Andrea Cornaro
Encyclopedia
Andrea Cornaro of the House of Cornaro, was the husband of Maria dalle Carceri
, widow of Albert Pallavicini
. He married Maria in 1312 and co-governed her half of the marquisate of Bodonitsa until his death.
Cornaro was a Venetian
and a Cretan
, baron of Scarpanto. After Albert's death, Bodonitsa was divided between his wife Maria and his daughter Guglielma
. The latter married Bartolomeo Zaccaria
. Cornaro was sought out by Maria in order to defend her and her daughter's rights to Bodonitsa in light of the recent Battle of Halmyros
, which had completely upended the political structure of Frankish Greece.
Having married an heiress of Euboea
, Cornaro tended to reside there. He had to weather an invasion by the Catalan Company
and the Duchy of Athens
under Alfonso Fadrique
. During that war, Bartolomeo was captured and carted off to a Sicilian
prison. In 1319, Cornaro, with Venice, made a treaty with the Catalans. He was constrained to pay an annual tribute of four destrier
s to the vicar general
of Athens. Four years later, he died.
Maria dalle Carceri
Maria dalle Carceri was the wife of Albert Pallavicini who succeeded to half of the marquisate of Bodonitsa on his death in 1311. While she avoided submitting her principality to the Catalan Company, she could not avoid paying an annual tribute of four destriers.Maria was descended from a Lombard...
, widow of Albert Pallavicini
Albert Pallavicini
Albert Pallavicini was the fifth margrave of Bodonitsa from his father's death until his own in 1311. His father was Thomas, a great nephew of the first margrave Guy. Albert married Maria dalle Carceri, a Venetian noblewoman from Euboea. He even obtained a sixth of that island with the official...
. He married Maria in 1312 and co-governed her half of the marquisate of Bodonitsa until his death.
Cornaro was a Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and a Cretan
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, baron of Scarpanto. After Albert's death, Bodonitsa was divided between his wife Maria and his daughter Guglielma
Guglielma Pallavicini
Guglielma Pallavicini , the Lady of Thermopylae, was the last Pallavicino heir to rule in Bodonitsa. She was but an infant when she succeeded her father Albert in 1311...
. The latter married Bartolomeo Zaccaria
Bartolomeo Zaccaria
Bartolomeo Zaccaria was the first husband of Guglielma Pallavicini and thus Margrave of Bodonitsa in her right...
. Cornaro was sought out by Maria in order to defend her and her daughter's rights to Bodonitsa in light of the recent Battle of Halmyros
Battle of Halmyros
The Battle of Halmyros, of Orchomenos, or of the Cephissus was fought on 15 March 1311 between the Frankish Greek forces of Walter V of Brienne and the mercenaries of the Catalan Company, resulting in a devastating victory for the Catalans....
, which had completely upended the political structure of Frankish Greece.
Having married an heiress of Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, Cornaro tended to reside there. He had to weather an invasion by the Catalan Company
Catalan Company
The Catalan Company of the East , officially the Magnas Societas Catalanorum, sometimes called the Grand Company and widely known as the Catalan Company, was a free company of mercenaries founded by Roger de Flor in the early 14th-century...
and the Duchy of Athens
Duchy of Athens
The Duchy of Athens was one of the Crusader States set up in Greece after the conquest of the Byzantine Empire during the Fourth Crusade, encompassing the regions of Attica and Boeotia, and surviving until its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century....
under Alfonso Fadrique
Alfonso Fadrique
Don Alfonso Fadrique was the eldest and illegitimate son of Frederick II of Sicily. He served as vicar general of the Duchy of Athens from 1317 to 1330....
. During that war, Bartolomeo was captured and carted off to a Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
prison. In 1319, Cornaro, with Venice, made a treaty with the Catalans. He was constrained to pay an annual tribute of four destrier
Destrier
The destrier is the best-known war horse of the medieval era. It carried knights in battles, tournaments, and jousts. It was described by contemporary sources as the Great Horse, due to its size and reputation....
s to the vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Athens. Four years later, he died.
Sources
- Setton, Kenneth M., gen. ed. A History of the Crusades: Volume III — The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Harry W. Hazard, editor. University of Wisconsin Press: Madison, 1975.
- Miller, W. "The Marquisate of Boudonitza (1204-1414)." Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 28, 1908, pp 234-249.
- Latin Lordships of Greece: Boudonitza.