NEW YORK, NY –
The Eastern Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance presents the “Sack of Constantinople and Latin/Frankish Greece (1204-1566)” Webinar Panel Discussion on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 2 P.M EST/ 9 P.M. Athens EEST.
The panel discussion will be introduced and moderated by Lou Katsos, EMBCA’s President, and will include Dr. Constantine G. Hatzidimitriou; Prof. Ilias Giarenis, Vice Rector Ionian University; Author/ Historian/ independent Scholar Dr. Nikos Nikoloudis; and Prof. Dr. Johannes Niehoff-Panagiotidis of the Freie Universität Berlin.
“The Sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade is one of the most significant, controversial and pivotal events in medieval history. This event not only marked the decline of the Byzantine Empire but also had profound repercussions throughout Hellas, as Latin powers established themselves in various regions, fundamentally altering and reshaping of the political and cultural landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Crusaders laid siege to the city, which fell after a brutal assault on April 12, 1204. The sack was characterized by extensive looting, destruction, and atrocities committed by the Crusading forces, including the desecration of churches and holy relics, which shocked and alienated the Orthodox Christian world”, noted Katsos.
“In Hellas, the Latin conquest led to the establishment of various Latin principalities and duchies, fundamentally altering the region’s governance. The most notable of these was the Principality of Achaea in the Peloponnese, founded by William of Champlitte and Geoffrey I of Villehardouin. This principality became a prominent Latin state, governed by Western feudal principles and integrated into the broader Latin Christian world. The Duchy of Athens and the Duchy of the Archipelago were other significant Latin states established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade”.
The Latin occupation of Hellenic territories after 1204 left a lasting legacy and which in some areas lasted a long time. It contributed to the fragmentation and weakening of Byzantine power, which facilitated the eventual Ottoman conquest of the region in the 15th century. Culturally, the Latin presence introduced Western European influences, particularly in architecture and feudal organization, which persisted even after the restoration of Byzantine rule. The complex interactions between Latin and Hellenic populations during this period also left a lasting imprint on the region’s religious and social fabric. Join us in this discussion of one of the most fascinating and in some ways least known period of Hellenic history”, he added.
For more info: “Sack of Constantinople and Latin/Frankish Hellas (1204-1566)” Webinar Panel Discussion – EMBCA
