Nomos 19

CRUSADERS, Latin Empire of Constantinople. Robert I of Courtenay, 1219-1221-1228. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 43 mm, 38.34 g, 12 h), Constantinople, 1220s. ΡΟΒΕΡΤΟC DΕCΠΟΤΗϚ The emperor seated facing on a throne with lion supporters, wearing low crown and elaborate robes, holding cross-tipped scepter in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. Rev. ROB'T DI GRA IMPATO-R ROMANIE The emperor, wearing full armor covered by a surcoat and a closed helmet, riding horse galloping to right, holding an upraised sword in his right, the reins in his left, and with his shield over his left chest. DO Seals 6, 981. Zacos and Veglery 113a. Extremely rare and important. Sharp and clear with a grey patina. Some remains of corrosion, some letters faintly struck and some edge defects, otherwise, basically about as made.

From a European collection.

Robert I was the son of the highly unfortunate Peter II, who had become Latin Emperor in 1216, was crowned in Rome in April 1217, but was captured by Theodore Komnenos-Doukas of Epirus later that year; he died, probably murdered, in Epirote captivity in 1219. From 1217-1219 the empire was ruled by Peter's wife, the empress Yolanda de Hainault, Marchioness of Namur. At her death in 1219 her second son, Robert, became emperor (her older son, Philip II, Marquis de Namur, refused the throne). Robert was in France when his mother died and only arrived to be crowned in Constantinople in March 1221. Robert's reign was one of decline: Thessalonica fell to the Epirote Theodore Komnenos-Doukas in 1224, and in the same year John III Doukas-Vatatzes of Nicaea severely defeated Robert at the battle of Poimanenon (near Cyzicus in Mysia), causing the loss of almost all the Latin Empire's Asian territory. Later, in 1227, Robert married a woman known as the Lady of Neuville, who had previously been the fiancée of a Burgundian nobleman. This Burgundian, being rather offended, organized a conspiracy against Robert and his new wife, with the result that the Lady and her mother were seized by some of the Burgundian's friends, who then proceeded to cut off their noses and lips; Robert fled to the Pope. In 1228, on his return journey, he stayed in the Morea with Geoffrey I de Villehardouin, Prince of Achaea, but during his visit he became sick (could it have been malaria?) and died shortly thereafter. This seal, bilingual in Greek and Latin, is a surprisingly elegant memorial of Robert's turbulent and tragic reign.