Duchy of Athens: Map & History
The Duchy of Athens was one of the Crusader states set up in Greece after the conquest of the Byzantine Empire during the Fourth Crusade as part of the process known as Frankokratia, encompassing the regions of Attica and Boeotia.
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The Duchy of Athens was one of the Crusader states set up in Greece after the conquest of the Byzantine Empire during the Fourth Crusade as part of the process known as Frankokratia, encompassing the regions of Attica and Boeotia. Its history can be divided into three periods: the rule of the French de la Roche dynasty (1205–1311), the Catalan dominion (1311–1388) and finally the rule of the Italian Acciaioli (1388–1458), which came to a close with the Ottoman conquest in 1458.
Modern Countries Once Part of Duchy of Athens
At its mapped extent, Duchy of Athens covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Duchy of Athens's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Duchy of Athens in Depth
History
The first duke of Athens (as well as of Thebes, at first) was Otto de la Roche, a minor Burgundian knight of the Fourth Crusade. Although he was known as the "Duke of Athens" from the foundation of the duchy in 1205, the title did not become official until 1260. Instead, Otto proclaimed himself "Lord of Athens" (in Latin Dominus Athenarum, in French Sire d'Athenes). The local Greeks called the dukes "Megas Kyris" (Greek: Μέγας Κύρης, "Great Lord"), from which the shortened form "Megaskyr", often used even by the Franks to refer to the Duke of Athens, is derived.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Duchy of Athens (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Duchy of Athens: Key Facts
| Capital | Thebes |
|---|---|
| Official language | Greek |
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Form of government | vassal, duchy |
| Founded | 1205 |
| Dissolved | 1458 |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q334714 (CC0).
Duchy of Athens Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Duchy of Athens appears, with the other states of the time.
Duchy of Athens Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 8,834 km² in 1238 CE.
Duchy of Athens: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Duchy of Athens exist?
Duchy of Athens is dated to 1206 CE – 1313 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Duchy of Athens?
The capital of Duchy of Athens was Athens, Thebes.
How large was Duchy of Athens at its peak?
At its peak in 1238 AD Duchy of Athens covered about 8,834 km².
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