William II of Villehardouin

William of Villehardouin, known in French as Guillaume de Villehardouin, was born around 1211 in Kalamata, a significant town in the Principality of Achaea. He was a prominent figure in the history of Frankish Greece, serving as its fourth Prince from 1246 until his death on May 1, 1278. Descending from a noble French family that played a pivotal role in the Fourth Crusade and the subsequent establishment of Latin rule in Greece, William was the younger son of Geoffrey I of Villehardouin, the principality’s founder. Before ascending to the princely throne, he held the Barony of Kalamata as a fief, inheriting this title during the reign of his elder brother, Geoffrey II. William’s early career saw him step into a regency role, effectively governing Achaea while his brother, Geoffrey II, was engaged in military campaigns against the powerful Greek Empire of Nicaea. The Nicaeans represented a formidable challenge to the Latin Emperor of Constantinople, Baldwin II, who was William's ultimate overlord. Following the childless passing of his brother Geoffrey II in the summer of 1246, William naturally succeeded him as Prince of Achaea, embarking on a reign that would profoundly shape the destiny of Frankish Greece.

Consolidating Power and Expanding the Principality

Upon his accession, Prince William quickly capitalized on the ongoing conflicts between the Empire of Nicaea and the Despotate of Epirus, rival Greek states vying for control and legitimacy in the former Byzantine territories. This strategic distraction allowed William to focus his energies on consolidating and expanding the Principality of Achaea. Within approximately three years, he successfully completed the conquest of the Morea, the classical name for the Peloponnese peninsula, bringing it almost entirely under Frankish dominion. A key achievement during this period was the capture of Monemvasia, a strategically vital port city perched on a formidable rock, often referred to as the "Gibraltar of the East." To further secure his gains and project his authority, William embarked on an ambitious building program, constructing three new fortresses that solidified Frankish control over newly acquired territories. He also demonstrated his military prowess by compelling two previously autonomous Greek tribes, the Tzakones and the Melingoi, who had long maintained their independence in the mountainous regions, to submit to his rule. This period of expansion cemented William's reputation as a capable and ambitious leader.

A Crusade and Royal Recognition

William of Villehardouin’s influence extended beyond the borders of Achaea. He actively participated in the Seventh Crusade, an unsuccessful Egyptian campaign led by King Louis IX of France between 1248 and 1254. This participation underscored the Principality of Achaea’s connections to Western European powers and its role within the broader Crusader movement. As a testament to his service and standing, King Louis IX rewarded William with the prestigious right to issue his own currency. These Achaean coins were minted in the style of French royal coinage, a significant privilege that not only enhanced the principality's prestige and economic autonomy but also visually symbolized its cultural and political ties to the French monarchy.

The War of the Euboeote Succession

By the early 1250s, William of Villehardouin stood as the preeminent ruler in Frankish Greece, his power and influence largely unrivalled. Many neighboring Frankish lords and rulers acknowledged his suzerainty, recognizing Achaea as the dominant entity in the region. However, this period of ascendancy was not without its challenges. In 1255, William laid claim to the northern terziere, or "third," of the Lordship of Negroponte, located on the strategically important island of Euboea. While the other two rulers of Negroponte were technically his vassals, they vehemently rejected his claim, viewing it as an infringement on their autonomy. This dispute quickly escalated, as they secured powerful allies: the Republic of Venice, a formidable maritime power with extensive commercial interests in the Aegean, and Guy I de la Roche, the influential Lord of Athens, along with several other Frankish rulers who felt threatened by William’s growing dominance. The conflict rapidly devolved into a destructive "War of the Euboeote Succession," which caused widespread devastation across Euboea and parts of mainland Greece. The protracted struggle finally culminated in William’s decisive victory near Thebes in May 1258. Following this defeat, Guy I de la Roche and his allies were compelled to surrender. Guy was subsequently tried for his disloyalty to his overlord but, as a measure of William’s pragmatism, was ultimately permitted to retain his Achaean fiefs, thus preserving a semblance of stability in the region.

The Disaster at Pelagonia and William's Captivity

As tensions simmered in Frankish Greece, a major succession crisis within the Empire of Nicaea provided a new geopolitical opportunity. Seizing this moment, Michael II Komnenos Doukas, the ambitious ruler of the Despotate of Epirus, sought to form a powerful anti-Nicaean coalition. William of Villehardouin, always keen to counter Nicaean expansion, readily joined this alliance, as did Manfred of Sicily, another significant player in Mediterranean politics. In the summer of 1259, William and Michael II assembled the bulk of their combined forces and marched deep into Byzantine territory, reaching as far as Pelagonia, in what is now North Macedonia, to confront the Nicaeans. However, this grand alliance proved tragically flawed. The Frankish heavy cavalry and the Epirote forces, despite their strength, struggled to cooperate effectively on the battlefield. Compounding their difficulties, Nicaean archers continuously harassed their combined armies, sowing disarray. The coalition suffered a catastrophic blow when the Epirote forces unexpectedly abandoned their allies, leaving the Franks isolated. The Nicaeans then inflicted a decisive defeat on the Frankish army at the Battle of Pelagonia, a pivotal moment that effectively sealed the fate of the Latin Empire. William of Villehardouin, attempting to flee the collapsing battle, was captured and subsequently sent as a prisoner to Nicaea. He remained incarcerated for a significant period, missing the dramatic events of July 1261, when Nicaean troops, under the leadership of Michael VIII Palaiologos, triumphantly seized Constantinople, thereby restoring the Byzantine Empire and extinguishing the Latin Empire of Constantinople.

Release, Loss of Territory, and Alliance with Anjou

William’s release from Nicaean captivity was directly tied to the Byzantine restoration. The triumphant Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, recognizing William’s strategic importance and perhaps seeking to consolidate his newly re-established empire, eventually released him in late 1261. This freedom, however, came at a steep price: William was forced to cede three crucial southern Morean fortresses to the Byzantines. While seemingly a localized loss, the possession of these strategic strongholds significantly facilitated further Byzantine expansion into the Morea, placing immense pressure on the remaining Frankish territories. Facing an increasingly powerful and encroaching Byzantine Empire, William found himself in a precarious position, necessitating external support. With the explicit approval of the exiled Latin Emperor Baldwin II, William sought a powerful new overlord. He swore fealty to Charles I of Anjou, the ambitious Angevin King of Sicily, who harbored grand designs for a Mediterranean empire. This alliance was formally cemented by the Treaty of Viterbo on May 24, 1267, a landmark agreement where William acknowledged Charles and his descendants as the rightful heirs to the Principality of Achaea. In return for this significant concession, Charles I dispatched much-needed troops to Achaea. With the crucial aid of these Angevin forces, William was able to resist sustained Byzantine invasions during the final years of his reign, preserving the principality, albeit under a new suzerainty, until his death in 1278.

Frequently Asked Questions About William of Villehardouin

Who was William of Villehardouin?
William of Villehardouin was the fourth Prince of Achaea, a prominent Frankish Crusader state in Greece, reigning from 1246 to 1278. He was a significant figure in the history of Frankish Greece, known for his military conquests, diplomatic engagements, and his pivotal role in the region's political landscape.
What was the Principality of Achaea?
The Principality of Achaea was one of the most powerful and enduring Crusader states established in Greece after the Fourth Crusade (1204). It encompassed much of the Peloponnese peninsula (Morea) and was ruled by a succession of French noble families, including the Villehardouins, who imposed a feudal system similar to that of Western Europe.
What were his major achievements?
William successfully completed the conquest of the Morea, capturing strategic locations like Monemvasia and building new fortresses. He also established Achaea as the dominant Frankish power in Greece during the early part of his reign, received royal recognition from Louis IX of France, and managed to secure his principality against Byzantine reconquest through an alliance with Charles I of Anjou.
What was the Battle of Pelagonia?
The Battle of Pelagonia, fought in 1259, was a decisive military engagement where an anti-Nicaean coalition, including William's Frankish forces, was soundly defeated by the Empire of Nicaea. This defeat led to William's capture and significantly weakened Frankish power, paving the way for the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople in 1261.
Why did he make Charles I of Anjou his heir?
Following his release from Nicaean captivity and the loss of key fortresses to the Byzantines, William faced an increasingly powerful Byzantine threat. To secure the long-term survival of Achaea against these persistent invasions, he sought a powerful Western ally. Through the Treaty of Viterbo (1267), he pledged fealty to Charles I of Anjou, the ambitious King of Sicily, and named him and his descendants as heirs to Achaea in exchange for military support and protection.