§ 3.

CHAP. VI. ing an independent possession in Thessaly at the head of his Vallachians, and carrying on war or forming alliances with the emperor of Constantinople, the despot of Epirus, and the Frank princes of Greece, according to the dictates of his own personal interest. He was generally called by the Franks duke of Neopatras, (Hypata,) from his having made that town his capital; but his country was usually called Great Vlachia. He died about the year 1290.1

The name of the second prince of Vlachia, the son of John, is not known, but he reigned about ten years. His sister was married to William de la Roche, duke of Athens. The third prince was John Dukas II., who was left by his father under the guardianship of Guy II., duke of Athens, his cousin. The possessions of the young prince were attacked by the troops of Epirus, but the duke of Athens hastened to the assistance of his ward, and quickly carried the war into the territory of the despotat, forcing the government to conclude an advantageous peace.2 John Dukas II. married Irene, a daughter of the emperor Andronicus II., in the year 1305, and died three years after, without leaving issue.3 The line of the princes of Vallachian Thessaly then became extinct, and their territories were divided among the frontier states. The Catalans conquered the valley of the Sperchius, with the city of Neopatras; and they were so proud of this exploit that they styled their Grecian dominions the duchy of Athens and Neopatras. But the greater part of the rich plain of Thessaly was annexed to the Byzantine empire, and was governed by officers sent from Constantinople, who were often honoured with the title of despot. Cantacuzenos conferred the

1 Pachymeres, ii. 137, edit. Rome. Nicephorus Gregoras, 66. Ducange, Histoire de Constantinople, 214.

2 Livre de la Conqueste, 405.

3 Nicephorus Gregoras, 153, 173.

4 Cantacuzenos, 288, mentions Stephen Gabrielopulos in 1334.

government of Thessalian Vlachia, in the year 1343, on John Angelos for life, by a golden bull.1

The history of Epirus after its conquest by Stephen Duscian, king of Servia, in 1350, becomes mixed up with the wars of the Servians, Albanians, Franks, and Greeks in the neighbouring provinces, until the whole country fell under the domination of the Turks. Stephen committed the government of Epirus, Thessaly, Acarnania, and Etolia, to his brother Simeon, who was involved in constant wars to defend those conquests against the Albanians, the Franks, and the Greeks. In the year 1367 he recognised Thomas Prelubos as prince of Joannina and Arta. Prelubos was assassinated, on account of his horrid cruelties, in 1385; and his widow, who was the sister of Simeon, married Esau Buondelmonte, a Florentine connected with the family of Acciaiuoli. Esau was engaged in incessant wars with the Albanians, by whom he was taken prisoner in the year 1399, and compelled to pay a large ransom.2

In the mean time, Leonard Tocco of Beneventum had been invested with the county-palatine of Cephalonia by Robert of Tarentum, the titular emperor of Romania, when that county had reverted to the imperial crown by the death of the despot Nicephorus II., in 1357. Leonard Tocco also received the title of duke of Leucadia, to give additional dignity to his fief.3 Charles Tocco, who was apparently his grandson, invaded Epirus about the year 1390, and by gradual encroachments rendered himself master of the whole country south of Joannina, including Acarnania and part of Etolia, after which he assumed the title of despot of Romania. His second

1 Cantacuzenos, 526.

• Chalcocondylas, 112. The names of Albanian chieftains in the wars against the despots, Thomas Prelubos and Esau Buondelmonte, are, Ghinos Vaia, who held Anghelokastron, Petro Leosa, and afterwards John Spata, who held Arta and Rogons, and Ghino Frati of Malakassi.-Epirotica, p. 215, 222, &c., edit. Bonnæ.

3 Remondini de Zacinthi Antiquitatibus et Fortuna. Venetia, 1756.

A. D. 1350-1399.

§ 3.

CHAP. VI. wife was Francesca, daughter of Nerio I. Acciaiuoli, duke of Athens; and his niece Theodora was the wife of Constantine, the last emperor of Constantinople, to whom Clarentza, and all the possessions of the counts of Cephalonia in the Morea, were ceded as her dowry. Theodora died before Constantine ascended the throne of Constantinople. Charles Tocco died in 1429.1 He was succeeded by his nephew, Charles II., from whom the Turks took Joannina and Etolia in 1431. Charles II., in order to obtain the protection of the republic of Venice for the towns he still retained in Epirus and Acarnania, became a citizen of the republic in the year 1433, during the reign of the doge Francis Foscari.2 It would seem, from the letters of Cyriakos of Ancona, that he assumed the title of king of Epirus, in addition to his previous titles of duke of Leucadia and despot of Romania.3 He was succeeded by his son, Leonard II., in 1452, who was driven from Leucadia and Cephalonia by the Turks in 1469.

1 Phrantzes, 129, 154, edit. Bonnæ. The name of Karlili, or the country of Charles, was applied by the Turks to Acarnania and a portion of Etolia, as long as they retained possession of the country.

2 The act of the doge, Francis Foscari, authorising the insertion of the name of Charles Tocco, despot of Arta, duke of Leucadia, and count-palatine of Cephalonia, in the registers of the republic, is published by Buchon.-Nouvelles Recherches, Diplomes, p. 350.

3 Cyriaci Anconitani Epistolæ, p. 71.

CHAPTER VII.

HISTORY OF THE DUKES OF ATHENS-1205 -1456

SECT. I.-ATHENS BECOMES A FIEF OF THE EMPIRE OF ROMANIA

THE portion of Greece lying to the south of the kingdom of Saloniki was divided by the Crusaders among several great feudatories of the empire of Romania. According to the feudal code of the time, each of these great barons possessed the right of constructing fortresses, coining money, establishing supreme courts of justice, and waging war with his neighbours; consequently, their number could not be great in so small an extent of country. The lords of Boudonitza, Salona, Negrepont, and Athens are alone mentioned as existing to the north of the isthmus of Corinth, and the history of the petty sovereigns of Athens can alone be traced in any detail. The slightest record of a city which has acted so important a part in the history of human civilisation must command some attention; and fortunately her feudal annals, though very imperfect, furnish matter for study and instruction. Athens and Thebes-for the fate of these ancient enemies

1 The fief of Berthold of Katzenellenbogen was in eastern Greece, and it must have been as large and as valuable as the fiefs of Otho de la Roche or William de Champlitte, for he was probably a more powerful baron than either; yet we are ignorant of its position. The superscription of the letter of Pope Innocent III. to the barons, concerning the detention of church lands and tithes, seems to indicate that there were other great feudatories. "Nobilibus viris Balmo Thessalonicensi comestabulo, Ottoni de Rocca domino Athenarum. Marchioni Domino Nigripontis, T. de Ostremuncourt et aliis principibus Romaniæ."-Epist. Inn. III., tom. ii. p. 261., edit. Baluze.

CHAP. VII. was linked together-were then cities of considerable wealth, with a numerous and flourishing population.

$ 1.

Otho de la Roche, a Burgundian nobleman, who had distinguished himself during the siege of Constantinople, marched southward with the army of Boniface the kingmarquis, and gained possession of Athens in 1205.1 Thebes and Athens had probably fallen to his share in the partition of the empire, but it is possible that the king of Saloniki may have found means to increase his portion, in order to induce him to do homage to the crown of Saloniki for this addition. At all events, it appears that Otho de la Roche did homage to Boniface, either as his immediate superior, or as viceroy for the emperor of Romania.2

We possess some interesting information concerning the events that occurred at Athens immediately previous to its conquest by Otho de la Roche, though unfortunately this information does not give us any minute insight into the condition of the population. Still, it allows us to perceive that the social as well as the political condition of the people was peculiarly favourable to the enterprise of the Crusaders. The people of Athens and Thebes were living in the enjoyment of wealth and tranquillity when the news reached them that Constantinople was besieged by the Franks and Venetians. The greatest grievance then endured in the cities where no regular garrisons were maintained arose out of fiscal extortion and judicial corruption, both of which certainly increased to an alarming degree under the emperors of the house of Angelos. But these abuses were palliated, and prevented from assuming a highly oppressive form, whenever the bishop

1 Geoffrey de Villehardoin, De la Conqueste de Constantinople. Note of Ducange at page 325 of his edition.

2 The title assumed by the Otho de la Roche, as lord of Athens and Thebes, was Grand-Sire, Μέγας Κύριος, derived by some from the title of Μέγας Пpupukηpios, which Constantine the Great was said to have conferred on the governor of Thebes. The general belief, both of the Byzantines and Latins, was that either this title or that of duke had been the ancient title of the governors of Athens. Compare Nicephorus Gregoras, p. 146, and Livre de la Conqueste, Greek text of Copenhagen, v. 2132.