Kingdom of Thessalonique

The kingdom of Thessalonique is one of the cross states appeared after the Fourth crusade.

At the time of the conquest of Constantinople by the army crossed in 1204, the favorite for the imperial election was the marquis Boniface de Montferrat. Large Italian tycoon, close relative of the imperial dynasty of Hohenstaufen, brother of Conrad de Montferrat, it was one of the chiefs of the crusade. However the Venetian ones, whose role was determining in the franque conquest, do not want Boniface, undoubtedly too not very malleable and inclined to support the large rival of Venice in the Mediterranean, Genoa. It is thus Baudoin IX of Flanders which is elected emperor.

Boniface accepts with difficulty this election. As of 1204 it cuts a principality around Thessalonique, then the second city of the Byzantine empire. This state, that one calls the kingdom of Thessalonique although it did not carry officially not borne this name, is centered on the coasts of the Thrace and the Thessalie. It is in hillock with the companies of several local sovereigns: in north the Bulgarian ones, the west the Despotat d' Épire, Byzantine state, and in the east Latin empire of Constantinople, whose sovereign badly accepts the existence of this state quasi-sovereign.

Boniface manages to sit its kingdom by reconciling the Venetian ones, which receives its support for the conquest of Crete, and by overcoming the former Byzantine emperor Alexis III. Several other Latin states develop in the vassalage of Thessalonique, like the Principauté of Achaïe, the Duché of Athens, the Marquisat de Bodonitza and the Comté of Salona.

In 1207 Boniface dies as a combatant the Bulgarian ones. His/her son, Dimitri, are still a child. The direction of the kingdom is ensured by a party the noble ones which launches out in a conflict with the emperor of Constantinople, Henri de Hainaut. This one, after having overcome the regents, takes young king de Thessalonique under his supervision. Starting from 1215, the despot of Épire, Theodore Angel, conquers the kingdom of Thessalonique on a frank capacity staggering. In 1224 it seizes the town of Thessalonique. However the domination of the Angel on Thessalonique is transitory since the area is conquered by the Bulgarian ones as of 1230.

The title of king de Thessalonique is carried until the beginning of the 14th century by the heirs to Montferrat, but it does not find any more contents real, except at the time of the short period 1313 - 1315 during which Louis of Burgundy, titular king, reconquers the Principauté of Achaïe for his wife.

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