Latin Empire (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)

Latin Empire of Romania ‎Empire latin de Roumanie (French) Λατινική Αυτοκρατορία της Ρωμανία (Greek) Timeline: Merveilles du Monde (Map Game)
Achaea 1308 - Present
Location of Latin Empire Latin Empire in Green; Byzantine Empire in Purple; Venice in Blue
Capital		Corinth
Largest city		Thebes
Official languages		Latin; French
Regional languages		Greek
Ethnic groups		Greek; Gasmouloi; French; Italian
Religion		Catholic (Official); Orthodox (Popular)
Demonym		Latin
Government		Feudal Empire
-	Emperor of Romania	William de la Roche
History		Latin Empire of Constantinople (1204-1261); Titular Empire (1261-1308); Latin Empire of Romania (1308-present)
-	Fourth Crusade	1204
-	Fall of Constantinople	1261
-	Treaty of Venice	1308
Currency		Denier

The Latin Empire of Romania (French: Empire latin de Roumanie; Greek: Λατινική Αυτοκρατορία της Ρωμανία) is a Frankish empire in Southeastern Europe. Ruled by Emperor William de la Roche, the Latin Empire was re-established as a landed nation in the Treaty of Venice, largely through the efforts of the Principality of Achaea.

The Empire, which is based in southern Greece, is comprised of the following entities:

• Principality of Achaea;
• Duchy of Athens;
• Despotate of Epirus;
• Kingdom of Albania;
• Kingdom of Thessalonica;
• County of Caria;
• Duchy of the Archipelago; and
• County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos.

History

Frankish Rule

1204-1308

• Fourth Crusade (1204)
• Constantinople back to the Byzantines (1261)
• Gradual loss of lands in Achaea to Morea
• Under Angevin rule/suzerainty
  • More details can be filled in from OTL
• Union between Athens and Achaea (diplomacy starting in 1295)
• Cultural shifts begin in earnest - targeting Greek dynatoi and recruiting French nobles
• Aligned with Venice over Genoa - which would pay dividends later on
• Signs of tension between Angevins and Florent
• War against Mentese (decisive battle of Halicarnassus in 1301) - becomes Caria
• 1304/5 - suzereainty broken with Angevins and given to Aragon
• War of Epirote Succession (1306-1307) against the Angevins of Albania
  • Result: Gain Latin Empire title, Albania, and eventual claim to Epirus (Treaty of Venice)
• Byzantine-Latin Wars (1308-1310)
  • Battle at Kalamata and siege of Mystras see Byzantium kicked out of the Morea
• Meanwhile, in 1309 crowned Latin Emperor

Government

Emperors of Romania

Elisabeth of Chappes

Prince of Achaea Geoffrey I of Villehardouin (1169-1228)

Anna Komnene Doukaina

Prince of Achaea William II of Villehardouin (1195-1245)

Princess of Achaea Isabella of Villehardouin (1260-1312)

Latin Emperor of Romania Florent of Hainaut (1255-1316)

Latin Emperor and Duke of Athens Guy II de la Roche (1280-1308)

Latin Empress Matilda of Hainaut (1293-1331)

Duke of the Archipelago John I Sanudo

Elizabeth (1308-present)

Latin Emperor William I de la Roche (1308-present)

Princess Judith of Hungary

Sanudo Family of the Archipelago

Charles de la Roche (1336-1350)

Byzantine Princess Irene Palaiologina

Heir Richard de la Roche (1338-present)

Agnes de la Roche (1340-present)

Prince of Poland and Count of Caria Andrzej Olgierd

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Olgierd Family of Caria

Law

Description of Assizes of Romania. Description of court, and positions within the Empire.

Realms

The Latin Empire of Romania is divided into seven realms. While each realm is governed by the Assizes under the administration of the Emperor, there are regional variations and 

Realms of the Latin Empire

Symbol	Name	Capital	Ruler
	Principality of Achaea	Andravida	(as Administrator)
	Duchy of Athens	Thebes	(as Administrator)
	Despotate of Epirus	Arta	(as Administrator)
	Kingdom of Albania	Avlona	Karl Thopia
	Kingdom of Thessalonica	Thessalonica	(as Administrator)
	County of Caria	Milas	Andrzej Olgierd
	Duchy of the Archipelago	Naxos	Nicholas I Sanudo
	County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos	Saint George	Orsini

Economy

1354 population estimate: 2,000,000 (down from 3,000,000 at pre-plague height).

Some products:

• silk garments
• raw silk (limited)
• grain
• olive oil
• enamel
• perfumes + incense
• tin

Trade along Via Egnatia

Culture

Religion

The official religion of the Latin Empire of Romania is Roman Catholicism. With the Fourth Crusade, a number of ecclesiastic positions were created in newly-conquered lands - the most influential of which was the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople, displacing the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch.

With the restoration of Constantinople to the Byzantines, the Latin Patriarch became a titular see based out of Rome. However, with the restoration of the Latin Empire under Emperor Florent, the Latin Patriarch - then Nicholas of Thebes - was invited to return to Romania.

 Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Romania 

• Latin Patriarch of Constantinople

 Archbishop of Corinth (Achaea) 

• Bishop of Cephalonia (Cephalonia and Zakynthos)
• Bishop of Zakynthos (Cephalonia and Zakynthos)
• Bishop of Damala
• Bishop of Lacedaemon
• Bishop of Argos
• Bishop of Helos
• Bishop of Zemena

 Archbishop of Patras (Achaea) 

• Bishop of Andravida
• Bishop of Amyclae
• Bishop of Modon
• Bishop of Coron

 Archbishop of Thebes (Athens) 

• Bishop of Castoria
• Bishop of Platea
• Bishop of Tanagra
• Bishop of Tespia
• Bishop of Zaratovio

 Archbishop of Athens (Athens) 

• Bishop of Negroponte*
• Bishop of Thermopylae
• Bishop of Daulia
• Bishop of Salona
• Bishop of Aulon
• Bishop of Oreoi
• Bishop of Megara
• Bishop of Skyros

 Archbishop of Arta (Epirus) 

 Archbishop of Ionnina (Epirus) 

 Archbishop of Durazzo/Durrës* (Albania) 

• Bishop of Scutari/Shköder
• Bishop of Sapë

 Archbishop of Ephesus (Caria) 

* Indicates that the see is located in a city owned by Venice.

Latin Patriarchs of Constantinople (1308-present)

Name	Reign	Previous Position
Nicholas of Thebes	1308-1335	Unknown
Henry of Asti	1335-1345	Bishop of Negroponte
Philip of Salona	1346-1356	Archbishop of Thebes
Gaspar	1357-1381	Archbishop of Thessalonica
Tagaris	1382-1395	Bishop of Taurezion
Angelo Correr	1395- present	Bishop of Castello

Foreign Relations

The Latin Empire is a leading member of both the Latin League (dating back to 1343) and the Holy League (dating back to 1353). In addition, it maintains good relations with the vast majority of the Catholic world - it can ill-afford to sour relations with potential benefactors. Relations with Orthodox and Muslim neighbors, however, have traditionally been strained.

• Positive (▲) Relations
  • Hungary - Allies and royal marriage; aid against Serbia.
  • Venice - Pursuant to the Treaty of Venice (1308), the Latin Empire and Venice are officially allied. This alliance was initially aimed at Genoa (which has since been conquered) and the Byzantine Empire. In addition to the alliance, there are deep trade relations between Venice and the Latin Empire.
  • Aragon - During the War of the Sicilian Vespers and subsequent Aragonese-Neopolitan War, Achaea (the predecessor of the Latin Empire) was a tributary of Aragon, after having abandoned Naples. Aragon's aid was necessary in procuring lands across the region for the Latin Empire, and therefore the Empire looks upon Aragon with favor.
• Neutral (▬) Relations
  • Neopatria - These formerly-Byzantine lands were conquered by the Catalan Company. The Duchy of Neopatria is a member of the Latin League with the Empire, but other than this mutual-defensive pact, it remains to be seen how the future relations will play out.
  • Byzantine Empire - Following an extended period of war dating back to the Fourth Crusade, a rare rapproachment was brokered in the lead up to the Crusade of the Holy League. Latin prince Richard and Byzantine princess Irene were betrothed on terms favorable to the Latin Empire. It remains to be seen whether the two nations grow closer or further apart.
• Negative (▼) Relations
  • Anatolian Muslim Beyliks - Following the conquest of Caria (formerly Mentese) by Achaea, and exacerbated more recently by the Crusade of the Holy League against the Ottomans, relations with the Beyliks has been hostile. While the beyliks were originally seen as a counterbalance against the Byzantines, this has decidedly changed once Turks first set foot in Europe.
  • Serbia - Following the aggressive and expansionist attack on Latin Romania by Tsar Stephan of Serbia, in which the Empire defended itself, relations have been quite hostile. In the meanwhile, the Latin Empire has fortified and defended its border with Serbia.

Notes and Resources

• Book
• Resource
• Another resource (see p. 189 of the PDF)
• Interactive Resource