Otto de la Roche
Encyclopedia
Otto de la Roche (died 1234) was a Burgundian nobleman from the castle of La Roche-sur-l'Ognon, in the Franche-Comté
commune of Rigney
, Doubs
. He joined the Fourth Crusade
in 1204 and became the first Duke of Athens. The historians Geoffroy de Villehardouin and Robert de Clari
both relate that Otto captured the Shroud of Turin
and gave it to the Knights Templar
, who brought it back to France.
He took the title of megaskyr
or grand seignior in Athens
. He held his Greek possessions from the King of Thessalonica. He fortified the Acropolis
. In 1208, he took the title of duke.
In May 1209, the Latin emperor
Henry called his first of two parliaments at Ravennika and Otto and his close ally Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
made an appearance to demonstrate their loyalty to the emperor. On 2 May 1210, at the second parliament, the two barons ratified the pact between church and state, but he did little to effect it. He was accused of treating the Greek priests as serfs, since many of them were former serfs raised to their clerical status by Greek prelates desiring to lift the heavy burden the Franks could impose with their corvée
s on the local populace. Pope Honorius III
excommunicated him and put his lands under interdict, as he did to Geoffrey for like disobedience to the pact. About 1223, Otto made a treaty with the pope by which he returned church lands, but kept church furnishings at the cost of an annual indemnity. A quota was also placed on the number priests proportional to the population of the community.
With Geoffrey, Otto embarked on a series of military adventures to consolidate mainland Greece. Together they took Acrocorinth
(1209), Argos
(1210), and Nauplia (1211). In compensation, he received two lordships in the Argolid: Argos and Damala. After the Italian crusaders Albertino and Rolandino of Canossa returned, their fief of Thebes
was divided between Geoffrey and Otto. The city itself became Otto's capital and the economic centre of his domains, due to its silk industry. He built a square tower, destroyed in the late nineteenth century, on the propylaea
there and gave the city as a lordship to his nephew Guy
. Athens itself remained Otto's residence. There he lived in his castle
atop the Acropolis, having converted the Parthenon
into the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Otto established Cistercians from Bellevaux Abbey
at Daphne
. In 1225, he resigned the Duchy of Athens to his nephew Guy I de la Roche
and returned home to Burgundy with his wife.
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
commune of Rigney
Rigney
Rigney is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:...
, Doubs
Doubs
Doubs is a department the Franche-Comté region of eastern France named after the Doubs River.-History:As early as the 13th century, inhabitants of the northern two-thirds of Doubs spoke the Franc-Comtois language, a dialect of Langue d'Oïl. Residents of the southern third of Doubs spoke a dialect...
. He joined 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...
in 1204 and became the first Duke of Athens. The historians Geoffroy de Villehardouin and Robert de Clari
Robert de Clari
Robert de Clari was a knight from Picardy. He participated in the Fourth Crusade with his lord, Count Peter of Amiens, and his brother, Aleaumes de Clari, and left a chronicle of the events in Old French...
both relate that Otto captured the Shroud of Turin
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
and gave it to the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, who brought it back to France.
He took the title of megaskyr
Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy
The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy, which was inherited from the Roman Empire. At the apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler and divinely ordained, but beneath him a multitude of officials and court functionaries operated the administrative...
or grand seignior in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He held his Greek possessions from the King of Thessalonica. He fortified the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
. In 1208, he took the title of duke.
In May 1209, the Latin emperor
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
Henry called his first of two parliaments at Ravennika and Otto and his close ally Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
Geoffrey I of Villehardouin
Geoffrey I of Villehardouin was a French knight from the County of Champagne who joined the Fourth Crusade. He participated in the conquest of the Peloponnese and became the second prince of Achaea ....
made an appearance to demonstrate their loyalty to the emperor. On 2 May 1210, at the second parliament, the two barons ratified the pact between church and state, but he did little to effect it. He was accused of treating the Greek priests as serfs, since many of them were former serfs raised to their clerical status by Greek prelates desiring to lift the heavy burden the Franks could impose with their corvée
Corvée
Corvée is unfree labour, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or a superior . The corvée was the earliest and most widespread form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization...
s on the local populace. Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
excommunicated him and put his lands under interdict, as he did to Geoffrey for like disobedience to the pact. About 1223, Otto made a treaty with the pope by which he returned church lands, but kept church furnishings at the cost of an annual indemnity. A quota was also placed on the number priests proportional to the population of the community.
With Geoffrey, Otto embarked on a series of military adventures to consolidate mainland Greece. Together they took Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth , "Upper Corinth", the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. "It is the most impressive of the acropoleis of mainland Greece," in the estimation of George Forrest. Acrocorinth was continuously occupied from archaic times to...
(1209), Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
(1210), and Nauplia (1211). In compensation, he received two lordships in the Argolid: Argos and Damala. After the Italian crusaders Albertino and Rolandino of Canossa returned, their fief of Thebes
Thebes, Greece
Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
was divided between Geoffrey and Otto. The city itself became Otto's capital and the economic centre of his domains, due to its silk industry. He built a square tower, destroyed in the late nineteenth century, on the propylaea
Propylaea
A Propylaea, Propylea or Propylaia is any monumental gateway based on the original Propylaea that serves as the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens...
there and gave the city as a lordship to his nephew Guy
Guy I de la Roche
Guy I de la Roche was the Duke of Athens , the nephew and successor of the first duke Otto. After the conquest of Thebes, Otto gave half the city in lordship to Guy....
. Athens itself remained Otto's residence. There he lived in his castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
atop the Acropolis, having converted the Parthenon
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
into the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Otto established Cistercians from Bellevaux Abbey
Bellevaux Abbey
Bellevaux Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1120 by Pons de Morimond, near the present-day Cirey, Haute-Saône, France. At that time it was in Franche-Comté. It was suppressed in 1790 and sold in 1791. Shortly afterwards the church was demolished. 1795 the buildings were bought by...
at Daphne
Daphne
Daphne was a female minor nature deity. Pursued by Apollo, she fled and was chased. Daphne begged the gods for help, who then transformed her into Laurel.-Overview:...
. In 1225, he resigned the Duchy of Athens to his nephew Guy I de la Roche
Guy I de la Roche
Guy I de la Roche was the Duke of Athens , the nephew and successor of the first duke Otto. After the conquest of Thebes, Otto gave half the city in lordship to Guy....
and returned home to Burgundy with his wife.