[Footnote32:Themarshalwasalivein1212，butheprobablydiedsoonafterwards，withoutreturningtoFrance，Ducange，ObservationssurVillehardouin，p。238。HisfiefofMessinople，thegiftofBoniface，wastheancientMaximianopolis，whichflourishedinthetimeofAmmianusMarcellinus，amongthecitiesofThrace，No。141。]
[Footnote*:Therewasnobattle。OntheadvanceoftheLatins，Johnsuddenlybrokeuphiscampandretreated。TheLatinsconsideredthisunexpecteddeliverancealmostamiracle。LeBeausuggeststheprobabilitythatthedetectionoftheComans，whousuallyquittedthecampduringtheheatsofsummer，mayhavecausedtheflightoftheBulgarians。Nicetas，c。8
Villebardouin，c。225。LeBeau，vol。xvii。p。242。—M。]
[Footnote33:ThechurchofthispatronofThessalonicawasservedbythecanonsoftheholysepulchre，andcontainedadivineointmentwhichdistilleddailyandstupendousmiracles，Ducange，Hist。deC。P。ii。4。]
[Footnote34:Acropolitac。17observesthepersecutionofthelegate，andthetolerationofHenry，\'Eon，ashecallshim。]
[Footnote35:SeethereignofHenry，inDucange，Hist。deC。P。
l。i。c。35—41，l。ii。c。1—22，whoismuchindebtedtotheEpistlesofthePopes。LeBeauHist。duBasEmpire，tom。xxi。p。
120—122hasfound，perhapsinDoutreman，somelawsofHenry，whichdeterminedtheserviceoffiefs，andtheprerogativesoftheemperor。]
ThevirtuousHenrydiedatThessalonica，inthedefenceofthatkingdom，andofaninfant，thesonofhisfriendBoniface。
InthetwofirstemperorsofConstantinoplethemalelineofthecountsofFlanderswasextinct。ButtheirsisterYolandewasthewifeofaFrenchprince，themotherofanumerousprogeny；andoneofherdaughtershadmarriedAndrewkingofHungary，abraveandpiouschampionofthecross。ByseatinghimontheByzantinethrone，thebaronsofRomaniawouldhaveacquiredtheforcesofaneighboringandwarlikekingdom；buttheprudentAndrewreveredthelawsofsuccession；andtheprincessYolande，withherhusbandPeterofCourtenay，countofAuxerre，wasinvitedbytheLatinstoassumetheempireoftheEast。Theroyalbirthofhisfather，thenobleoriginofhismother，recommendedtothebaronsofFrancethefirstcousinoftheirking。Hisreputationwasfair，hispossessionswereample，andinthebloodycrusadeagainsttheAlbigeois，thesoldiersandthepriestshadbeenabundantlysatisfiedofhiszealandvalor。VanitymightapplaudtheelevationofaFrenchemperorofConstantinople；butprudencemustpity，ratherthanenvy，histreacherousandimaginarygreatness。Toassertandadornhistitle，hewasreducedtosellormortgagethebestofhispatrimony。Bytheseexpedients，theliberalityofhisroyalkinsmanPhilipAugustus，andthenationalspiritofchivalry，hewasenabledtopasstheAlpsattheheadofonehundredandfortyknights，andfivethousandfivehundredsergeantsandarchers。Aftersomehesitation，PopeHonoriustheThirdwaspersuadedtocrownthesuccessorofConstantine:butheperformedtheceremonyinachurchwithoutthewalls，lestheshouldseemtoimplyortobestowanyrightofsovereigntyovertheancientcapitaloftheempire。TheVenetianshadengagedtotransportPeterandhisforcesbeyondtheAdriatic，andtheempress，withherfourchildren，totheByzantinepalace；buttheyrequired，asthepriceoftheirservice，thatheshouldrecoverDurazzofromthedespotofEpirus。MichaelAngelus，orComnenus，thefirstofhisdynasty，hadbequeathedthesuccessionofhispowerandambitiontoTheodore，hislegitimatebrother，whoalreadythreatenedandinvadedtheestablishmentsoftheLatins。Afterdischarginghisdebtbyafruitlessassault，theemperorraisedthesiegetoprosecutealongandperilousjourneyoverlandfromDurazzotoThessalonica。HewassoonlostinthemountainsofEpirus:thepasseswerefortified；hisprovisionsexhausted；hewasdelayedanddeceivedbyatreacherousnegotiation；and，afterPeterofCourtenayandtheRomanlegatehadbeenarrestedinabanquet，theFrenchtroops，withoutleadersorhopes，wereeagertoexchangetheirarmsforthedelusivepromiseofmercyandbread。TheVaticanthundered；andtheimpiousTheodorewasthreatenedwiththevengeanceofearthandheaven；butthecaptiveemperorandhissoldierswereforgotten，andthereproachesofthepopeareconfinedtotheimprisonmentofhislegate。Nosoonerwashesatisfiedbythedeliveranceofthepriestsandapromiseofspiritualobedience，thanhepardonedandprotectedthedespotofEpirus。HisperemptorycommandssuspendedtheardoroftheVenetiansandthekingofHungary；anditwasonlybyanaturaloruntimelydeath^36thatPeterofCourtenaywasreleasedfromhishopelesscaptivity。^37
[Footnote36:Acropolitac。14affirms，thatPeterofCourtenaydiedbythesword，butfromhisdarkexpressions，Ishouldconcludeapreviouscaptivity。TheChronicleofAuxerredelaystheemperor\'sdeathtilltheyear1219；andAuxerreisintheneighborhoodofCourtenay。
Note:Whatevermayhavebeenthefact，thiscanhardlybemadeoutfromtheexpressionsofAcropolita。—M。]
[Footnote37:SeethereignanddeathofPeterofCourtenay，inDucange，Hist。deC。P。l。ii。c。22—28，whofeeblystrivestoexcusetheneglectoftheemperorbyHonoriusIII。]
Thelongignoranceofhisfate，andthepresenceofthelawfulsovereign，ofYolande，hiswifeorwidow，delayedtheproclamationofanewemperor。Beforeherdeath，andinthemidstofhergrief，shewasdeliveredofason，whowasnamedBaldwin，thelastandmostunfortunateoftheLatinprincesofConstantinople。HisbirthendearedhimtothebaronsofRomania；
buthischildhoodwouldhaveprolongedthetroublesofaminority，andhisclaimsweresupersededbytheelderclaimsofhisbrethren。Thefirstofthese，PhilipofCourtenay，whoderivedfromhismothertheinheritanceofNamur，hadthewisdomtopreferthesubstanceofamarquisatetotheshadowofanempire；andonhisrefusal，Robert，thesecondofthesonsofPeterandYolande，wascalledtothethroneofConstantinople。
Warnedbyhisfather\'smischance，hepursuedhisslowandsecurejourneythroughGermanyandalongtheDanube:apassagewasopenedbyhissister\'smarriagewiththekingofHungary；andtheemperorRobertwascrownedbythepatriarchinthecathedralofSt。Sophia。Buthisreignwasanaeraofcalamityanddisgrace；
andthecolony，asitwasstyled，ofNewFranceyieldedonallsidestotheGreeksofNiceandEpirus。Afteravictory，whichheowedtohisperfidyratherthanhiscourage，TheodoreAngelusenteredthekingdomofThessalonica，expelledthefeebleDemetrius，thesonofthemarquisBoniface，erectedhisstandardonthewallsofAdrianople；andadded，byhisvanity，athirdorafourthnametothelistofrivalemperors。TherelicsoftheAsiaticprovinceweresweptawaybyJohnVataces，theson—in—lawandsuccessorofTheodoreLascaris，andwho，inatriumphantreignofthirty—threeyears，displayedthevirtuesbothofpeaceandwar。Underhisdiscipline，theswordsoftheFrenchmercenarieswerethemosteffectualinstrumentsofhisconquests，andtheirdesertionfromtheserviceoftheircountrywasatonceasymptomandacauseoftherisingascendantoftheGreeks。Bytheconstructionofafleet，heobtainedthecommandoftheHellespont，reducedtheislandsofLesbosandRhodes，attackedtheVenetiansofCandia，andinterceptedtherareandparsimonioussuccorsoftheWest。Once，andonceonly，theLatinemperorsentanarmyagainstVataces；andinthedefeatofthatarmy，theveteranknights，thelastoftheoriginalconquerors，wereleftonthefieldofbattle。ButthesuccessofaforeignenemywaslesspainfultothepusillanimousRobertthantheinsolenceofhisLatinsubjects，whoconfoundedtheweaknessoftheemperorandoftheempire。Hispersonalmisfortuneswillprovetheanarchyofthegovernmentandtheferociousnessofthetimes。TheamorousyouthhadneglectedhisGreekbride，thedaughterofVataces，tointroduceintothepalaceabeautifulmaid，ofaprivate，thoughnoblefamilyofArtois；andhermotherhadbeentemptedbythelustreofthepurpletoforfeitherengagementswithagentlemanofBurgundy。Hislovewasconvertedintorage；heassembledhisfriends，forcedthepalacegates，threwthemotherintothesea，andinhumanlycutoffthenoseandlipsofthewifeorconcubineoftheemperor。Insteadofpunishingtheoffender，thebaronsavowedandapplaudedthesavagedeed，^38which，asaprinceandasaman，itwasimpossiblethatRobertshouldforgive。Heescapedfromtheguiltycitytoimplorethejusticeorcompassionofthepope:theemperorwascoollyexhortedtoreturntohisstation；beforehecouldobey，hesunkundertheweightofgrief，shame，andimpotentresentment。^39
[Footnote38:MarinusSanutusSecretaFideliumCrucis，l。ii。p。
4，c。18，p。73issomuchdelightedwiththisbloodydeed，thathehastranscribeditinhismarginasabonumexemplum。YetheacknowledgesthedamselforthelawfulwifeofRobert。]
[Footnote39:SeethereignofRobert，inDucange，Hist。deC。
P。l。ii。c。—12。]
Itwasonlyintheageofchivalry，thatvalorcouldascendfromaprivatestationtothethronesofJerusalemandConstantinople。ThetitularkingdomofJerusalemhaddevolvedtoMary，thedaughterofIsabellaandConradofMontferrat，andthegranddaughterofAlmericorAmaury。ShewasgiventoJohnofBrienne，ofanoblefamilyinChampagne，bythepublicvoice，andthejudgmentofPhilipAugustus，whonamedhimasthemostworthychampionoftheHolyLand。^40Inthefifthcrusade，heledahundredthousandLatinstotheconquestofEgypt:byhimthesiegeofDamiettawasachieved；andthesubsequentfailurewasjustlyascribedtotheprideandavariceofthelegate。AfterthemarriageofhisdaughterwithFrederictheSecond，^41hewasprovokedbytheemperor\'singratitudetoacceptthecommandofthearmyofthechurch；andthoughadvancedinlife，anddespoiledofroyalty，theswordandspiritofJohnofBriennewerestillreadyfortheserviceofChristendom。Inthesevenyearsofhisbrother\'sreign，BaldwinofCourtenayhadnotemergedfromastateofchildhood，andthebaronsofRomaniafeltthestrongnecessityofplacingthesceptreinthehandsofamanandahero。TheveterankingofJerusalemmighthavedisdainedthenameandofficeofregent；theyagreedtoinvesthimforhislifewiththetitleandprerogativesofemperor，onthesoleconditionthatBaldwinshouldmarryhisseconddaughter，andsucceedatamatureagetothethroneofConstantinople。Theexpectation，bothoftheGreeksandLatins，waskindledbytherenown，thechoice，andthepresenceofJohnofBrienne；andtheyadmiredhismartialaspect，hisgreenandvigorousageofmorethanfourscoreyears，andhissizeandstature，whichsurpassedthecommonmeasureofmankind。^42Butavarice，andtheloveofease，appeartohavechilledtheardorofenterprise:histroopsweredisbanded，andtwoyearsrolledawaywithoutactionorhonor，tillhewasawakenedbythedangerousallianceofVatacesemperorofNice，andofAzankingofBulgaria。TheybesiegedConstantinoplebyseaandland，withanarmyofonehundredthousandmen，andafleetofthreehundredshipsofwar；
whiletheentireforceoftheLatinemperorwasreducedtoonehundredandsixtyknights，andasmalladditionofsergeantsandarchers。Itrembletorelate，thatinsteadofdefendingthecity，theheromadeasallyattheheadofhiscavalry；andthatofforty—eightsquadronsoftheenemy，nomorethanthreeescapedfromtheedgeofhisinvinciblesword。Firedbyhisexample，theinfantryandthecitizensboardedthevesselsthatanchoredclosetothewalls；andtwenty—fiveweredraggedintriumphintotheharborofConstantinople。Atthesummonsoftheemperor，thevassalsandalliesarmedinherdefence；brokethrougheveryobstaclethatopposedtheirpassage；and，inthesucceedingyear，obtainedasecondvictoryoverthesameenemies。
Bytherudepoetsoftheage，JohnofBrienneiscomparedtoHector，Roland，andJudasMachabaeus:^43buttheircredit，andhisglory，receivesomeabatementfromthesilenceoftheGreeks。
Theempirewassoondeprivedofthelastofherchampions；andthedyingmonarchwasambitioustoenterparadiseinthehabitofaFranciscanfriar。^44
[Footnote40:RexigiturFranciae，deliberationehabita，responditnuntiis，sedaturumhominemSyriaepartibusaptum；inarmisprobumpreuxinbellissecurum，inagendisprovidum，JohannemcomitemBrennensem。Sanut。Secret。Fidelium，l。iii。p。
xi。c。4，p。205MatthewParis，p。159。]
[Footnote41:GiannoneIstoriaCivile，tom。ii。l。xvi。p。380—
385discussesthemarriageofFredericII。withthedaughterofJohnofBrienne，andthedoubleunionofthecrownsofNaplesandJerusalem。]
[Footnote42:Acropolita，c。27。Thehistorianwasatthattimeaboy，andeducatedatConstantinople。In1233，whenhewaselevenyearsold，hisfatherbroketheLatinchain，leftasplendidfortune，andescapedtotheGreekcourtofNice，wherehissonwasraisedtothehighesthonors。]
[Footnote*:JohndeBrienne，electedemperor1229，wastedtwoyearsinpreparations，anddidnotarriveatConstantinopletill1231。Twoyearsmoreglidedawayiningloriousinaction；hethenmadesomeineffectivewarlikeexpeditions。Constantinoplewasnotbesiegedtill1234。—M。]
[Footnote43:PhilipMouskes，bishopofTournay，A。D。1274—
1282，hascomposedapoem，orratherstringofverses，inbadoldFlemishFrench，ontheLatinemperorsofConstantinople，whichDucangehaspublishedattheendofVillehardouin；seep。
38，fortheprowessofJohnofBrienne。
N\'Aie，Ector，Roll\'neOgiersNeJudasMachabeuslifiersTantnefitd\'armesenestorsComfistliRoisJehansceljorsEtildeforsetildedansLaparusaforceetsessensEtlihardimentqu\'ilavoit。]
[Footnote44:SeethereignofJohndeBrienne，inDucange，Hist。
deC。P。l。ii。c。13—26。]
InthedoublevictoryofJohnofBrienne，IcannotdiscoverthenameorexploitsofhispupilBaldwin，whohadattainedtheageofmilitaryservice，andwhosucceededtotheimperialdignityonthedeceaseofhisadoptivefather。^45Theroyalyouthwasemployedonacommissionmoresuitabletohistemper；
hewassenttovisittheWesterncourts，ofthepopemoreespecially，andofthekingofFrance；toexcitetheirpitybytheviewofhisinnocenceanddistress；andtoobtainsomesuppliesofmenormoneyforthereliefofthesinkingempire。
Hethricerepeatedthesemendicantvisits，inwhichheseemedtoprolonghisstayandpostponehisreturn；ofthefive—and—twentyyearsofhisreign，agreaternumberwerespentabroadthanathome；andinnoplacedidtheemperordeemhimselflessfreeandsecurethaninhisnativecountryandhiscapital。Onsomepublicoccasions，hisvanitymightbesoothedbythetitleofAugustus，andbythehonorsofthepurple；andatthegeneralcouncilofLyons，whenFrederictheSecondwasexcommunicatedanddeposed，hisOrientalcolleaguewasenthronedontherighthandofthepope。Buthowoftenwastheexile，thevagrant，theImperialbeggar，humbledwithscorn，insultedwithpity，anddegradedinhisowneyesandthoseofthenations!InhisfirstvisittoEngland，hewasstoppedatDoverbyaseverereprimand，thatheshouldpresume，withoutleave，toenteranindependentkingdom。Aftersomedelay，Baldwin，however，waspermittedtopursuehisjourney，wasentertainedwithcoldcivility，andthankfullydepartedwithapresentofsevenhundredmarks。^46
FromtheavariceofRomehecouldonlyobtaintheproclamationofacrusade，andatreasureofindulgences；acoinwhosecurrencywasdepreciatedbytoofrequentandindiscriminateabuse。HisbirthandmisfortunesrecommendedhimtothegenerosityofhiscousinLouistheNinth；butthemartialzealofthesaintwasdivertedfromConstantinopletoEgyptandPalestine；andthepublicandprivatepovertyofBaldwinwasalleviated，foramoment，bythealienationofthemarquisateofNamurandthelordshipofCourtenay，thelastremainsofhisinheritance。^47
Bysuchshamefulorruinousexpedients，heoncemorereturnedtoRomania，withanarmyofthirtythousandsoldiers，whosenumbersweredoubledintheapprehensionoftheGreeks。HisfirstdespatchestoFranceandEnglandannouncedhisvictoriesandhishopes:hehadreducedthecountryroundthecapitaltothedistanceofthreedays\'journey；andifhesucceededagainstanimportant，thoughnameless，city，mostprobablyChiorli，thefrontierwouldbesafeandthepassageaccessible。ButtheseexpectationsifBaldwinwassincerequicklyvanishedlikeadream:thetroopsandtreasuresofFrancemeltedawayinhisunskilfulhands；andthethroneoftheLatinemperorwasprotectedbyadishonorablealliancewiththeTurksandComans。
Tosecuretheformer，heconsentedtobestowhisnieceontheunbelievingsultanofCogni；topleasethelatter，hecompliedwiththeirPaganrites；adogwassacrificedbetweenthetwoarmies；andthecontractingpartiestastedeachother\'sblood，asapledgeoftheirfidelity。^48Inthepalace，orprison，ofConstantinople，thesuccessorofAugustusdemolishedthevacanthousesforwinterfuel，andstrippedtheleadfromthechurchesforthedailyexpenseofhisfamily。SomeusuriousloansweredealtwithascantyhandbythemerchantsofItaly；andPhilip，hissonandheir，waspawnedatVeniceasthesecurityforadebt。^49Thirst，hunger，andnakedness，arepositiveevils:butwealthisrelative；andaprincewhowouldberichinaprivatestation，maybeexposedbytheincreaseofhiswantstoalltheanxietyandbitternessofpoverty。
[Footnote45:SeethereignofBaldwinII。tillhisexpulsionfromConstantinople，inDucange，Hist。deC。P。l。iv。c。1—34，theendl。v。c。1—33]
[Footnote46:MatthewParisrelatesthetwovisitsofBaldwinII。
totheEnglishcourt，p。396，637；hisreturntoGreecearmatamanu，p。407hislettersofhisnomenformidabile，&c。，p。481，apassagewhichhasescapedDucange；hisexpulsion，p。850。]
[Footnote47:LouisIX。disapprovedandstoppedthealienationofCourtenayDucange，l。iv。c。23。ItisnowannexedtotheroyaldemesnebutgrantedforatermengagetothefamilyofBoulainvilliers。Courtenay，intheelectionofNemoursintheIsledeFrance，isatownof900inhabitants，withtheremainsofacastle，Melangestiresd\'uneGrandeBibliotheque，tom。xlv。p。
74—77。]
[Footnote48:Joinville，p。104，edit。duLouvre。AComanprince，whodiedwithoutbaptism，wasburiedatthegatesofConstantinoplewithaliveretinueofslavesandhorses。]
[Footnote49:Sanut。Secret。Fidel。Crucis，l。ii。p。iv。c。18，p。73。]
ChapterLXI:PartitionOfTheEmpireByTheFrenchAndVenetians。
PartIII。
Butinthisabjectdistress，theemperorandempirewerestillpossessedofanidealtreasure，whichdrewitsfantasticvaluefromthesuperstitionoftheChristianworld。Themeritofthetruecrosswassomewhatimpairedbyitsfrequentdivision；