County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos

Coordinates: 38°00′31″N 20°39′25″E / 38.0086°N 20.6570°E / 38.0086; 20.6570
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with State of Palestine.
County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
Παλατινή Κομητεία της Κεφαλονιάς και της Ζακύνθου (Greek)
Palatiní Komiteía tis Kefaloniás kai tis Zakýnthou
Vassal state of various countries, de facto autonomous
1185–1479

County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
CapitalCastle of Saint George
Government
 • TypeCounty palatine
Count palatine 
• 1185–1195
Margaritus of Brindisi
• 1448–1479
Leonardo III Tocco
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
1185
• Divided by the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice
1479
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Byzantine Empire
Venetian rule in the Ionian Islands
Ottoman Empire
Today part ofGreece

The County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos existed from 1185 to 1479 as part of the

Ionian islands of Cephalonia and Zakynthos was originally given to Margaritus of Brindisi for his services to William II
, King of Sicily, in 1185.

Following Margaritus, the county passed on to a branch of the

County Palatine, which they held until 1479, when it was divided between Venice
and the Ottomans. Zakynthos was put under the direct rule of Venice.

History

The beginning of the

Frankish conquest in the islands of Cephalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca was linked with the pirate and admiral of the Sicilian fleet Margaritus of Brindisi, known to the chroniclers of the late 12th century. He developed significant activity as the privateer of William II, Norman King of Sicily.[1] In Latin documents of 1192 and 1193, he signed in Greek as Μαργαρίτος Βρεντεσίνος αμιράς κόμης Μελιτήιος (Margaritus Admiral, Count of Malta).[2] Irrespective of Margaritus’ unclear descent, it is certain that William, after the Norman invasion of 1185 against the Byzantine provinces, granted him the new Norman acquisitions in the Ionian Sea, in exchange for the services he had offered to the Norman.[3][4]

Ten years later, in 1195, Matthew or Maio Orsini, who is generally considered a scion of the noble Roman Orsini family, succeeded Margaritus as the ruler of the Ionian Islands.[5] In order to secure his position, Matthew recognized the dominion of Venice in 1209[6] and of the Pope in 1216[7] and later of the Principality of Achaea in 1236.[8] During that same period the Orthodox bishopric of the islands was abolished, the Episcopal thrones were occupied by Latins and the feudal system was put into force.[9] The successor of Matthew, Richard, the "most noble count of the palace and lord of Cephalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca", authenticated in 1264 the estates of the Latin bishopric of Cephalonia.[10] During the reign of the latter Frankish ruler, Ithaca had become a refuge for pirates.[11]

The Orsini family did not only rule the Ionian Islands but also conquered Epirus in early 14th century, thus acquiring the title of 'the despot' as well.[12][13] Certain members of the family embraced the Orthodox dogma and married Greek women.[14] After the death of John II Orsini in 1335, the islands were occupied by the Anjou, who, as rulers of Achaea, had the islands under their suzerainty until then.[15]

The Angevin occupation lasted until 1357, when the said Greek territory was ceded to the Italian family of the Tocchi, who remained in power for over a century and secured unity in the governance of those three Ionian Islands. In 1357, Robert of Taranto ceded Cephalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca to the governor of Corfu, Leonardo I Tocco, as reward for the services he had provided when he was a captive of the King of Hungary.[16][17]

After the expansion of his dominion to Leukas, Leonardo I Tocco attempted to reinforce his position by entering into family relations with the powerful

Acciaiuoli.[17]

This policy gave the family of the Tocchi increased power, which reached its peak during the 15th century with its expansion to the continental coast, after

Galati, who received privileges and estates from the Tocco on the island of Ithaca.[21] Following an analogous policy on the religious front, Leonardo III (1448–1479), the last of the Tocchi dynasty, reinstated the Orthodox episcopal throne of Cephalonia that had been abolished by the Orsini.[9]

Venice was not pleased with the increased influence of the Tocchi. The downfall of the duchy of the Tocchi by the Turks (1479) gave the opportunity to the Serenissima to intervene resolutely in the Ionian Sea and succeeded, through the treaty of 1484, in annexing Zakynthos and, in 1500, Cephalonia and Ithaca.[22]

Counts Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos

Orsini family

Angevins

  • John of Gravina
    , 1325–1336
  • Robert of Taranto
    , 1336–1357

House of Tocco

Coat of arms of the Tocco as counts palatine of Cephalonia (left) and rulers of Epirus (right)

References

  1. ^ ODB, "Ionian Sea" (T. E. Gregory), p. 1007.
  2. ^ Leon-Robert Menager, "Amiratus-Αμηράς: L'emirat et les origines de l'amiraute (XIe-XIIIe siecles)", Paris, S.E.V.P.E.N., p. 258, 1960
  3. ^ Soustal & Koder 1981, pp. 58, 176.
  4. ^ ODB, "Kephalenia" (T. E. Gregory), pp. 1122–1223.
  5. ^ Kiesewetter 2006, p. 339.
  6. ^ Miller 1908, p. 47.
  7. ^ Kiesewetter 2006, p. 348.
  8. ^ Jean Longnon L’Empire Latin de Constantinople et la Principauté de Morée, Payot, Paris 1949, p. 175
  9. ^ a b Miller 1908, p. 484.
  10. ^ Miller 1921, p. 262.
  11. ^ Miller 1908, p. 157.
  12. ^ Nicol 2010, p. 82.
  13. ^ Polemis 1968, pp. 95 (note 2), 98–99.
  14. ^ Nicol 2010, pp. 81–107, 107–121.
  15. ^ Nicol 2010, p. 101.
  16. ^ ODB, "Tocco" (A.-M. Talbot), p. 2090.
  17. ^ a b Miller 1908, p. 292.
  18. ^ Zečević 2014, p. 80.
  19. ^ Zečević 2014, p. 81.
  20. ^ Zečević 2014, pp. 82–84.
  21. OCLC 1085554299
    .
  22. ^ Setton 1978, p. 515.

Sources

38°00′31″N 20°39′25″E / 38.0086°N 20.6570°E / 38.0086; 20.6570

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