Principality of Achaea: Encyclopedia II - Principality of Achaea - The feudal conflict of Morea 1307-1383

Principality of Achaea - The feudal conflict of Morea 1307-1383

The main picture of this century-long situation: The Principality was under violent succession dispute. That originated from dispossessed Latin Emperor Baldwin II giving overlordship of Achaia to Charles I of Sicily, in order to gain his support for reconquering the throne in Constantinople - Baldwin did not secure the rights of Villehardouin Princes of Achaia when doing that. As a result, Angevin kings of Naples gave Achaia as their fief to a series of their own relatives and creatures, who fought against Princess Margaret Villehardouin and her heirs. Basically these, recurring disputes continued until 1373.

Charles II of Naples had granted the fiefdom of Morea or Achaea to Princess Isabella Villehardouin (from the Villehardouin dynasty), but she was deposed in 1307 by Charles II and it was then granted to Philip I of Taranto, son of Charles I, who in 1313 transferred it to Matilda (or Mafalda, or Maud) of Hainaut, heiress of Isabella Villehardouin, who was married to Louis of Burgundy, Titular King of Thessalonica. But Margaret, (younger) daughter of William II Villehardouin, claimed her rights from 1307. In 1313 she claimed it again without success and then transferred her rights to her daughter Isabelle of Sabran, wife of Ferdinand of Majorca. The son of Ferdinand and Isabelle, known as James the Unfortunate, was proclaimed prince of Morea in 1315 under the regency of his father, who conquered the principality (1315 to 1316) but was defeated and executed by Louis of Burgundy and Matilda (1316). In 1318 Louis of Burgundy died and king Robert of Naples deposed Matilda, and gave the principality to his brother John of Durazzo. From 1331 the feudal lords began to recognize the rights of James, and in 1333 the recognition was total. Then John transferred his rights to his sister-in-law, Catherine of Valois, Titular Empress of Constantinople, wife of Philip I of Taranto, whose stepson Robert claimed her rights until 1346 when she died, and then the claim was issued by the son of Philip and Catherine, Philip II of Taranto. In 1349 James was succeded by his son James IV (II of Morea). In 1364 Robert of Taranto, stepson of Catherine and eldest surviving son of Philip I of Taranto, died. In 1373 Philip II transferred his rights to his cousin and overlord, the queen Joan I of Naples, wife of James IV of Majorca, who, when he died in 1375, left the principality as a legacy to his wife and queen Joan, who at that point became more or less uncontested Princess of Achaia. However, when Joan was imprisoned in Naples in 1381, another, much younger James, James of Baux, grandson of Catherine and nephew of Philip II, who 1374 had become Titular Emperor of Constantinople, used the opportunity and seized Achaia. In 1383, Achaia was annexed by Charles III of Naples, successor and murderer of Joan I, who was grandson of John of Durazzo, at which point James of Baux was driven away. In 1383 the Vicary government began, lasting until 1396, under Durazzo kings of Naples.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The feudal conflict of Morea 1307-1383", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki