Latin Empire
In April 1204, the crusader army sacked Constantinople instead of Jerusalem. The original plan had been to restore Isaac II Angelos to his throne after he was usurped by Alexios III Angelos. Isaac's son Alexios IV promised financial and military aid to fund a journey to the Holy Land. When the crusaders arrived in the city, they received no payment from the Byzantine rulers. The situation turned volatile within weeks of their arrival. The leaders decided to capture the city's enormous wealth rather than continue their pilgrimage. They selected Baldwin IX of Flanders as their own emperor from among their ranks.
Historians first used the term Latin Empire in the 16th century to distinguish this state from other Roman entities. Contemporary documents referred to it as the Constantinopolitan Empire or Romania. The crusaders were Roman Catholic and used Latin for liturgy while locals spoke Greek. A German chronicle called the new ruler imperator Grecorum or emperor of the Greeks. This title matched the one previously used for Alexios I Komnenos. Baldwin I placed Rom on his seals leaving open whether he meant land of the Romans or the Romans themselves. Henry later called the empire Emperor of Romania in at least one letter sent to Pope Innocent III. Marino Sanuto the Elder described it as August Latin Empire of the Romans in Venetian records.
The Treaty of Partition signed on the 1st of October 1204 divided three eighths of the empire including Crete to Venice. The Latin Empire claimed the remainder and controlled areas of Greece divided into vassal fiefs. These included the Kingdom of Thessalonica and the Principality of Achaea. Further duchies were projected in Asia Minor at Nicaea and Nicomedia but remained theoretical. Louis of Blois was killed in 1205 before establishing control over Nicaea. Thierry de Loos was captured by Nicaeans in 1207 and left the empire two years later. Philadelphia never came under actual Latin control despite Henry of Flanders defeating Theodore Mangaphas in 1205. Neokastra was divided among Knights Hospitaller and other feudatories without a single holder.
At the Battle of Adrianople on the 14th of April 1205, Kaloyan crushed the Latin heavy cavalry with Cuman allies. Emperor Baldwin was imprisoned in Tarnovo until his death later that year. Kaloyan died during a siege of Thessalonica in 1207 allowing Henry of Flanders to reclaim lost territories. Michael I Komnenos Doukas posed a threat from the Despotate of Epirus in 1210. He forced Henry back into submission after attacking the Kingdom of Thessalonica. Theodore Komnenos Doukas succeeded Michael in 1214 determined to capture Thessalonica. Henry died supervising repairs to the walls of Thessalonica on the 11th of June 1216. Peter of Courtenay was executed by Theodore the following year while Yolanda ruled alone until her death in 1219.
The Latins dismantled the Greek economic administration immediately after conquest disrupting all forms of production. By the 1230s Constantinople faced a major shortage of basic foodstuffs despite its reduced population. The only significant export basis for the economy was the sale of looted religious relics to Western Europe. Emperor Baldwin II sold the relic of the Crown of Thorns while traveling to France seeking funds. He removed lead roofs from the Great Palace and sold them to raise money. He even handed over his son Philip to Venetian merchants as a guarantee for a loan. Almost from its inception the empire sent requests to the papacy for aid.
Alexios Strategopoulos led an advance force of 800 soldiers mostly Cumans to spy on Latin defenses in July 1261. Local farmers told him the entire Latin garrison and Venetian fleet were absent raiding Daphnousia. Strategopoulos hesitated fearing destruction if the army returned too soon but decided not to squander the opportunity. On the night of 24/the 25th of July he approached the city walls hiding at a monastery near the Gate of the Spring. A detachment entered through a secret passage and opened the gate giving Nicaean forces entry into the city. The Latins were taken completely unaware and hurriedly rushed to the harbours of the Golden Horn hoping to escape by ship. Strategopoulos set fire to Venetian buildings along the coast to prevent their landing.
For about a century thereafter heirs of Baldwin II continued to use the title Emperor of Constantinople. They exercised effective authority in Greece only when ruling as princes of Achaea from 1333 to 1383. James of Baux was the last Latin emperor to govern any imperial territory through Achaea. His reign lasted from 1374 until his death on the 7th of July 1383. These claimants remained overlords of various remaining Latin states in the Aegean Sea. The imperial title survived until the fourteenth century despite the loss of Constantinople itself. The remaining Latin states ruled territories of present-day Greece some until the 18th century known collectively as Latinokratia.
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Common questions
When did the Latin Empire replace the Byzantine Empire?
The Latin Empire replaced the Byzantine Empire in April 1204 when the crusader army sacked Constantinople. This event marked the end of the original plan to restore Isaac II Angelos to his throne after he was usurped by Alexios III Angelos.
Who became the first emperor of the Latin Empire and what title did they use?
Baldwin IX of Flanders became the first emperor of the Latin Empire selected from among the crusader ranks. He placed Rom on his seals leaving open whether he meant land of the Romans or the Romans themselves while later rulers called the empire Emperor of Romania.
What happened to Baldwin I during the Battle of Adrianople on the 14th of April 1205?
Emperor Baldwin was imprisoned in Tarnovo until his death later that year after Kaloyan crushed the Latin heavy cavalry with Cuman allies at the Battle of Adrianople. The conflict occurred on the 14th of April 1205 and resulted in the loss of significant territory for the new state.
How did the economy of the Latin Empire function after the conquest of Constantinople?
The Latins dismantled the Greek economic administration immediately after conquest disrupting all forms of production within the city. By the 1230s Constantinople faced a major shortage of basic foodstuffs despite its reduced population and relied on selling looted religious relics to Western Europe as its only significant export basis.
When did Alexios Strategopoulos recapture Constantinople from the Latin Empire?
Alexios Strategopoulos recaptured Constantinople on the night of the 24th of July 1261 when he led an advance force of 800 soldiers mostly Cumans into the city. A detachment entered through a secret passage near the Gate of the Spring giving Nicaean forces entry while the Latins were taken completely unaware.