Seigniory of Argos

The seigniory of Argos was a Fief of the Principauté of Achaïe, created after the Fourth crusade.

History

Between 1246 and 1248, the prince Guillaume II of Villehardouin carried out the fight against last the remaining Greek possessions in the Peloponnese. It accepted the assistance of the duke of Athens, Guy Ier of the Rock, to reduce the towns of Corinthe, Argos and Nauplie. In thanks of this help, the prince restored the two last cities in stronghold in Guy of Athens.

The seigniory included/understood the town of Argos and that of Nauplie (current Náfplio), reason for which one often indicates it like the seigniory of Argos and Nauplie . These two cities are located in the peninsula of the Peloponnese. It formed the most important stronghold inside the principality of Achaïe.

In 1258 the two old allies enter in conflict; indeed princes d' Achaïe asserted suzerainty on the seigniory of Athens since the disappearance of the Royaume of Thessalonique in 1227. The lords of Athens theirs refused, being entitled themselves " dukes of Athènes". The conflict turned to the open war: with the battle of Carydi Guy of Athens and his ally Geoffroy de Brières, lord of Carytaina, are demolishes by Guillaume II. It seems that Guy then left to the court king de France, of which he would have returned in 1261 with the confirmation of the ducal title. The reality of this royal confirmation is prone to guarantee; it is nevertheless undeniable that the seigniory of Argos, confiscated by Guillaume in 1258 is restored in Guy on this date. The dukes of Athens remained in possession of the seigniory until in 1311. At this time the Amulgavare S of the Catalan company took the duchy of Athens on the duke Gautier V of Brienne.

His/her son, Gautier VI, remained only in possession of the seigniory of Argos and Nauplie but continued to carry the title of duke of Athens . Maintaining the hope a reconquest of the duchy, it was combined with the court angevine of Naples and Louis of Burgundy, claiming with the throne of Achaïe. In 1325 it married Marguerite de Tarente, niece of the king Robert and girl of an applicant to the throne of Achaïe. In 1331, it conducted an unfruitful campaign against the duchy of Athens and prince d' Achaïe, Jacques III of Majorque, another Catalan. Àprès this failure, it was withdrawn at the court of Naples, then with that of France. It is its nephew Sohier d' Enghien who held the seigniory of Argos and Nauplie in his absence. Gautier VI died in the Bataille of Poitiers in 1356 as a Connétable of France.

The seigniory passed then to another nephew, Guy d' Enghien, who in vain tried in 1370 to take again the duchy of Athens to the Catalans. To its death in 1377, the seigniory passed to his/her Marie daughter, wife of Venetian Pierre Cornaro. In 1388 Marie d' Enghien sold the seigniory of Argos with the commune of Venice. This one preserved it until in 1463, date on which it fell to the hands from the Othomans.

List lords of Achaïe

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