Before its definitive fall into Turkish hands, the Byzantine Empire was the target of adventurers of many nations. Outstanding among these groups was the Almogaver army led by Roger of Flor, composed of mercenaries hardened in the war between the Catalan and Angevin dynasties for domination of Sicily. The Catalan presence in Constantinople aroused suspicion among the Greek nobility who assassinated Roger of Flor and tried to exterminate his men. The devastating reaction of those who escaped the slaughter led to Catalan control of broad swathes of the Empire, including Athens. Ramon Muntaner, one of the ringleaders of the expedition, recounted the adventures of the Almogaver army in the eastern Mediterranean in the fascinating section of his Chronicle translated here.
Note: pp. 17 (section title) and 162 (bibliography) missing.
Author(s): Ramon Muntaner, Robert D. Hughes
Publisher: Barcino/Tamesis
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 164
City: Barcelona and Woodbridge
Contents
Ramon Muntaner and his Chronicle, by J.N. Hillgarth
Translator's Preface
The Catalan Expedition to the East
I. On Friar Roger's beginnings
II. How Friar Roger joined King Frederick
III. On the siege of Messina and how it was raised by Friar Roger
IV. On the end of the war, and on how peace was established between King Frederick and Sir Charles and King Charles of Naples
V. On how Friar Roger made arrangements to travel to Constantinople
VI. On how Friar Roger sent envoys to the Emperor
VII. On how the Grand Duke made preparations for travelling to Constantinople
VIII. On how there was a violent struggle between the Catalans and the Genoese in Constantinople
IX. On how the Grand Duke went to Artaki and defeated the Turks
X. On how the Grand Duke presented a very great gift to the Company
XI. On the second battle that the Grand Duke fought against the Turks close to Philadelphia
XII. On how the Turks were defeated at Tira and on how Corberan of Let perished there
XIII. The miracle which took place in the city of Ephesus and the manna from the body of Saint John the Evangelist
XIV. On how the Grand Duke was in the city of Anaea and went to the Iron Gate
XV. On how the Grand Duke visited the Emperor of Constantinople
XVI. On how the noble Berengar of Entença came to Romania
XVII. On how the Grand Duke was made Caesar
XVIII. On how the forces of the Company stayed in Gallipoli
XIX. On how the Caesar perished in the city of Adrianople at the behest of the Emperor’s son
XX. On how Berengar of Entença went to the city of Heraclea
XXI. On how Berengar of Entença captured the said city of Heraclea
XXII. On the council of the Grand Company
XXIII. On how the Company fought the first battle against the Emperor in Gallipoli
XXIV. On how the Company fought the second battle against the Emperor’s son
XXV. On how the Company went to sack the city of Rodosto
XXVI. On how Ferdinand Eiximenis of Arenós carried out raids in the immediate vicinity of Constantinople and on how he captured Madytos
XXVII. On how Sir Christopher George came to mount an attack upon Gallipoli
XXVIII. On how Rocafort raided Stenia
XXIX. On how the Company went to fight against the Alans and Ramon Muntaner stayed behind to defend Gallipoli
XXX. On how the Genoese challenged the Company
XXXI. On how they came to attack Gallipoli
XXXII. On how the Turks became part of the Company
XXXIII. On how the noble Berengar of Entença came out of prison and returned to Gallipoli
XXXIV. On how the Lord Infant Ferdinand came to Romania and to Gallipoli
XXXV. On how the members of the Company left Gallipoli and on how there was a fight amongst them in which the noble Berengar of Entença perished
XXXVI. On how the Lord Infant left the Company
XXXVII. On the sacking of the castle of Phocea
XXXVIII. On how the Infant Ferdinand was captured by Venetians
XXXIX. On how the Company acknowledged Sir Theobald of Cepoy as commander on behalf of Sir Charles of France
XL. On how the Venetian galleys departed from the Company and how I, Ramon Muntaner, went away with them
XLI. On the galleys of Riembau des Far
XLII. On how the Lord Infant Ferdinand emerged from King Robert’s prison
XLIII. On how the members of the Company took Rocafort captive and handed him over to Sir Theobald of Cepoy
XLIV. On how the Duke of Athens left the Duchy to the Count of Brienne and on how the Company went to the Morea
XLV. On how the Count of Brienne fought against the Company
XLVI. On how the Turks and Turcopoles wished to return to their country
XLVII. On how the Company took the Duchy of Athens
XLVIII. On the German Princes who conquered the Duchy of Athens in the first place
XLIX. On a lofty nobleman who visited the Duke of Athens
Select Bibliography
