Battle of Manolada
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Manolada was fought on July 5, 1316 at Manolada
, on the plains of Elis
in the Peloponnese
. The two leaders were Louis of Burgundy
and the Infante Ferdinand of Majorca
, both of whom claimed the Principality of Achaea
in right of their wives. The defeat and death of Ferdinand ensured the continued Angevin
supremacy over Achaea and checked the further movement of his allies, the Catalan Company
then occupying the Duchy of Athens
.
, the Angevins of the Kingdom of Naples
had inherited the Principality of Achaea upon the death of William II Villehardouin in 1278. They had, for some time, granted it to William's older daughter, Isabella of Villehardouin
, to rule. However, they remained feudal overlords of the Principality and retook in 1307, due to the misgovernment of Isabelle's husband Philip of Savoy. In 1312, on the death of Isabelle, her younger sister, Margaret, claimed the Principality under the terms of her father's will, which conflicted with the Treaty of Viterbo.
The Angevins, as part of a complex marital pact and transfer of rights, arranged the marriage of Isabelle's eldest daughter, Matilda of Hainaut
, to Louis of Burgundy in 1313, and invested the couple with the Principality. Margaret of Villehardouin, for her own part, arranged the marriage of her daughter, Isabelle de Sabran, to Ferdinand of Majorca
, a member of the House of Aragon
and opponent of the Angevins.
, which he took after an early setback. In the following weeks, he proceeded to conquer the plain of Elis, including Andravida
, the capital of the Principality, a conquest which he considered complete by 17 August 1315.
It was another few months before Louis was even on his way to the Principality, first stopping in Venice
to procure more aid against the usurper. In the meantime, Louis' wife, Matilda of Hainaut
, travelled directly to the Principality, whereupon she was greeted by a number of local lords, including John Orsini, the count of Cephalonia
, and the baron of Chalandritsa
, who repudiated their earlier oaths to Ferdinand and declared for her.
In response, Ferdinand attacked and conquered Chalandritsa, but failed to do the same at Patras. It was not long after this that the forces of Ferdinand engaged the forces of Margaret at the Battle of Picotin, which saw the former victorious.
It was about this time that Louis finally arrived in the Principality.
After an unsuccessful attempt to capture the castle of Chalandritsa from Ferdinand, Louis moved to Patras
, where his troops were reinforced by Byzantine
forces sent by the governor of Mistra, Michael Kantakouzenos
. For his own part, Ferdinand expected reinforcements from the Catalans in the Duchy of Athens and from Majorca
, but rather than retreat to Glarentza
to await their arrival, he determined to give battle.
. However, the second line, under the direct command of Louis, crushed the Majorcan charge, and Ferdinand was knocked from his horse and inadvertently slain before he could be taken prisoner. As a result, the morale of his troops collapsed, and many fled towards Glarentza.
had gone over to Ferdinand's side, and was executed on the field as a traitor by Louis. The head of Ferdinand was displayed before the gates of Glarentza, still held against Louis, the next day. The reinforcements sent by the Catalan Company had reached Vostitsa by the time of the battle, but returned to Athens on the news of Ferdinand's death. Troops from Majorca arrived by sea at Glarentza ten days later, and proposed holding the city in the name of Ferdinand's son James
, but, with the aid of bribes, were eventually persuaded to surrender the city to Louis.
However, Louis did not long enjoy his victory, dying only four weeks after the battle, leaving the 22-year-old, twice widowed Matilda ruler of the crumbling Principality.
Manolada
Manolada is a Greek village located 54 km southwest of Patras and about 50 km northeast of Pyrgos. The GR-9/E55 are accessed via the road to Varda and the road to Lappa. Manolada had a 2001 population of 1,522 for the village and 1,835 for the municipal district...
, on the plains of Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
in the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
. The two leaders were Louis of Burgundy
Louis of Burgundy
Louis of Burgundy , Prince of Achaea and titular King of Thessalonica, was a younger son of Robert II, Duke of Burgundy and Agnes of France....
and the Infante Ferdinand of Majorca
Ferdinand of Majorca
Ferdinand of Majorca , Infante of Majorca, was the third son of James II of Majorca, Viscount of Aumelas and Lord of Frontignan....
, both of whom claimed the 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 right of their wives. The defeat and death of Ferdinand ensured the continued Angevin
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
supremacy over Achaea and checked the further movement of his allies, 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...
then occupying 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....
.
Background
By the terms of the Treaty of ViterboTreaty of Viterbo
The Treaty of Viterbo was a pair of agreements made by Charles I of Sicily with Baldwin II of Constantinople and William II Villehardouin, Prince of Achaea, on 27 May 1267, which transferred much of the rights to the Latin Empire from Baldwin to Charles.-Background:The recapture of Constantinople...
, the Angevins of the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
had inherited the Principality of Achaea upon the death of William II Villehardouin in 1278. They had, for some time, granted it to William's older daughter, Isabella of Villehardouin
Isabella of Villehardouin
Isabella of Villehardouin was the elder daughter of William II of Villehardouin, Prince of Achaea, and of his second wife Anna, the third daughter of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, the despot of Epiros....
, to rule. However, they remained feudal overlords of the Principality and retook in 1307, due to the misgovernment of Isabelle's husband Philip of Savoy. In 1312, on the death of Isabelle, her younger sister, Margaret, claimed the Principality under the terms of her father's will, which conflicted with the Treaty of Viterbo.
The Angevins, as part of a complex marital pact and transfer of rights, arranged the marriage of Isabelle's eldest daughter, Matilda of Hainaut
Matilda of Hainaut
Matilda of Hainaut was the Princess of Achaea from 1313 to 1318.From 1307, when Philip of Savoy relinquished his claim, to 1312, when Isabella of Villehardouin died, Achaea was disputed between two claimants: Isabella and Philip I of Taranto. In 1313, Philip granted it to Matilda, daughter of...
, to Louis of Burgundy in 1313, and invested the couple with the Principality. Margaret of Villehardouin, for her own part, arranged the marriage of her daughter, Isabelle de Sabran, to Ferdinand of Majorca
Ferdinand of Majorca
Ferdinand of Majorca , Infante of Majorca, was the third son of James II of Majorca, Viscount of Aumelas and Lord of Frontignan....
, a member of the House of Aragon
House of Aragon
The House of Aragon is the name given several royal houses that ruled the County, the Kingdom or the Crown of Aragon.Some historiansGuillermo Fatás y Guillermo Redondo, Alberto Montaner Frutos, Faustino Menéndez Pidal de Navascués...
and opponent of the Angevins.
Prelude
Ferdinand arrived in the Principality first, in mid-1315, near the port city GlarentzaGlarentza
Glarentza is a medieval city located next to the location of today's Kyllini in the Ilia prefecture, Greece.Glarentza, a corruption of Clarentia or Clarence, was an important city, mint and port during Frankish rule in the Peloponnese...
, which he took after an early setback. In the following weeks, he proceeded to conquer the plain of Elis, including Andravida
Andravida
Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
, the capital of the Principality, a conquest which he considered complete by 17 August 1315.
It was another few months before Louis was even on his way to the Principality, first stopping in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to procure more aid against the usurper. In the meantime, Louis' wife, Matilda of Hainaut
Matilda of Hainaut
Matilda of Hainaut was the Princess of Achaea from 1313 to 1318.From 1307, when Philip of Savoy relinquished his claim, to 1312, when Isabella of Villehardouin died, Achaea was disputed between two claimants: Isabella and Philip I of Taranto. In 1313, Philip granted it to Matilda, daughter of...
, travelled directly to the Principality, whereupon she was greeted by a number of local lords, including John Orsini, the count of Cephalonia
County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
The County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos existed from 1185 until 1479, as part of the Kingdom of Sicily.The title and the right to rule the Ionian islands of Cephalonia and Zakynthos was originally given to Margaritus of Brindisi for his services to William II, king of Sicily, in...
, and the baron of Chalandritsa
Chalandritsa
Chalandritsa is a village in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Erymanthos, of which it is the seat of administration....
, who repudiated their earlier oaths to Ferdinand and declared for her.
In response, Ferdinand attacked and conquered Chalandritsa, but failed to do the same at Patras. It was not long after this that the forces of Ferdinand engaged the forces of Margaret at the Battle of Picotin, which saw the former victorious.
It was about this time that Louis finally arrived in the Principality.
After an unsuccessful attempt to capture the castle of Chalandritsa from Ferdinand, Louis moved to Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
, where his troops were reinforced by Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
forces sent by the governor of Mistra, Michael Kantakouzenos
Michael Kantakouzenos
Michael Kantakouzenos was the first epitropos of the Byzantine province of the Morea, a position he held from 1308 till his death in 1316.-Despot:...
. For his own part, Ferdinand expected reinforcements from the Catalans in the Duchy of Athens and from Majorca
Kingdom of Majorca
The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...
, but rather than retreat to Glarentza
Glarentza
Glarentza is a medieval city located next to the location of today's Kyllini in the Ilia prefecture, Greece.Glarentza, a corruption of Clarentia or Clarence, was an important city, mint and port during Frankish rule in the Peloponnese...
to await their arrival, he determined to give battle.
Description
At the first onset, the Majorcan troops broke the first Burgundian line, commanded by John Orsini, count of CephaloniaKefalonia
The island of Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia , is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of . It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit...
. However, the second line, under the direct command of Louis, crushed the Majorcan charge, and Ferdinand was knocked from his horse and inadvertently slain before he could be taken prisoner. As a result, the morale of his troops collapsed, and many fled towards Glarentza.
Aftermath
John II de Nivelet, Lord of GerakiGeronthres
Geronthres is a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Evrotas, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of administration was the village Geraki. The municipal population is approx...
had gone over to Ferdinand's side, and was executed on the field as a traitor by Louis. The head of Ferdinand was displayed before the gates of Glarentza, still held against Louis, the next day. The reinforcements sent by the Catalan Company had reached Vostitsa by the time of the battle, but returned to Athens on the news of Ferdinand's death. Troops from Majorca arrived by sea at Glarentza ten days later, and proposed holding the city in the name of Ferdinand's son James
James III of Majorca
James III , called the Rash or the Unfortunate, son of Ferdinand of Majorca and Isabelle de Sabran, heiress of Principality of Achaea, was the King of Majorca from 1324 to 1344. He was the last independent king of Majorca of the House of Barcelona.James was born at Catania...
, but, with the aid of bribes, were eventually persuaded to surrender the city to Louis.
However, Louis did not long enjoy his victory, dying only four weeks after the battle, leaving the 22-year-old, twice widowed Matilda ruler of the crumbling Principality.