Argos and Nauplia
Encyclopedia
During the late Middle Ages
, the two cities of Argos
and Nauplia (Nafplio
) formed a separate Lordship within the Frankish
Principality of Achaea
in southern Greece
.
The cities were granted as a fief in 1211 – 1212 to Otto of La Roche, Duke of Athens
, by Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
, Prince of Achaea. The lordship remained in the possession of the Brienne Dukes of Athens even after their expulsion from Athens
in 1311, and those Dukes continued to be recognized there. Walter VI of Brienne
was largely an absentee lord, spending most of his life in his European domains, and the lordship was inherited by his sister Isabella of Brienne
at his death in 1356. When she divided her inheritance, her sixth son, Guy of Enghien received the lordship and took up residence there. It passed to his daughter Marie of Enghien when he died in 1376. In 1377, she married Peter Cornaro, who would also reside there until his death in 1388. Shortly after his death, Marie sold the two cities to Venice
and retired there.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the two cities of Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
and Nauplia (Nafplio
Nafplion
Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the peripheral unit of...
) formed a separate Lordship within the Frankish
Frangokratia
The Frankokratia or Frangokratia , also known as Latinokratia is the period in Greek history after the Fourth Crusade , when a number of Western European Crusader states were established in Greece, on the territory of the dissolved Byzantine Empire .The term derives from the fact that Orthodox...
Principality of Achaea
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
in southern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
The cities were granted as a fief in 1211 – 1212 to Otto of La Roche, Duke 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....
, by Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
Geoffrey I of Villehardouin was a French knight from the County of Champagne who joined the Fourth Crusade. He participated in the conquest of the Peloponnese and became the second prince of Achaea ....
, Prince of Achaea. The lordship remained in the possession of the Brienne Dukes of Athens even after their expulsion from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 1311, and those Dukes continued to be recognized there. Walter VI of Brienne
Walter VI of Brienne
Walter VI of Brienne was Count of Brienne, Conversano, and Lecce, and titular Duke of Athens. Walter was the son of Walter V, Duke of Athens, and Jeanne de Châtillon , the daughter of the Count of Porcien, a constable to King Philip IV of France.As grandson of Hugh of Brienne Walter VI of Brienne...
was largely an absentee lord, spending most of his life in his European domains, and the lordship was inherited by his sister Isabella of Brienne
Isabella of Brienne
Isabella of Brienne was suo jure Countess of Lecce and Conversano, claimant to the Duchy of Athens and Kingdom of Jerusalem, etc.-Family and early years:...
at his death in 1356. When she divided her inheritance, her sixth son, Guy of Enghien received the lordship and took up residence there. It passed to his daughter Marie of Enghien when he died in 1376. In 1377, she married Peter Cornaro, who would also reside there until his death in 1388. Shortly after his death, Marie sold the two cities to Venice
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 retired there.
List of Lords of Argos and Nauplia
- Otto de la RocheOtto de la RocheOtto de la Roche was a Burgundian nobleman from the castle of La Roche-sur-l'Ognon, in the Franche-Comté commune of Rigney, Doubs. He joined the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and became the first Duke of Athens...
(1205–1225) - Guy I de la RocheGuy I de la RocheGuy I de la Roche was the Duke of Athens , the nephew and successor of the first duke Otto. After the conquest of Thebes, Otto gave half the city in lordship to Guy....
(1225–1263) - John I de la RocheJohn I de la RocheJohn I de la Roche succeeded his father, Guy I, as Duke of Athens in 1263. He was cultured and chivalrous, spoke fluent Greek, and read Herodotus.In 1275, John, with 300 knights, relieved Neopatras, blockaded by a Byzantine mercenary army...
(1263–1280) - William de la Roche (1280–1287)
- Guy II de la RocheGuy II de la RocheGuy II de la Roche was the Duke of Athens from 1287, the last duke of his family. He succeeded as a minor on the death of his father, William I, at a time when the duchy of Athens had exceeded the Principality of Achaea in wealth, power, and importance.Guy was originally under the tutorship and...
(1287–1308) - Walter V of BrienneWalter V of BrienneGautier or Walter V of Brienne was born in Brienne-le-Château, Aube, Champagne, France. He was the son of Hugh de Candie des Brienne, known as Hugh of Brienne, Count of Brienne and Lecce, and Isabella de la Roche, daughter of Guy I of la Roche, Duke of Athens...
(1308–1311) - Walter VI of BrienneWalter VI of BrienneWalter VI of Brienne was Count of Brienne, Conversano, and Lecce, and titular Duke of Athens. Walter was the son of Walter V, Duke of Athens, and Jeanne de Châtillon , the daughter of the Count of Porcien, a constable to King Philip IV of France.As grandson of Hugh of Brienne Walter VI of Brienne...
(1311–1356) - Isabella of BrienneIsabella of BrienneIsabella of Brienne was suo jure Countess of Lecce and Conversano, claimant to the Duchy of Athens and Kingdom of Jerusalem, etc.-Family and early years:...
(1356–1360) with her son: - Guy of Enghien (1356–1376)
- Marie of Enghien (1376–1388) with her husband Peter Cornaro (17 May 1377–1388)
- to VeniceRepublic of VeniceThe 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...