European Kingdoms

Principality of Achaia (Fourth Crusade State)
AD 1205 - 1432

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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.

With the defeat of the 'Dynasty of the Angeli' by the Fourth Crusade in Constantinople in 1204, Latin rulers governed the city and much of the former empire, backed by Venice and France. The leader of the Fourth Crusade also set up other minor Crusader states in Greece, but other territories were lost, including the Albanian principality of Arbanon.

The established Eastern Roman authorities (without the emperor himself) withdrew to Nicæa in Anatolia, but rival claimants also established holdings in Trebizond, Epirus, and in what was now the kingdom of 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.

Small crusader states were also founded thanks to Boniface, marquis of Montferrat. After private plunder had reigned unchecked in Constantinople for three days, the leaders of the crusaders collected whatever valuables they could so that the proceeds could be divided. The haul was less than expected.

They elected Baldwin of Flanders as their 'Emperor of the East', and handed him the ruined city of Constantinople, half of it devoured by the flames of two consecutive sieges, and all of it plundered from cellar to attic. Boniface was made king of Thessalonica, and paid homage to Baldwin for a fief which consisted of Macedonia, Thessaly, and inland Epirus.

William of Champlitte gained Achaia or Achaea (the spelling is highly variable), hewing out a principality in the western parts of the Peloponnesus and creating a small state which consisted of twelve baronies and one hundred and thirty knights fees. The resistance of the natives in this district was particularly weak, and one battle was all it took to give William the entire coastal plain of Elis and Messenia.

However, he did not succeed in subduing the mountaineers of the peninsula of Maina, or the coastal towns of Argolis or Laconia, so that the Eastern Romans still had some degree of a foothold in the peninsula.

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 Medieval Crown of Aragon: A Short History, T N Bisson (Oxford, 1986), from World History Atlas, Jeremy Black (Ed, Second Edition, New York, 2005), from A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great, J B Bury (New York, 1913), from Keepers of the Keys: A History of the Popes from St Peter to John Paul II, Nicolas Cheetham (New York, 1982), and from External Links: 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 Byzantine Empire, CWC Oman (Fisher Unwin, 1892, and available via Heritage History).)

1204 - 1205

As a part of the dismantled Eastern Roman empire Achaia technically remains part of the Latin empire which has replaced it. Even so, William of Champlitte and Geoffrey I of Villehardouin have to conquer it before they can command it.

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

They take a hundred knights and around five hundred foot soldiers to do so on behalf of Boniface of Montferrat, king of Thessalonica. A defeat of local Eastern Romans at the Battle of the Olive Grove of Koundouros is enough to do it.

1205 - 1209

Conquered Achaia for Latin emperor. Died in France.

1205 - 1206

The fortress of Araklovon is one of a few Eastern Roman holdouts. Most fall in 1208 but Araklovon manages to resist until 1213. William of Champlitte is established as the first Latin prince of Achaia, nominally within the Latin empire but in essence independent.

1209 - 1229

Companion and co-conqueror of Achaia.

1229 - 1246

Son.

1246 - 1278

Son. Vassal of Charles of Anjou in Albania & Naples.

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.

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)

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.

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). Michael VIII is able to claim Constantinople as his seat from which to command the reduced Eastern Roman empire, as the capital of the Palaeologus.

1278 - 1280

The Eastern Roman presence in Butrint has alarmed Nicephoros I of Epirus, prompting him to open communications with Charles of Anjou and his now-late vassal, the deceased William II of Villehardouin, prince of Achaea. Nicephoros I promises homage to Charles in return for land in Achaea.

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

To this end, Nicephoros' troops capture the city of Butrint in 1278 from Epirus and, in March 1279, he declares himself a vassal of Charles of Anjou. Charles is handed the castles of Sopot and Butrint.

1278 - 1285

King of Naples & Albania.

1280

With Pope Nicholas III dead in August 1280, Charles is free to make his own moves. Great stores of weapons are sent to Spinarizza, recently captured from the ruling Palaeologus dynasty in Constantinople and, in December 1280, the land around Eastern Roman-occupied Berat is seized by his forces as they besiege the city.

1281

Charles of Anjou caps his recent military and political successes by appointing a French pope in the form of Pope Martin IV. This dangerous period of French domination in papal affairs will soon lead to the 'Great Schism'.

Emperor Michael VIII of the Palaeologus is excommunicated (largely irrelevant as he follows the Orthodox church) and is in difficulties on the battlefield. He sends a large skirmishing force to Berat which manages to capture Charles' commander - Hugh de Scully - causing the Angevin forces to be routed and largely dispersed. Albanian nobles largely side with Michael to secure a more stable kingdom of Albania.

Pope Gregory XI ended the 'Babylonian Captivity' by bringing the papacy back to Rome from its temporary home at Avignon where it had been dominated by the kings of France

1282

At the Sicilian Vespers of 30 March, Sicily revolts against and massacres its Angevin occupiers. Pedro III of Aragon is invited in, and the Aragonese line begins there, with the Angevins continuing to rule Naples.

All of the scheming with Venice by Charles of Anjou to build up a retaliatory force which will capture Palaeologus Constantinople from the Eastern Romans comes to nothing through this act. His fleet which is docked at Sicily is destroyed during the uprising.

1285 - 1289

Son. King of Naples & Albania. Prince of Achaea.

1289

Busy elsewhere, Charles II arranges a marriage for Isabella of Villehardouin, the daughter of the last of the self-installed Latin princes of Achaia, William II. Her new husband is Florent of Hainaut. Charles grants Achaia to them in September 1289 but retains his own suzerainty over the principality.

The energetic Charles I, best known as Charles of Anjou, was a member of the royal Capetian dynasty and founder of the second 'House of Anjou', count of Provence and Forcalquier within the Holy Roman empire, count of Anjou and Maine in France, king of Sicily, prince of Achaea, and king of Albania

1289 - 1297

Vassal prince under Charles II.

1297 - 1301

Wife and 'prince' after Florent's death.

1301 - 1306

Isabella's third husband, and now prince.

1306

Philip of Savoy and Isabella of Villehardouin are removed from Achaia by Charles II, he for disloyalty and failing to provide military support and she for failing to ask for his permission to remarry. Charles hands Achaia to his own son.

1306 - 1332

Son of Charles II of Naples & Albania.

1331

John of Gravina, uncle of Robert of Naples, does not wish to pay homage to him for the principality of Achaia, so Achaia is handed over to Robert in exchange for 142,000 grams of gold and rights to the diminished kingdom of Albania, which John now commands under the title of duke of Durazzo.

One of medieval Albania's most important strongholds, the entrance to the citadel of Berat is shown here, with the thirteenth century Eastern Roman church of the Holy Trinity alongside it

1332 - 1364

Son. Died childless in Naples.

1364 - 1373

Son of Charles II of Naples & Albania.

1373 - 1382

Queen of Naples & Albania.

1382 - 1386

King of Naples & Hungary. Assassinated.

1386 - 1396

King of Naples. Lord of Rome. Gave up Achaia.

1396 - 1402

Prince. Died with very young sons.

1402 - 1404

Wife and ruling 'prince'.

1404

Centurione Asanes Zaccaria is the scion of a powerful Genoese merchant family which has been established in the Morea (Peloponnese) since the marriage of the lord of Chios Martino Zaccaria to the baroness Jacqueline de la Roche.

The Ottomans directly challenged the most powerful of Europe's Mediterranean empires in the form of the Venetian republic, leading to a series of vicious wars over the course of three centuries which are known as the Ottoman-Venetian Wars

Now Centurione effectively buys off his Aunt Maria's debt against her overlord, Ladislas of Naples, by purchasing the rights to the title of prince of Achaia from Ladislas of Naples. Maria's young sons lose their claim to the principality but the family's debts are erased.

1404 - 1432

Genoese nephew. Prince of Achaia. Died.

1414

Centurione is so successful in his land acquisitions that his cowed opponents negotiate an agreement of vassalage with the Venetians which effectively cuts off Centurione's Genoese support.

1417 - 1418

The Eastern Roman army of Palaeologi Constantinople under Theodore II Palaeologus, despot of Morea, and Emperor John VIII now invades Achaia. They take Messenia and Elis and force Centurione to take refuge in Glarentza. From there he flees by sea in spring 1418. Only Venetian mediation from their occupation in Navarino makes it possible for the prince to be able to secure a truce.

The arrival of the Ottoman Turks in the Balkans added yet another layer of ethnic diversity into an already-rich Bulgarian ethnic mix

1432

The death of Centurione Zaccaria means that his principality is ceded to his son-in-law, Theodore II, despot of Morea, essentially returning it to the Eastern Roman Palaeologi dynasty.

The principality is briefly re-established when Constantinople falls in 1453, by John Asen Zaccaria, son of Centurione. He claims the title as Centurione III, but the principality itself is lost within the year. The Ottoman empire completes its conquest of Achaia by 1460.