The Constitutional Treaties Of 1204–1205: The Latin Restructuring Of Byzantium

Chapter Summary

In March 1204, approximately one month prior to the taking of Constantinople, the leaders of the Fourth Crusade reached a mutual agreement that delineated the lines of force of the governmental concept with regard to the planned take-over of the Byzantine Empire. In the period up to October 1205 this initial pact was supplemented by a number of attendant treaties that, with regard to a number of points, completed and made concrete the original agreement. Together, these texts formed the preconceived, rough constitutional framework within which, in principle, the Latin take-over of the Byzantine Empire was intended to be realized. The distribution of the Byzantine territories among the different components of the crusading army was a second important point on the agenda of the Latin conquerors. The Partitio enumerates the territories that were allotted to the emperor, the peregrini and the Venetians.

Keywords: Byzantine empire; Byzantium; constitutional framework; Latin conquerors; Partitio enumerates