Guy I de la Roche

Guido I de la Roche (French: Guy; * 1205, † 1263 ) was a United Lord of Athens and Thebes from the family la Roche. Since 1260 he has held the title of Duke.

According to different data Guido was a son of Otto de la Roche or his brother, Pons de la Roche, Lord of Flagey. Guido had at least three siblings:

  • Bonne, heiress to a half of Thebes, ∞ with Béla de St. Omer
  • William, ancestor of the Lords of Veligosti
  • Otto, Regent of Athens

Life

Great lord of Thebes and Athens

Guido took part in the Fourth Crusade and returned after the conquest of Constantinople Opel ( 1204) back to his homeland. But after Otto de la Roche had risen in ancient Greece, one of the leading Latin princes, Guido, and with him went several family members back to Greece. In 1211 he was entrusted by Otto with the domination of Thebes. After 1225 Otto de la Roche returned to the Burgundian homeland, Guido the new Grand Lord ( Megaskyr ) of Thebes and Athens was.

Already in 1224 Theodoros I. Angelos had destroyed the Kingdom of Thessaloniki and thus broken the bond lehnsrechtliche the men of Athens. For the Latin Empire of Constantinople Opel now also there was no geographical connection more, that soon by the Bulgarians under Ivan Asen II and the Byzantines under John III. Batazes was beset.

Guido had taken his residence in Thebes, where the Kadmeia served as his palace. He promoted agriculture as well as the Silk cultivation and graduated in 1240 a trade agreement with the Genoese. He allied himself with the prince of Achaia, William II of Villehardouin, which he helped in the capture of Monembasia ( 1248 ). The ambition of the prince of Achaia, however, had a break with the Duke of Athens consequence. 1255 brought the prince entitled to the Oberlehnsherrschaft over the three lords of Euboea ( Negroponte ), which, however, the Republic of Venice declined. Then a war broke out between the parties to the dispute, by Guido stood on the side of Venice. In return Villehardouin claimed now the sovereignty over Thebes. Hillside Karydi Guido and his vassals were beaten in the summer of 1258 Villehardouin, followed by Guido had to submit.

Duke of Athens

Villehardouin convened alerted the Court of Achaia in Nikli, before Guido should be responsible. To the surprise of the Prince of Achaia, but the Court refused a verdict because Guido was not a vassal of Achaia. In order to achieve a clarification of the Lehnsverhältnisses the Lords of Thebes and Athens to the Prince of Achaia, should instead to King Louis IX. be invited by France to an award. Guido had to travel to France in person; the regency in his possessions, he wore his brother Otto. With the ship he was traveling in the spring of 1259 Livadostro to Brindisi and from there overland to France.

The trip paid off for Guido. King Louis IX. argued that Guido had over Villehardouin never taken an oath of fealty. His conspiracy with the Venetians against the Prince Guido 've atoned for by his bussresa in the distant France. The Chronicle of Morea reported that Guido, faced with the choice of his grace, the French king had asked for the award of the title of " Duke of Athens ", which granted this also. Thus, a rank equal Guidos should be pointed out to the Prince of Achaia.

This diplomatic success for Guido was followed by the crushing defeat against Michael VIII Palaiologos Villehardouins in the Battle of Pelagonia in September 1259th The subsequent siege of Thebes by the Byzantines was repelled by Guido's brother. Due to the imprisonment of the princes of Achaia Guido was after his return to Athens in 1260 the leading Frankish prince in Greece. The woman Villehardouins appointed him even Bailiff of the Principality, as all of their other barons were also taken prisoner. In the name of Achaia Guido peace concluded with Venice, by letting the three lords of Euboea free. In July 1261 Michael VIII Palaiologos Constantine conquered Opel, which the Latin Empire and the Byzantine destroyed was rebuilt. The fleeing Latin Emperor Baldwin II granted Guido in Athens exile.

Guido now operational diplomatic efforts to release Villehardouins. Emperor Michael demanded the surrender of the castles of Maina, Misithra, Geraki and Monembasia in exchange for the prince. After consultation with the Haute Cour of Achaia in Nikli Guido talked about the conditions. After Villehardouin had recognized the Byzantine emperor as overlords, he was released in 1262.

Guido died in 1263 and was buried in the monastery of Daphni. He was married to Agnes de Bruyeres source is missing, daughter of Hugo de Bruyeres, Lord of Karytaina. Their children were:

  • John I de la Roche ( † 1280 ), Duke of Athens
  • William I de la Roche ( † 1287 ), Duke of Athens
  • Alice de la Roche ( † after 1277 ) ∞ 1250 with John II of Ibelin († 1264 ), Lord of Beirut
  • Isabelle de la Roche ∞ 1256 Gottfried de Bruyeres († 1269 ), Lord of Karytaina
  • ∞ 1277 Hugh of Brienne († 1296 )
Flagey (Doubs) Theodore Komnenos Doukas John III Doukas Vatatzes Cadmea Monemvasia Tegea Baldwin II of Constantinople Mystras Dafni John II of Beirut Hugh, Count of Brienne Ferdinand Gregorovius
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