The Princes of Achaia and the Chronicles of Morea; A Study of Greece in the Middle Ages Volume 1 12+

📖 This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V WILLIAM VILLEHARDOUIN At the time when he inherited the principality William Villehardouin was a widower, having lost his first wife, the daughter of Narjaud de Toucy,1 soon after his marriage. In the last words which the chronicler puts into the mouth of the dying Geoffrey he enjoins upon his brother the duty of marrying again and ensuring the succession in Achaia. William was not slow to follow this wise counsel, and his second marriage with Carintana dalle Carceri was one of ambition. Carintana was the only child of Rizzardo, lord of Oreos and one-sixth of Eubcea, who died about the year 1220, while she was still an infant. The conventions signed by Venice with the Terzieri had probably never been recognised by the Princes of Achaia, who resented the growing influence of the republic in an island over which they claimed to be lords paramount, and as the daughter of the elder nephew of Ravano, Carintana could put forward pretensions which a powerful champion might successfully vindicate. For the moment, however, the necessity of completing the conquest of the peninsula made it politic for William to dissemble his ambitious schemes, and to maintain friendly relations with the feudatories beyond the isthmus. 1 Narjaud married a daughter of The...