic land-grabs or divisions of Constantinople's direct holdings.

1205

With the Fourth Crusade having splintered control of the lower Balkans into many pieces, the powerful Asens of Bulgaria are able to make good progress in expanding their empire. The Battle of Adrianople on 14 April 1205 sees Baldwin being defeated by Tsar Kaloyan before being captured and taken into captivity where he dies.

1206 - 1216

Brother. Count of Flanders. Fought endless defensive battles.

1206

Henry of Flanders finds himself ruling Constantinople surprisingly soon after the Latin conquest of the city. One of his first military acts is to lay physical claim to the empire's Anatolian territories, while Marco Sanudo is completing his own conquest of the Cyclades islands by taking Naxos.

Baldwin IX of Flanders became Baldwin I of Constantinople when he was selected as the first Latin possessor of its throne, despite its territory having been almost entirely denuded and the city being almost penniless

He attempts to take the strong town of Prusa but is roundly repelled by Theodorus Lascaris of Nicæa, the primary Eastern Roman claimant and a competent general. The defeat places a limit on Latin territorial extensions to the east of Constantinople. Beyond a few castles on the Bithynian coast they make no conquests.

1206 - 1207

As the brother of and military commander for Alexius I Comnenus of Trebizond, David Comnenus has successfully expanded this Pontic state to include much of Paphlagonia so that Trebizond's holdings now border those of Nicæa.

David's rapid westwards expansion now leads to direct conflict with Nicæa, which is consolidating its own power in Anatolia. Towards the end of 1206 and into early 1207, David attempts to attack the region of Prousias. Theodorus successfully defends his newly-won realm and Comnenus gains no territory.

When the Fourth Crusade took control of Constantinople in AD 1204, with the help of the Venetians, they inherited a reduced Eastern Roman empire (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1211

The Battle of Antioch on the Meander (also known as the Battle of Alaşehir) is fought between the forces of Theodorus I Lascaris of Nicæa and Sultan Kaikhosru of Rum. The sultanate's defeat and the sultan's death on the battlefield confirms Nicæan dominance of Anatolia's Aegean coast.

The army of Lascaris is itself virtually destroyed, but the victory ends the Seljuq threat. Kaikhosru's successor (and son) concludes a truce with Nicæa on 14 June 1211 which solidifies the border between the two for the next half a century.

c.1216

Theodore Komnenos Ducas of Epirus begins a northwards advance which enters Krujë and terminates the independence of the principality of Arbanon as well as invading Macedonia. From now on the princes of Arbanon will be dominated by outside powers, starting with Theodore Ducas.

The Battle of Antioch on the Meander in 1211 ended the threat to Eastern Romans which had been posed by the sultanate of Rum, with peace being agreed afterwards and good relations being maintained for over a generation

1217

Killed by Epirus after less than a year of rule.

1217

The newly-crowned Peter de Courtenay borrows ships from the Venetians, promising to conquer Durazzo for them. He fails in this and is forced to return by land to Constantinople. Along his journey he is seized by the despot of Epirus, Theodore Komnenos Ducas. Imprisoned, he does not survive the year.

1217 - 1219

Wife. Sister of Henry. Countess of Flanders.

1221 - 1228

Son. Lost much territory. Died.

1224

The Crusader kingdom of Thessalonica is gained by Theodore Komnenos Ducas of Epirus. Theodore takes the title 'Emperor of Thessalonica' and moves his court there (Michael II rules Epirus as a subsidiary state from 1231).

1228 - 1261

Brother of Robert. Replaced by the Palæologus.

1228 - 1237

Co-emperor for the child Baldwin.

1230

Ivan II Asen wins the Battle of Klokotnitsa, crushing the forces of Theodore Komnenos Doukas (Ducas) of the empire of Thessalonica. Theodore's empire soon collapses, allowing Ivan Asen to take possession of great swathes of Macedonia, Thessaly, and Thrace, plus Arbanon. Theodore himself is captured and held for the next seven years while his brother, Michael, takes command of his remaining territories.

Krujë fortress was built in the fifth or sixth century AD, perched above the Albanian city of the same name and dominated by the Eastern Roman empire until the twelfth century

1235

Having already defeated Latin troops in the lower Balkans, Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa now lays siege to Constantinople itself. When a Venetian fleet approaches in support of the Latin king, John is forced to abandon the siege.

1241 - 1242

John Angelus of Epirus finds his field army being defeated in 1241 by Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa. His capital is locked into a siege until he surrenders in 1242. John Angelus agrees to drop his claim to the title of 'emperor' and instead returns to the title of 'despot' which had been claimed in 1204 by Michael I Ducas. He remains a vassal to Nicæa.

1246

The Fourth Crusade kingdom of Thessalonica falls to Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa. The result is that the despot of Epirus is isolated.

1252 - 1257

Golem of Arbanon submits in 1252 to Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa. But the principality suffers a revolt against imposed Nicæan rule. That is put down by 1257 but the principality is then annexed by the individual who becomes responsible for writing down much of the short history of Arbanon - Grand Logothete George Akropolites of Constantinople.

An icon showing four episodes from the life of Christ which was probably painted in Thessalonica, the most important artistic centre in the crumbling Eastern Roman empire after Constantinople itself

1257

Grand Logothete George Akropolites of Constantinople has been serving Theodorus II Lascaris of Nicæa as a military commander in the field of battle against Epirus, but his role is short-lived as it happens. He is now captured and is imprisoned for two years.

1260

General Michael VIII Palæologus takes hold of the throne of Nicæa, and the young John Lascaris is entirely sidelined, his eyes are put out, and he is exiled to a dungeon in which he remains until his death thirty years later. However, the outraged leaders of the various Latin and Eastern Roman rival territories are no match for Michael's forces when they meet in battle. His victory is complete.

1261

The Nicæan-Latin Wars are not concluded when Michael VIII Palæologus recaptures Constantinople from his base in Nicæa, as Achaia and Athens are still occupied by Latin rulers. Constantinople falls during a surprise attack when much of the garrison is raiding Nicæan territory.

Self-established co-emperor of Nicæa during the early years of the reign of the young Emperor John IV Lascaris, Michael VIII quickly challenged the impoverished Latin emperor of Constantinople and found him wanting

The Latins are helped in their largely successful evacuation by the Venetian fleet, although they persist in retaining their claim to the throne (held by Philip de Courtenay in 1281, the son of Baldwin II). Michael VIII is able to claim Constantinople as his seat from which to command the reduced Eastern Roman empire, as the capital of the Palæologus.