Society, Administration And Identities In Latin Greece 141
identities which at once composed, disrupted and overrode the core elements
of the local societies as concerns ethnicity, rite, language and economic classes.
These new developments gave rise to the configuration of a complex ideo-
logical landscape. For example, while during the early period the indigenous
populations of the Greek-Venetian lands regarded Venice with hostility, as
embodying the “predatory” Latin powers who had flooded into the Byzantine
Empire, from the 14th century they had begun to look upon the Venetians as
allies and protectors against Ottoman expansion. On the other hand, at no point
during this long historical period did the Greek populations of the Venetian
colonies share a united stance towards Venetian rule, acute socioeconomic
differences within these populations making this impossible.
Generally speaking, it could be argued that the Greek noblemen, cittadini
and, in general, bourgeoisie of the Greek-Venetian lands identified themselves
with Venetian policy and, with very few exceptions, remained consistently pro-
Venetian, supporting the Venetians in their struggles in every way. In contrast,
the rural populations, who bore the brunt of a burdensome socioeconomic
regime, often viewed the possibility of Ottoman rule with equanimity, though
they did take up arms alongside their fellow Christians in the Veneto-Turkish
wars under the banner of the Christian faith.
By contrast with Venice, her greatest rival, Genoa, chose in her limited
number of possessions in Latin Greece to gain control mainly via various indi-
rect means of administration.39 An illustrative example of this policy is to be
noted on the island of Chios during the Genoese period (1346–1566), where,
on account of Genoa’s economic weakness at the time, the administration
was conceded to the Genoese trading company Mahonna. The members of
the company abandoned their individual surnames towards the end of the
14th century and adopted that of Giustiniani. The Mahonna gained the right to
exploit the island’s products, most especially mastic. At the head of the local
government was an official holding the title of podestà who was appointed by
the metropolis and was aided by six councillors chosen from among the mem-
bers of the Mahonna. Other officials were the castellan, the vicar, the rectors,
the officials in charge of the financial administration (massari) and the chan-
cellor (scriba cancellerie).
Heading the local society were the Giustiniani, and below these were
the burgesses: these last were of Latin origin, nearly all from Genoa, and
were chiefly engaged both in trade and in industry or were large and small
estate owners or professional men. The exploitation of the land and trade were
undertaken by the Greek archons, such as the Schilizzi family, who had their
39 Michel Balard, La Romanie génoise (xiie–début du xve siècle), 2 vols. (Genoa, 1978).