Illustration
This map illustrates the rise of the Latin Empire (Imperium Romaniae), a Crusader state founded by Western European forces after the Fourth Crusade's sack of Constantinople in 1204. It replaced the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) and was intended to establish Latin Christian dominance in the region. The empire was ruled by Frankish and Venetian elites, with Baldwin I of Flanders crowned its first emperor.
The Latin Empire struggled to maintain control over its territories, facing resistance from the local Greek population and rival successor states like the Empire of Nicaea, the Empire of Trebizond, and the Despotate of Epirus. Despite support from Western Europe, it was plagued by internal instability, limited resources, and constant military threats. In 1261, the Empire of Nicaea, under Michael VIII Palaiologos, recaptured Constantinople, effectively restoring the Byzantine Empire.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2025, January 29). Division of the Byzantine Empire, 1204 CE.. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8048/division-of-the-byzantine-empire-1204-ce/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Division of the Byzantine Empire, 1204 CE.." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified January 29, 2025. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8048/division-of-the-byzantine-empire-1204-ce/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Division of the Byzantine Empire, 1204 CE.." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 29 Jan 2025, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8048/division-of-the-byzantine-empire-1204-ce/. Web. 19 May 2025.
