The social status of the archons in the principality of Achaea (1205-1262 ad)

The article analyzes the social status of the Greek nobility in the Achaean Principality in 1204-1262. Based on the analysis of the texts of three versions of the «Chronicle of Morea», the chronicles of Geoffroi de Villehardouin, Henri de Valenciennes, George Acropolites, George Pachymeres, Marino Sanudo Torsello, and other sources, the author identifies the features of the archons’ integration into the new social structure created by the Franks. It is observed that the imposition of military duty on «ἄρχοντες» occurred when its performance was traditional for them (melingoi) or necessary for conquerors (nobles of Monemvasia). Attention is drawn to the absence of direct evidence that the military service entailed the “automatic” inclusion of the archons in the group of vassals of “simple homage”. It is stated that their mass presence in the Battle of Pelagonia in 1259 is not confirmed by any source. Thus, the first evidence of the participation of the Greek elite in the campaigns of the Latins and the beginning of its limited integration into the chivalry occurred in the 1260s. It is noted that within the framework of standard agreements on the transition to the power of Western Europeans, in which «ἄρχοντες» called themselves servants («δοῦλοι») of the Franks, the noble Greeks performed advisory and administrative functions, and probably could conclude temporary agreements on military support. The treaty of the archons of Monemvasia and Guillaume II de Villehardouin, in turn, can be interpreted not only as confirmation of the emergence of vassal relations between the conquerors and the conquered or the spread of mercenaries in the Frankish Morea, but also as a potential agreement on a fief-rente.