- William I de la Roche
William I de la Roche (died 1287) succeeded his brother, John I, as
Duke of Athens in 1280. He was the first official "duke" of Athens; previous dukes had actually been "lords."William reversed the territorial losses of his brother's reign, extending his control over Lamia and
Gardiki as far asArgos and Nauplia . He marriedHelena Angelina Comnena , daughter ofJohn Angelus Comnenus , Duke of Neopatria, securing a military alliance with him.In 1285, while
Charles II of Naples , nominalprince of Achaea , was imprisoned,Robert of Artois , regent of the kingdom, named William bailiff and vicar-general of Achaea. He built the castle ofDimatra to defendMessenia from theByzantine Empire . He was then the most powerful baron in Frankish Greece. In 1286, he arbitrated the succession of theMarch of Bodonitsa following the death ofIsabella Pallavicini . He chose her cousin Thomas over her widowerAntoine le Flamenc .William's rule was peaceful, but short, as he died two years after assuming power in Achaea. He was succeeded by his minor son Guy.
References
*Setton, Kenneth M. (general editor) "A History of the Crusades: Volume II — The Later Crusades, 1189 – 1311". Robert Lee Wolff and Harry W. Hazard, editors. University of Wisconsin Press: Milwaukee, 1969.
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