Latin Emperors of Constantinople and Claimants
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001);
Mujatabá Musavi Lari, Resurrection, Judgment and the
Hereafter: Lessons on Islamic Doctrine, trans. Hamid
Algar (Qom, Iran: Foundation of Islamic Cultural Prop-
agation in the World, 1992); Jonathan B. Riess, Luca
Signorelli: The San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto(New York:
George Braziller, 1995).
Lateran Councils, I–IV SeeCOUNCILS, GENERAL AND
ECUMENICAL.
Latin Empire of Constantinople The Latin Empire
of CONSTANTINOPLEwas the political organization estab-
lished in 1204 by the FRANKS and Venetians on the
Fourth CRUSADE, after their conquest of Constantinople
and the partitioning of the BYZANTINEEMPIRE. Under the
leadership of Baldwin I (1171–1205) of FLANDERS,the
new empire formally included all Frankish conquests in
GREECE, the kingdom of THESSALONIKI, the duchy of
ATHENS, and the principality of MOREA. However, these
territories were soon independent of the Frankish emper-
ors at Constantinople, whose real power was confined to
Thrace, the area around the city. All of these territories
were heavily dependent on VENICE, which held a com-
mercial monopoly and dominated its harbors and sea
routes.
The empire’s history was marked by constant wars
with the BULGARIANSand the Greek emperors of nearby
Nicaea. The local populations also generally refused to
accept the dominance of the Western Church. The leader-
ship of empire was Latin in character and was obedient to
the pope and the Venetian patriarch. This antagonized
the Greek Orthodox clergy, especially monks, who
strongly rejected union with ROMEand preached against
the conquerors. In 1261 Emperor Michael VIII Palaiolo-
gos (r. 1261–82) of Nicaea retook Constantinople with
the help of the Genoese and reestablished a weakened
Byzantine Empire. Despite this, a ghostly imperial title,
especially claimed by the Angevins of NAPLES, continued
to pass, through MARRIAGE and inheritance, to several
Italian princes until the end of the Middle Ages.Tympanum sculpture over the western doorway of the cathedral of Saint Lazare at Autun, depicting the Last Judgment by
Gislebertus between 1130 and 1135 (Courtesy Edward English)