Doxapatres Boutsaras
Encyclopedia
Doxapatres Boutsaras was a Byzantine Greek
independent lord in the central Peloponnese
in the early 13th century. He had his headquarters in the Araklovon Castle
, which is located near the Minthi
village, in the Municipality of Zacharo
. He withstood the attacks of the Franks of the Fourth Crusade
for several years, until it finally fell ca. 1210 and became part of the Principality of Achaea
.
His heroic defense of the fort is recorded in the Chronicle of the Morea, especially its Latin versions, where he assumes superhuman proportions: he is said to have held a mace that no other man could lift, and that his cuirass alone weighed 150 pounds. Stories are also told of his daughter, Maria Doxapatre, who allegedly threw herself from the castle walls rather than become the mistress of William of Champlitte
.
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
independent lord in the central Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
in the early 13th century. He had his headquarters in the Araklovon Castle
Araklovon Castle
Araklovon or Araclovon was a medieval castle of the Byzantine era located in southwestern Peloponnese in Greece. The castle was built on the top of a steep cliff of the Minthi mountain, at an altitude of 980m. The location was strategic; it oversaw the only passage from the port city of Glarentza...
, which is located near the Minthi
Minthi
Minthi is a village in the municipality of Zacharo, Ilia Prefecture, Greece. Its 2001 population was 144 for the village and 221 for the municipal district, including the village Kotroni. It is 15 to 20 km east of the GR-9/E55 and overlooks the Anydro River. Its elevation is 760 m...
village, in the Municipality of Zacharo
Zacharo
Zacharo is a town and municipality in southwestern Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the Elis peripheral unit, in the Periphery of West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the Ionian Sea coast, in the area of the Gulf of Kyparissia. The town is crossed by the highway named GR-9/E55, that links...
. He withstood the attacks of the Franks of the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
for several years, until it finally fell ca. 1210 and became part of the Principality of Achaea
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
.
His heroic defense of the fort is recorded in the Chronicle of the Morea, especially its Latin versions, where he assumes superhuman proportions: he is said to have held a mace that no other man could lift, and that his cuirass alone weighed 150 pounds. Stories are also told of his daughter, Maria Doxapatre, who allegedly threw herself from the castle walls rather than become the mistress of William of Champlitte
William of Champlitte
William I of Champlitte was a French knight who joined the Fourth Crusade and became the first prince of Achaea .- Early years and the Fourth Crusade :...
.