Medieval Thessalonica
Encyclopedia
Thessalonica in the Middle Ages may refer to Thessalonica city,(capital of Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
after 379
AD), Thessalonica (theme)
or to the Latin Kingdom of Thessalonica
.
The Sack of Thessalonica (904)
by the Muslim navy under the leadership of the Greek convert to Islam, Leo of Tripolis
Thessalonica (Greek
: Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessalonikē) became the capital of the Kingdom of Thessalonica
created for Boniface of Montferrat
. In 1224 the city was taken by Theodore Komnenos Doukas
of Epirus
, whose family maintained itself in control until 1246. In that year Thessalonica was annexed to the Empire of Nicaea
and thus returned under Byzantine
rule. Nevertheless, the city and its environs became a special jurisdiction entrusted to the rule of various members of the imperial house from 1376 until its cession to Venice
in 1423. During the intervening period Thessalonica successfully withstood the attacks of the Catalan Company
in 1308 and of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1334.
.
in 1403. Unable to hold Thessalonica against the Turks, its ruler, the despot Andronikos Palaiologos ceded it to Venice
in 1423, but the Venetians were unable to prevent its fall to the Turks in 1430.
Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
The praetorian prefecture of Illyricum was one of four praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided.The administrative centre of the prefecture was Sirmium , and, after 379, Thessalonica...
after 379
379
Year 379 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ausonius and Hermogenianus...
AD), Thessalonica (theme)
Thessalonica (theme)
The Theme of Thessalonica was a military-civilian province of the Byzantine Empire located in the southern Balkans, comprising varying parts of Central and Western Macedonia and centred around Thessalonica, the Empire's second-most important city.-History:In Late Antiquity, Thessalonica was the...
or to the Latin Kingdom of Thessalonica
Kingdom of Thessalonica
The Kingdom of Thessalonica was a short-lived Crusader State founded after the Fourth Crusade over the conquered Byzantine lands.- Background :...
.
Sack of Thessalonica
Sack of Thessalonica (904)
The Sack of Thessalonica in 904 by Saracen pirates was one of the worst disasters to befall the Byzantine Empire in the 10th century. A Muslim fleet, led by the renegade Leo of Tripoli, and with the imperial capital of Constantinople as its initial target, sailed from Syria...
by the Muslim navy under the leadership of the Greek convert to Islam, Leo of Tripolis
Battles of Bulgarian-Byzantine wars
- Battle of Thessalonica (996)Battle of Thessalonica (996)The Battle of Thessalonica occurred in 996, near the city of Thessalonica, Greece.-Origins of the conflict:After the great victory in the Battle of Trayanovi Vrata, and the subsequent civil war in the Byzantine Empire, Samuil was free to attack the Byzantine strongholds all over the Balkan peninsula...
- Bulgarian victory over the Byzantines - Battle of Salonica (1014)Battle of Salonica (1014)The battle of Salonica was fought between the Bulgarian and the Byzantine Empires in the summer of 1014 near the city of Thessaloniki in contemporary northern Greece...
- Byzantine victory over the Bulgarians - Battle of Salonica (1040)Battle of Salonica (1040)The battle of Salonica occurred in 1040 near the city of Thessaloniki in contemporary Greece between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines. The battle ended with a Bulgarian victory.- Origins of the Conflict :...
- Bulgarian victory over the Byzantines - Battle of Salonica (2nd 1040)Battle of Salonica (2nd 1040)The battle of Salonica took place in the fall of 1040 near the city of Thessaloniki in contemporary Greece between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines...
- Byzantine victory over the Bulgarians
Kingdom of Thessalonica
After the Fourth CrusadeFourth 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...
Thessalonica (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessalonikē) became the capital of the Kingdom of Thessalonica
Kingdom of Thessalonica
The Kingdom of Thessalonica was a short-lived Crusader State founded after the Fourth Crusade over the conquered Byzantine lands.- Background :...
created for Boniface of Montferrat
Boniface of Montferrat
Boniface of Montferrat was Marquess of Montferrat and the leader of the Fourth Crusade. He was the third son of William V of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg, born after his father's return from the Second Crusade...
. In 1224 the city was taken by Theodore Komnenos Doukas
Theodore Komnenos Doukas
Theodore Komnenos Doukas was ruler of Epirus from 1215 to 1230 and of Thessalonica from 1224 to 1230.-Life:...
of Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
, whose family maintained itself in control until 1246. In that year Thessalonica was annexed to the Empire of Nicaea
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
and thus returned under Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
rule. Nevertheless, the city and its environs became a special jurisdiction entrusted to the rule of various members of the imperial house from 1376 until its cession to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1423. During the intervening period Thessalonica successfully withstood the attacks of the Catalan Company
Catalan Company
The Catalan Company of the East , officially the Magnas Societas Catalanorum, sometimes called the Grand Company and widely known as the Catalan Company, was a free company of mercenaries founded by Roger de Flor in the early 14th-century...
in 1308 and of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1334.
Zealots of Thessalonica
In the period 1342–1349 Thessalonica was a virtually independent commune in the hands of the ZealotsZealots, Thessalonica
The Zealots were an anti-aristocratic political group with social demands that dominated political developments in Thessalonica from 1342 until 1350. The contemporary sources, notably anti-Zealot in sympathies, provide little information on the Zealots' government of Thessalonica. The Zealots...
.
Ottoman siege and conquest
The city fell to the Turks in 1387 after an attack begun in 1383. It was recovered for the Byzantine Empire by the terms of the treaty signed with the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1403. Unable to hold Thessalonica against the Turks, its ruler, the despot Andronikos Palaiologos ceded it to Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
in 1423, but the Venetians were unable to prevent its fall to the Turks in 1430.