THE CONQUEST OF HERACLAEA OF THRACE BY THE GENOESE IN 1351
Abstract
In this paper, the conquest of Heraclaea of Thrace (nowadays Ereğli or Marmaraereğlisi) by the Genoese in 1351 is presented in detail. The causes which led to the conquest of the city are examined. Additionally, what is further examined is the situation in which the city was in combination with the efforts undertaken, after the conquest, by the metropolitan of Heraclaea Philotheos Kokkinos (1347-1353) and then patriarch of Constantinople (1353-
1354, 1364-1376), in order to return the scattered inhabitants back to their city and to restore life again in Heraclaea. What is concluded is that the Byzantine Empire, a century before its final conquest by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, cannot oppose – because of its weakness – a strong
defense against its enemies. Furthermore, the Byzantine dominion and the seas had become the ground of action and competition of foreign forces (in the specific case of the Italian cities of Venice and Genoa). The Byzantine Empire had nothing to win from this competition. On the contrary, it was humiliated and had to confront with disasters (for example, the above-mentioned conquest of Heraclaea).
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