The Frankish Mendenitsa
The Frankish Mendenitsa
The History of the Frankish ruled Mendenitsa (1204 - 1414) is described in an article authored by the British historian William Miller (1864-1945). The article, entitled “The Marquisate of Boudonitza 1204-1414”, was published in 1908 in The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Cambridge University Press*.
The History of the Frankish ruled Mendenitsa (1204 - 1414) is described in an article authored by the British historian William Miller (1864-1945). The article, entitled “The Marquisate of Boudonitza 1204-1414”, was published in 1908 in The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Cambridge University Press*.
- November 1908 , pp. 234-249
The Marquisate of Boudonitza (1204-1414)
The Marquisate of Boudonitza (1204-1414)
- Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 December 2013
Extract
Extract
Of all the feudal lordships, founded in Northern Greece at the time of the Frankish Conquest, the most important and the most enduring was the Marquisate of Boudonitza. Like the Venieri and the Viari in the two islands of Cerigo and Cerigotto at the extreme south, the lords of Boudonitza were Marquesses in the literal sense of the term—wardens of the Greek Marches— and they maintained their responsible position on the outskirts of the Duchy of Athens until after the establishment of the Turks in Thessaly. Apart, too, from its historic importance, the Marquisate of Boudonitza possesses the romantic glamour which is shed over a famous classical site by the chivalry of the middle ages. What stranger accident could there have been than that which made two noble Italian families the successive guardians of the historic pass of Thermopylae which is for ever associated with the death of Leonidas.
Of all the feudal lordships, founded in Northern Greece at the time of the Frankish Conquest, the most important and the most enduring was the Marquisate of Boudonitza. Like the Venieri and the Viari in the two islands of Cerigo and Cerigotto at the extreme south, the lords of Boudonitza were Marquesses in the literal sense of the term—wardens of the Greek Marches— and they maintained their responsible position on the outskirts of the Duchy of Athens until after the establishment of the Turks in Thessaly. Apart, too, from its historic importance, the Marquisate of Boudonitza possesses the romantic glamour which is shed over a famous classical site by the chivalry of the middle ages. What stranger accident could there have been than that which made two noble Italian families the successive guardians of the historic pass of Thermopylae which is for ever associated with the death of Leonidas.
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* The whole article can be retrieved as a pdf form a Wikipedia webpage on the Marquisate of Bodonitsa (see sources).
* The whole article can be retrieved as a pdf form a Wikipedia webpage on the Marquisate of Bodonitsa (see sources).