ThemarquisofMontferratwasrecommendedbyhismatureageandfairreputation，bythechoiceoftheadventurers，andthewishesoftheGreeks；norcanIbelievethatVenice，themistressofthesea，couldbeseriouslyapprehensiveofapettylordatthefootoftheAlps。^3ButthecountofFlanderswasthechiefofawealthyandwarlikepeople:hewasvaliant，pious，andchaste；intheprimeoflife，sincehewasonlythirty—twoyearsofage；adescendantofCharlemagne，acousinofthekingofFrance，andacompeeroftheprelatesandbaronswhohadyieldedwithreluctancetothecommandofaforeigner。Withoutthechapel，thesebarons，withthedogeandmarquisattheirhead，expectedthedecisionofthetwelveelectors。ItwasannouncedbythebishopofSoissons，inthenameofhiscolleagues:"Yehavesworntoobeytheprincewhomweshouldchoose:byourunanimoussuffrage，BaldwincountofFlandersandHainaultisnowyoursovereign，andtheemperoroftheEast。"Hewassalutedwithloudapplause，andtheproclamationwasreechoedthroughthecitybythejoyoftheLatins，andthetremblingadulationoftheGreeks。
Bonifacewasthefirsttokissthehandofhisrival，andtoraisehimonthebuckler:andBaldwinwastransportedtothecathedral，andsolemnlyinvestedwiththepurplebuskins。Attheendofthreeweekshewascrownedbythelegate，inthevacancyofthepatriarch；buttheVenetianclergysoonfilledthechapterofSt。Sophia，seatedThomasMorosiniontheecclesiasticalthrone，andemployedeveryarttoperpetuateintheirownnationthehonorsandbeneficesoftheGreekchurch。^4WithoutdelaythesuccessorofConstantineinstructedPalestine，France，andRome，ofthismemorablerevolution。ToPalestinehesent，asatrophy，thegatesofConstantinople，andthechainoftheharbor；
^5andadopted，fromtheAssiseofJerusalem，thelawsorcustomsbestadaptedtoaFrenchcolonyandconquestintheEast。Inhisepistles，thenativesofFranceareencouragedtoswellthatcolony，andtosecurethatconquest，topeopleamagnificentcityandafertileland，whichwillrewardthelaborsbothofthepriestandthesoldier。HecongratulatestheRomanpontiffontherestorationofhisauthorityintheEast；inviteshimtoextinguishtheGreekschismbyhispresenceinageneralcouncil；
andimploreshisblessingandforgivenessforthedisobedientpilgrims。PrudenceanddignityareblendedintheanswerofInnocent。^6InthesubversionoftheByzantineempire，hearraignsthevicesofman，andadorestheprovidenceofGod；theconquerorswillbeabsolvedorcondemnedbytheirfutureconduct；
thevalidityoftheirtreatydependsonthejudgmentofSt。
Peter；butheinculcatestheirmostsacreddutyofestablishingajustsubordinationofobedienceandtribute，fromtheGreekstotheLatins，fromthemagistratetotheclergy，andfromtheclergytothepope。
[Footnote1:Seetheoriginaltreatyofpartition，intheVenetianChronicleofAndrewDandolo，p。326—330，andthesubsequentelectioninVillehardouin，No。136—140，withDucangeinhisObservations，andthebookofhisHistoiredeConstantinoplesousl'EmpiredesFrancois]
[Footnote2:AftermentioningthenominationofthedogebyaFrenchelectorhiskinsmanAndrewDandoloapproveshisexclusion，quidamVenetorumfidelisetnobilissenex，ususorationesatisprobabili，&c。，whichhasbeenembroideredbymodernwritersfromBlondustoLeBeau。]
[Footnote3:Nicetas，p。384，withthevainignoranceofaGreek，describesthemarquisofMontferratasamaritimepower。
WashedeceivedbytheByzantinethemeofLombardywhichextendedalongthecoastofCalabria?]
[Footnote4:TheyexactedanoathfromThomasMorosinitoappointnocanonsofSt。Sophiathelawfulelectors，exceptVenetianswhohadlivedtenyearsatVenice，&c。Buttheforeignclergywasenvious，thepopedisapprovedthisnationalmonopoly，andofthesixLatinpatriarchsofConstantinople，onlythefirstandthelastwereVenetians。]
[Footnote5:Nicetas，p。383。]
[Footnote6:TheEpistlesofInnocentIII。arearichfundfortheecclesiasticalandcivilinstitutionoftheLatinempireofConstantinople；andthemostimportantoftheseepistlesofwhichthecollectionin2vols。infolioispublishedbyStephenBaluzeareinsertedinhisGesta，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，，tom。iii。p。l。c。94—105。]
InthedivisionoftheGreekprovinces，^7theshareoftheVenetianswasmoreamplethanthatoftheLatinemperor。Nomorethanonefourthwasappropriatedtohisdomain；aclearmoietyoftheremainderwasreservedforVenice；andtheothermoietywasdistributedamongtheadventuresofFranceandLombardy。ThevenerableDandolowasproclaimeddespotofRomania，andinvestedaftertheGreekfashionwiththepurplebuskins。HeendedatConstantinoplehislongandgloriouslife；andiftheprerogativewaspersonal，thetitlewasusedbyhissuccessorstillthemiddleofthefourteenthcentury，withthesingular，thoughtrue，additionoflordsofonefourthandahalfoftheRomanempire。
^8Thedoge，aslaveofstate，wasseldompermittedtodepartfromthehelmoftherepublic；buthisplacewassuppliedbythebail，orregent，whoexercisedasupremejurisdictionoverthecolonyofVenetians:theypossessedthreeoftheeightquartersofthecity；andhisindependenttribunalwascomposedofsixjudges，fourcounsellors，twochamberlainstwofiscaladvocates，andaconstable。TheirlongexperienceoftheEasterntradeenabledthemtoselecttheirportionwithdiscernment:theyhadrashlyacceptedthedominionanddefenceofAdrianople；butitwasthemorereasonableaimoftheirpolicytoformachainoffactories，andcities，andislands，alongthemaritimecoast，fromtheneighborhoodofRagusatotheHellespontandtheBosphorus。Thelaborandcostofsuchextensiveconquestsexhaustedtheirtreasury:theyabandonedtheirmaximsofgovernment，adoptedafeudalsystem，andcontentedthemselveswiththehomageoftheirnobles，^9forthepossessionswhichtheseprivatevassalsundertooktoreduceandmaintain。AndthusitwasthatthefamilyofSanutacquiredtheduchyofNaxos，whichinvolvedthegreatestpartofthearchipelago。Forthepriceoftenthousandmarks，therepublicpurchasedofthemarquisofMontferratthefertileIslandofCreteorCandia，withtheruinsofahundredcities；^10butitsimprovementwasstintedbytheproudandnarrowspiritofanaristocracy；^11andthewisestsenatorswouldconfessthatthesea，nottheland，wasthetreasuryofSt。Mark。InthemoietyoftheadventurersthemarquisBonifacemightclaimthemostliberalreward；and，besidestheIsleofCrete，hisexclusionfromthethronewascompensatedbytheroyaltitleandtheprovincesbeyondtheHellespont。ButheprudentlyexchangedthatdistantanddifficultconquestforthekingdomofThessalonicaMacedonia，twelvedays'journeyfromthecapital，wherehemightbesupportedbytheneighboringpowersofhisbrother—in—lawthekingofHungary。Hisprogresswashailedbythevoluntaryorreluctantacclamationsofthenatives；andGreece，theproperandancientGreece，againreceivedaLatinconqueror，^12whotrodwithindifferencethatclassicground。HeviewedwithacarelesseyethebeautiesofthevalleyofTempe；traversedwithacautiousstepthestraitsofThermopylae；occupiedtheunknowncitiesofThebes，Athens，andArgos；andassaultedthefortificationsofCorinthandNapoli，^13whichresistedhisarms。ThelotsoftheLatinpilgrimswereregulatedbychance，orchoice，orsubsequentexchange；andtheyabused，withintemperatejoy，theirtriumphoverthelivesandfortunesofagreatpeople。Afteraminutesurveyoftheprovinces，theyweighedinthescalesofavaricetherevenueofeachdistrict，theadvantageofthesituation，andtheampleonscantysuppliesforthemaintenanceofsoldiersandhorses。Theirpresumptionclaimedanddividedthelong—lostdependenciesoftheRomansceptre:theNileandEuphratesrolledthroughtheirimaginaryrealms；andhappywasthewarriorwhodrewforhisprizethepalaceoftheTurkishsultanofIconium。^14Ishallnotdescendtothepedigreeoffamiliesandtherent—rollofestates，butI
wishtospecifythatthecountsofBloisandSt。PolwereinvestedwiththeduchyofNiceandthelordshipofDemotica:^15
theprincipalfiefswereheldbytheserviceofconstable，chamberlain，cup—bearer，butler，andchiefcook；andourhistorian，JeffreyofVillehardouin，obtainedafairestablishmentonthebanksoftheHebrus，andunitedthedoubleofficeofmarshalofChampagneandRomania。Attheheadofhisknightsandarchers，eachbaronmountedonhorsebacktosecurethepossessionofhisshare，andtheirfirsteffortsweregenerallysuccessful。Butthepublicforcewasweakenedbytheirdispersion；andathousandquarrelsmustariseunderalaw，andamongmen，whosesoleumpirewasthesword。WithinthreemonthsaftertheconquestofConstantinople，theemperorandthekingofThessalonicadrewtheirhostilefollowersintothefield；theywerereconciledbytheauthorityofthedoge，theadviceofthemarshal，andthefirmfreedomoftheirpeers。^16
[Footnote7:Inthetreatyofpartition，mostofthenamesarecorruptedbythescribes:theymightberestored，andagoodmap，suitedtothelastageoftheByzantineempire，wouldbeanimprovementofgeography。But，alasD'Anvilleisnomore!]
[Footnote8:TheirstylewasdominusquartaepartisetdimidiaeimperiiRomani，tillGiovanniDolfino，whowaselecteddogeintheyearof1356，Sanuto，p。530，641。ForthegovernmentofConstantinople，seeDucange，HistoiredeC。P。i。37。]
[Footnote9:DucangeHist。deC。P。ii。6hasmarkedtheconquestsmadebythestateornoblesofVeniceoftheIslandsofCandia，Corfu，Cephalonia，Zante，Naxos，Paros，Melos，Andros，Mycone，Syro，Cea，andLemnos。]
[Footnote10:BonifacesoldtheIsleofCandia，August12，A。D。
1204。SeetheactinSanuto，p。533:butIcannotunderstandhowitcouldbehismother'sportion，orhowshecouldbethedaughterofanemperorAlexius。]
[Footnote11:Intheyear1212，thedogePeterZanisentacolonytoCandia，drawnfromeveryquarterofVenice。Butintheirsavagemannersandfrequentrebellions，theCandiotsmaybecomparedtotheCorsicansundertheyokeofGenoa；andwhenI
comparetheaccountsofBelonandTournefort，IcannotdiscernmuchdifferencebetweentheVenetianandtheTurkishisland。]
[Footnote12:VillehardouinNo。159，160，173—177andNicetasp。387—394describetheexpeditionintoGreeceofthemarquisBoniface。TheChoniatemightderivehisinformationfromhisbrotherMichael，archbishopofAthens，whomhepaintsasanorator，astatesman，andasaint。HisencomiumofAthens，andthedescriptionofTempe，shouldbepublishedfromtheBodleianMS。ofNicetas，Fabric。Bibliot。Graec。tom。vi。p。405，andwouldhavedeservedMr。Harris'sinquiries。]
[Footnote13:NapolideRomania，orNauplia，theancientseaportofArgos，isstillaplaceofstrengthandconsideration，situateonarockypeninsula，withagoodharbor，Chandler'sTravelsintoGreece，p。227。]
[Footnote14:IhavesoftenedtheexpressionofNicetas，whostrivestoexposethepresumptionoftheFranks。SeetheRebuspostC。P。expugnatam，p。375—384。]
[Footnote15:AcitysurroundedbytheRiverHebrus，andsixleaguestothesouthofAdrianople，receivedfromitsdoublewalltheGreeknameofDidymoteichos，insensiblycorruptedintoDemoticaandDimot。IhavepreferredthemoreconvenientandmodernappellationofDemotica。ThisplacewasthelastTurkishresidenceofCharlesXII。]
[Footnote16:TheirquarrelistoldbyVillehardouinNo。146—
158withthespiritoffreedom。ThemeritandreputationofthemarshalaresoknowledgedbytheGreekhistorianp。387:unlikesomemodernheroes，whoseexploitsareonlyvisibleintheirownmemoirs。
Note:WilliamdeChamplite，brotherofthecountofDijon，assumedthetitleofPrinceofAchaia:onthedeathofhisbrother，hereturned，withregret，toFrance，toassumehispaternalinheritance，andleftVillehardouinhis"bailli，"onconditionthatifhedidnotreturnwithinayearVillehardouinwastoretainaninvestiture。Brosset'sAdd。toLeBeau，vol。
xvii。p。200。M。Brossetadds，fromtheGreekchroniclereditedbyM。Buchon，thesomewhatunknightlytrickbywhichVillehardouindisembarrassedhimselffromthetroublesomeclaimofRobert，thecousinofthecountofDijon。tothesuccession。
HecontrivedthatRobertshouldarrivejustfifteendaystoolate；andwiththegeneralconcurrenceoftheassembledknightswashimselfinvestedwiththeprincipality。Ibidp。283。M。]
Twofugitives，whohadreignedatConstantinople，stillassertedthetitleofemperor；andthesubjectsoftheirfallenthronemightbemovedtopitybythemisfortunesoftheelderAlexius，orexcitedtorevengebythespiritofMourzoufle。A
domesticalliance，acommoninterest，asimilarguilt，andthemeritofextinguishinghisenemies，abrotherandanephew，inducedthemorerecentusurpertounitewiththeformertherelicsofhispower。MourzouflewasreceivedwithsmilesandhonorsinthecampofhisfatherAlexius；butthewickedcanneverlove，andshouldrarelytrust，theirfellow—criminals；hewasseizedinthebath，deprivedofhiseyes，strippedofhistroopsandtreasures，andturnedouttowanderanobjectofhorrorandcontempttothosewhowithmoreproprietycouldhate，andwithmorejusticecouldpunish，theassassinoftheemperorIsaacandhisson。Asthetyrant，pursuedbyfearorremorse，wasstealingovertoAsia，hewasseizedbytheLatinsofConstantinople，andcondemned，afteranopentrial，toanignominiousdeath。Hisjudgesdebatedthemodeofhisexecution，theaxe，thewheel，orthestake；anditwasresolvedthatMourzoufle^17shouldascendtheTheodosiancolumn，apillarofwhitemarbleofonehundredandforty—sevenfeetinheight。^18
Fromthesummithewascastdownheadlong，anddashedinpiecesonthepavement，inthepresenceofinnumerablespectators，whofilledtheforumofTaurus，andadmiredtheaccomplishmentofanoldprediction，whichwasexplainedbythissingularevent。^19
ThefateofAlexiusislesstragical:hewassentbythemarquisacaptivetoItaly，andagifttothekingoftheRomans；buthehadnotmuchtoapplaudhisfortune，ifthesentenceofimprisonmentandexilewerechangedfromafortressintheAlpstoamonasteryinAsia。Buthisdaughter，beforethenationalcalamity，hadbeengiveninmarriagetoayoungherowhocontinuedthesuccession，andrestoredthethrone，oftheGreekprinces。^20ThevalorofTheodoreLascariswassignalizedinthetwosiegesofConstantinople。AftertheflightofMourzoufle，whentheLatinswerealreadyinthecity，heofferedhimselfastheiremperortothesoldiersandpeople；andhisambition，whichmightbevirtuous，wasundoubtedlybrave。Couldhehaveinfusedasoulintothemultitude，theymighthavecrushedthestrangersundertheirfeet:theirabjectdespairrefusedhisaid；andTheodoreretiredtobreathetheairoffreedominAnatolia，beyondtheimmediateviewandpursuitoftheconquerors。Underthetitle，atfirstofdespot，andafterwardsofemperor，hedrewtohisstandardthebolderspirits，whowerefortifiedagainstslaverybythecontemptoflife；andaseverymeanswaslawfulforthepublicsafetyimploredwithoutscrupletheallianceoftheTurkishsultanNice，whereTheodoreestablishedhisresidence，PrusaandPhiladelphia，SmyrnaandEphesus，openedtheirgatestotheirdeliverer:hederivedstrengthandreputationfromhisvictories，andevenfromhisdefeats；andthesuccessorofConstantinepreservedafragmentoftheempirefromthebanksoftheMaeandertothesuburbsofNicomedia，andatlengthofConstantinople。Anotherportion，distantandobscure，waspossessedbythelinealheiroftheComneni，asonofthevirtuousManuel，agrandsonofthetyrantAndronicus。HisnamewasAlexius；andtheepithetofgreatwasappliedperhapstohisstature，ratherthantohisexploits。BytheindulgenceoftheAngeli，hewasappointedgovernorordukeofTrebizond:^21
^!hisbirthgavehimambition，therevolutionindependence；and，withoutchanginghistitle，hereignedinpeacefromSinopetothePhasis，alongthecoastoftheBlackSea。Hisnamelesssonandsuccessor^!!isdescribedasthevassalofthesultan，whomheservedwithtwohundredlances:thatComnenianprincewasnomorethandukeofTrebizond，andthetitleofemperorwasfirstassumedbytheprideandenvyofthegrandsonofAlexius。IntheWest，athirdfragmentwassavedfromthecommonshipwreckbyMichael，abastardofthehouseofAngeli，who，beforetherevolution，hadbeenknownasahostage，asoldier，andarebel。
HisflightfromthecampofthemarquisBonifacesecuredhisfreedom；byhismarriagewiththegovernor'sdaughter，hecommandedtheimportantplaceofDurazzo，assumedthetitleofdespot，andfoundedastrongandconspicuousprincipalityinEpirus，Aetolia，andThessaly，whichhaveeverbeenpeopledbyawarlikerace。TheGreeks，whohadofferedtheirservicetotheirnewsovereigns，wereexcludedbythehaughtyLatins^22fromallcivilandmilitaryhonors，asanationborntotrembleandobey。
Theirresentmentpromptedthemtoshowthattheymighthavebeenusefulfriends，sincetheycouldbedangerousenemies:theirnerveswerebracedbyadversity:whateverwaslearnedorholy，whateverwasnobleorvaliant，rolledawayintotheindependentstatesofTrebizond，Epirus，andNice；andasinglepatricianismarkedbytheambiguouspraiseofattachmentandloyaltytotheFranks。Thevulgarherdofthecitiesandthecountrywouldhavegladlysubmittedtoamildandregularservitude；andthetransientdisordersofwarwouldhavebeenobliteratedbysomeyearsofindustryandpeace。Butpeacewasbanished，andindustrywascrushed，inthedisordersofthefeudalsystem。TheRomanemperorsofConstantinople，iftheywereendowedwithabilities，werearmedwithpowerfortheprotectionoftheirsubjects:theirlawswerewise，andtheiradministrationwassimple。TheLatinthronewasfilledbyatitularprince，thechief，andoftentheservant，ofhislicentiousconfederates；thefiefsoftheempire，fromakingdomtoacastle，wereheldandruledbytheswordofthebarons；andtheirdiscord，poverty，andignorance，extendedtheramificationsoftyrannytothemostsequesteredvillages。TheGreekswereoppressedbythedoubleweightofthepriest，whowereinvestedwithtemporalpower，andofthesoldier，whowasinflamedbyfanatichatred；andtheinsuperablebarofreligionandlanguageforeverseparatedthestrangerandthenative。AslongasthecrusaderswereunitedatConstantinople，thememoryoftheirconquest，andtheterroroftheirarms，imposedsilenceonthecaptiveland:theirdispersionbetrayedthesmallnessoftheirnumbersandthedefectsoftheirdiscipline；andsomefailuresandmischancesrevealedthesecret，thattheywerenotinvincible。AsthefearsoftheGreeksabated，theirhatredincreased。Theymurdered；theyconspired；andbeforeayearofslaveryhadelapsed，theyimplored，oraccepted，thesuccorofaBarbarian，whosepowertheyhadfelt，andwhosegratitudetheytrusted。^23
[Footnote17:SeethefateofMourzoufleinNicetas，p。393，
Villehardouin，No。141—145，163，andGuntherus，c。20，21。
Neitherthemarshalnorthemonkaffordagrainofpityforatyrantorrebel，whosepunishment，however，wasmoreunexampledthanhiscrime。]
[Footnote18:ThecolumnofArcadius，whichrepresentsinbassorelievohisvictories，orthoseofhisfatherTheodosius，isstillextantatConstantinople。Itisdescribedandmeasured，Gyllius，Topograph。iv。7，Banduri，adl。i。Antiquit。C。P。p。
507，&c。，andTournefort，VoyageduLevant，tom。ii。lettrexii。p。231。CompareWilken，note，vol。vp。388。—M。]
[Footnote19:ThenonsenseofGuntherandthemodernGreeksconcerningthiscolumnafatidica，isunworthyofnotice；butitissingularenough，thatfiftyyearsbeforetheLatinconquest，thepoetTzetzes，Chiliad，ix。277relatesthedreamofamatron，whosawanarmyintheforum，andamansittingonthecolumn，clappinghishands，andutteringaloudexclamation。