Byzantine & Middle Ages

Between the 13th and 16th centuries various Western European powers (commonly referred to as “Latins” or “Franks”) controlled parts of Greece following the Fourth Crusade. This period marked a significant shift in Greek history, with Western feudal systems imposed on Byzantine territories and interactions between Latin and Orthodox Christian cultures.

In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, the crusaders captured Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The empire was fragmented, and its lands were divided among the Crusaders and their allies. The Latin Empire was established in Constantinople, and various Frankish vassal states and principalities were set up in former Byzantine territories, including parts of Greece. In the Peloponnese William of Champlitte and  Geoffrey I of Villehardouin founded the Principality of Achaea (1205–1432), that was to become one of the most important Frankish states in Greece. The Venetians acquired key territories such as Modon (Methoni) and Coron (Korini), and other coastal outposts, which they transformed into fortified trade hubs.

In 1259, the Byzantine Empire of Nicaea (a Byzantine successor state) defeated a coalition of Latin forces at the Battle of Pelagonia, capturing many Latin leaders, including Prince William II of Villehardouin. As part of his ransom, William was forced to cede key fortresses, including Monemvasia, Mystra, and Geraki, to the Byzantines in 1262. These territories became the foundation for the Despotate of the Morea, a Byzantine stronghold in the Peloponnese.

Over the 14th century, the Despotate of the Morea expanded its influence, gradually reclaiming territory from the Franks. Byzantine rulers capitalized on Frankish instability caused by succession crises, infighting, and external pressures. During this period, external powers like the Catalan Company and the Navarrese Company intervened in Frankish territories, further weakening the Principality of Achaea.

The arrival of the Black Death in the Morea in 1347 caused massive depopulation in both urban and rural areas. Historical accounts suggest that some towns and villages were entirely abandoned. The combined effects of plague, famine, and warfare reduced the population of the Peloponnese by an estimated 30%-50% during the first outbreak. The devastation of agricultural communities led to widespread abandonment of farmland, reducing grain and olive oil production, which were vital for local subsistence and trade. Labor shortages drove up the cost of labor, while landowners struggled to find tenants for their estates.

Seeking to address depopulation caused by warfare, the pandemic and economic decline, the Despots of the Morea encouraged the settlement of Albanian tribes (Arvanites) in the Morea, whose presence would significantly shape the demographic and social fabric of the Peloponnese in the next centuries. The Arvanites revitalized agricultural production in regions that had suffered from depopulation. Many were recruited as stratiotes (soldiers) by the Byzantines, serving as a local militia to defend the Morea from raids by the Ottomans. Venetians and other adversaries. They played a significant role during the Byzantine reconquest of parts of the Morea  and later, after the Ottoman conquest of the Despotate of the Morea, played a central role in the defense of Venetian territories against Ottoman expansion.

By the early 15th century, the Despotate of the Morea had become a major Byzantine power center, particularly under the rule of the Palaiologos dynasty. The Venetians, concerned about Byzantine territorial gains, supported the weakened Franks and sought alliances with local Latin lords to counter Byzantine expansion, but, by 1435, almost all remaining Frankish territories in the Morea had been absorbed by the Despotate of the Morea.

By the mid-15th century, the Ottoman Empire was rapidly expanding, posing a threat to both the Byzantines and the remnants of Latin rule. Despite Byzantine success in the Morea, the Ottoman conquest of the region in 1460 brought an end to both the Despotate of the Morea and the last vestiges of Frankish power in the Peloponnese. The Venetians managed to retain control of Napoli di Romania, Coron, Modon, and other coastal holdings, but their influence waned as the Ottomans solidified control over the region.