The Chronicle of Morea: Historiography in Crusader Greece (Oxford Studies in Byzantium)

The Chronicle of Morea, one of the most important and controversial historical narratives written in the late Middle Ages, tells the story of the formation and government by the Villehardouin dynasty of a remarkably successful Crusader State following the conquest by western invaders of the capital - Constantinople - and the provinces of the Byzantine Empire. By examining all the Chronicle's surviving Greek, French, Spanish and Italian versions, this study, the first of its kind, explores in depth the literary and ideological contexts in which the work was composed, transmitted and re-written. The result is a fascinating analysis of cultural exchange in a rich and vibrant eastern Mediterranean world where different ethnicities were obliged to live alongside each other, and outside political interests frequently intruded in dramatic fashion. Translations into English have been provided of all the material discussed. "The Chronicle of Morea, which tells the story of the Fourth Crusade, and of the formation and government of the Principality by the ambitious but enlightened Villehardouin dynasty, constitutes our most important narrative source for the period. It is a source that has attracted a great deal of controversy, primarily because of its survival in multiple versions in four different languages: Greek, French, Spanish, and Italian. Teresa Shawcross approaches the Chronicle as an example of medieval historiography- not merley a repository of 'facts', but a consciously devised piece of writing reliant upon a series of textual strategies. All the surviving versions and manuscripts are here examined in depth for the first time, and an exploration undertaken of the literary and ideological contexts responsible for the work's original inception, and subsequent evolution and revision. We are given a fascinating insight into the disctinctive society of the crusader lands, as well as into the complexities of that society's interaction with the outside world."--Back cover A detailed study of the Chronicle of Morea, an important and controversial historical narrative written in the late Middle Ages, telling the story of the founding and government of a Crusader State following the conquest by western invaders of the capital - Constantinople - and the provinces of the Byzantine Empire. - ;The Chronicle of Morea, one of the most important and controversial historical narratives written in the late Middle Ages, tells the story of the formation and government by the Villehardouin dynasty of a remarkably successful Crusader State following the conquest by western inv Teresa Shawcross. Originally Presented As The Author's Thesis (doctoral)--university Of Oxford, 2006. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [351]-379) And Index. Betrifft die Handschrift Cod. 509 der Burgerbibliothek Bern (S. 35-36)