Partitio terrarum imperii Romaniae
Encyclopedia
The Partitio terrarum imperii Romaniae (Latin
for "partition of the lands of the Roman [Byzantine] Empire") was a treaty signed after the sack
of the Byzantine
capital, Constantinople
, by the Fourth Crusade
in 1204. It established the Latin Empire
and arranged the partition of the Byzantine territory among the participants of the Crusade, with the Republic of Venice
being the greatest beneficiary.
The treaty, which was promulgated either in late September/early October 1204 or (according to Nikolaos Oikonomides
) immediately after the sack in April–May 1204, was drafted by a 24-man committee consisting of 12 Venetians and 12 representatives of the other Crusader leaders. It gave the Latin Emperor direct control of one fourth of the Byzantine territory, to Venice three eighths – including three eighths of the city of Constantinople, with Hagia Sophia
– and the remaining three eighths were apportioned among the remaining Crusader chiefs. Through this division, Venice became the chief power in Latin Romania, and the effective power behind the Latin Empire, a fact clearly illustrated by the lofty title its Doge
acquired: Dominator quartae et dimidiae partis totius Romanius ("Lord of a quarter and a half quarter of all the Roman Empire").
The Partitio Romaniae initiated the period of Greek history known as Frankokratia or Latinokratia, where Catholic West European nobles, mostly from France and Italy, established states on former Byzantine territory and ruled over the mostly Orthodox native Byzantine Greeks
.
As the division was based on documents and tax registers from the Byzantine imperial chancery, the Partitio Romaniae is a valuable document for the possessions of the various Byzantine magnate families ca. 1203, as well as the areas still controlled by the Byzantine central government at the time.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "partition of the lands of the Roman [Byzantine] Empire") was a treaty signed after the sack
Siege of Constantinople (1204)
The Siege of Constantinople occurred in 1204; it destroyed parts of the capital of the Byzantine Empire as it was confiscated by Western European and Venetian Crusaders...
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...
capital, Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, by 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...
in 1204. It established the Latin Empire
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
and arranged the partition of the Byzantine territory among the participants of the Crusade, with the Republic of 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...
being the greatest beneficiary.
The treaty, which was promulgated either in late September/early October 1204 or (according to Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos or Nikos Oikonomides was a Greek-Canadian Byzantinist, and one of the leading experts in the field of Byzantine administration.- Biography :Oikonomides was born in Athens....
) immediately after the sack in April–May 1204, was drafted by a 24-man committee consisting of 12 Venetians and 12 representatives of the other Crusader leaders. It gave the Latin Emperor direct control of one fourth of the Byzantine territory, to Venice three eighths – including three eighths of the city of Constantinople, with Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
– and the remaining three eighths were apportioned among the remaining Crusader chiefs. Through this division, Venice became the chief power in Latin Romania, and the effective power behind the Latin Empire, a fact clearly illustrated by the lofty title its Doge
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
acquired: Dominator quartae et dimidiae partis totius Romanius ("Lord of a quarter and a half quarter of all the Roman Empire").
The Partitio Romaniae initiated the period of Greek history known as Frankokratia or Latinokratia, where Catholic West European nobles, mostly from France and Italy, established states on former Byzantine territory and ruled over the mostly Orthodox native Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
.
As the division was based on documents and tax registers from the Byzantine imperial chancery, the Partitio Romaniae is a valuable document for the possessions of the various Byzantine magnate families ca. 1203, as well as the areas still controlled by the Byzantine central government at the time.