Araklovon Castle
Encyclopedia
Araklovon or Araclovon was a medieval castle
of the Byzantine
era located in southwestern Peloponnese
in Greece
. The castle was built on the top of a steep cliff of the Minthi mountain, at an altitude of 980m. The location was strategic; it oversaw the only passage (droungos) from the port city of Glarentza
to the regions of Messenia
and Gortyna. At the time of the Fourth Crusade
(ca. 1204), it served as the stronghold and headquarters of Doxapatres Boutsaras
, who ruled the region around it as an independent lord.
During the campaign for the conquest of the Morea
, the crusader army under William of Champlitte
attacked the castle in order to seize control of the area and incorporate it into the Latin Principality of Achaea
. However, the defense set up by Boutsaras was strong and frustrated the invading forces for several years. The castle was eventually taken ca. 1210.
conquest of the Morea
, which took place during the 15th century, the castle was briefly occupied by the Turks, who later abandoned it. Over time, the once powerful fortress fell into ruins, and its location was forgotten. After the establishment of the modern Greek state
, archaeologists and historians were not able to identify the exact location of the castle, due to limited historical information. Over 24 castle sites, over a large territory had been proposed as being the Araklovon, until the study of a document from the Grimani Archives (Archivio Grimani) in Venice
finally brought an end to the dispute.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
of the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
era located in southwestern 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...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The castle was built on the top of a steep cliff of the Minthi mountain, at an altitude of 980m. The location was strategic; it oversaw the only passage (droungos) from the port city of 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 the regions of Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
and Gortyna. At the time of the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
(ca. 1204), it served as the stronghold and headquarters of Doxapatres Boutsaras
Doxapatres Boutsaras
Doxapatres Boutsaras was a Byzantine Greek independent lord in the central Peloponnese in the early 13th century. He had his headquarters in the Araklovon Castle, which is located near the Minthi village, in the Municipality of Zacharo. He withstood the attacks of the Franks of the Fourth Crusade...
, who ruled the region around it as an independent lord.
During the campaign for the conquest of the Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
, the crusader army under William of Champlitte
William of Champlitte
William I of Champlitte was a French knight who joined the Fourth Crusade and became the first prince of Achaea .- Early years and the Fourth Crusade :...
attacked the castle in order to seize control of the area and incorporate it into the Latin 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...
. However, the defense set up by Boutsaras was strong and frustrated the invading forces for several years. The castle was eventually taken ca. 1210.
Location issue
After the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest of the Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
, which took place during the 15th century, the castle was briefly occupied by the Turks, who later abandoned it. Over time, the once powerful fortress fell into ruins, and its location was forgotten. After the establishment of the modern Greek state
History of modern Greece
The history of modern Greece covers the history of Greece from the recognition of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832 after the Greek War of Independence to the present day.- Background :In 1821, the Greeks rose up against the Ottoman Empire...
, archaeologists and historians were not able to identify the exact location of the castle, due to limited historical information. Over 24 castle sites, over a large territory had been proposed as being the Araklovon, until the study of a document from the Grimani Archives (Archivio Grimani) 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...
finally brought an end to the dispute.