Duchy of Athens

The duchy of Athens was one of the cross States set up in Greece after the Fourth crusade.

History

The town of Athens and that of Thèbes were conquered in the years 1204 - 1205 by noble Burgundian, Othon of the Rock. This last, called megaskyr (large-lord) of Athens, took the title of duke of Athens in 1208, submitting its possessions to the king of Thessalonique.

In 1224, the despotic of Épire, Theodore Angel, conquered the kingdom of Thessalonique. The dukes of Athens subjected themselves then to the prince d' Achaïe.

The duchy extended on the Attique and the Béotie, but it is difficult to restore its borders with precision. The Acropole of Athens was the symbol of the ducal capacity, but the real center of the duchy was the town of Thèbes, sits of a Latin archbishop's palace.

In 1308 the duchy passed to Gautier V of Brienne. This last, fights against the despotat of Épire, engaged about it the services of the Catalan company of Almogavres, a group of Catalan mercenaries present in the Byzantine empire since ten years. The relations between Almogavres and the duke took a worrying turn after this last refused to pay balances it mercenaries. Gautier V convened the ost his vassal ones and combined to face Almogavres, but it was overcome and killed by the latter in 1311.

Almogavres took the control of the duchy, by imposing there the Usatges of Barcelona. They asked for the king de Sicile Frederic II of take the sovereignty of the duchy. This last named like dukes several of its sons, which never reflect the feet in Greece and were satisfied to reign via general vicars. Some Catalan and sicilian families are established in the duchy; most known being the Frederic d' Aragon, counts de Salona. The Comté of Salona was the most important stronghold depend on the duchy during the Catalan period.

In 1314 - 1315, the Catalans of the duchy of Athens lent hand-strong to infant Ferdinand de Majorque, which endeavoured to conquer the Principauté of Achaïe. The Catalan forces fought those of Louis of Burgundy, other claiming with the throne of Achaïe, which was supported by the lord of Argos, Gautier VI of Brienne, the son of the former duke. After the death of Ferdinand, Achaïe passed under the control of Louis of Burgundy.

The Catalan efforts were dedicated then towards north. Between 1318 and 1319, while resting on Salona, they conquered Siderocastron, the Phthie, the Phocide and part of the Thessalie, forming the Duché of Néopatrie, which was plain with that of Athens. In 1330, partly thanks to the received assistance of the duchy of Athens, the king Jacques III of Majorque, wire of Ferdinand, reconquered the principality of Achaïe. It is then the climax of the Catalan domination in Greece.

In 1337, the Serb expansion overflows on the north of Thessalie. In 1379 the titular Latin emperor, Jacques of the Beams, helped of a company of Navarrese mercenaries, conquers Thèbes and the major part of the duchy of Néopatrie. In 1381, the duchies pass either to king de Sicile, but to the king d' Aragon Pierre IV. This last, although concerned of the safeguarding of the acropolis of Athens ( most beautiful jewels which a king can have writes it), sends only weak reinforcements in the duchies. In 1388 an adventurer Florentin, Nerio Acciajuoli, conquers Athens. Néopatrie falls in 1390.

Arpès a éphème domination of the common of Venice (1395 - 1402), the Acciaiuoli remain Master of the duchies. After the Byzantine reconquest of Achaïe in 1430, they must recognize the authority of Constantinople.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the duchy is invaded by the Othoman forces, invasion facilitated by internal struggles with the ducal dynasty. In 1456 Mehmet II takes Athens.

In spite of the Othoman conquest, the title of duke of Athens and Néopatrie is carried by kings d' Aragon, then of Spain until our days. The descendants of Gautier de Brienne carried them also the title of duke of Athens which passed to their heirs Enghien.

Dukes of Athens

Frank dukes

Catalan dukes

1311 - 1312: Roger Desllor, knight roussillonnais of the entourage of Gautier de Brienne, carried by Amulgavares with the head of the duchy.
1312 - 1317: Manfred, wire of the king Frederic II

1312 - 1317: Berenguer Estanyol, vicar of Manfred

1317 - 1338: Guillaume, wire of the king Frederic

1317 - 1338: Alphonse Frederic d' Aragon, lord of Nègrepont, bastard brother of Guillaume and his vicar

1338 - 1348: Jean, marquis de Randazzo, wire of Frederic
1348 - 1355: Frederic, marquis de Randazzo, wire of Jean
1355 - 1377: Frederic III, king de Sicile

1375 - 1380: Louis Frederic d' Aragon, count de Salona, vicar of the king Frederic

1377 - 1381: Marie I {{Re}}, queen of Sicily
1381 - 1388: Pierre IV, king d' Aragon

several vicars under his reign

Mateu de Montcada
Roger de Lauria
Mateu de Peralta
Shine Frederic d' Aragon
Dalmau VI, Viscount of Rocabertí
Bernat de Cordella

Dukes florentins

The family Acciaiuoli:

1388 - 1394: Nerio I {{er}} Acciajuoli
1394 - 1395: Antonio Ier Acciaiuoli
1395 - 1402; Venetian control
1402 - 1435: Antonio Ier Acciaiuoli
1435 - 1439: Nerio II Acciaiuoli
1439 - 1441: Antonio II Acciaiuoli
1441 - 1451: Nerio II Acciaiuoli
1451 - 1454: Bartolomeo Contarini, husband of the widow of Nerio II
1451 - 1454: Francesco Ier Contarini
1455 - 1458: Francesco II Acciaiuoli, wire of Antonio II

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