The Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1082 was a trade and defence pact signed between the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice, in the form of an imperial chrysobull or golden bull, issued by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. This treaty, which provided the Venetians with major trading concessions in exchange for their help in the wars against the Normans, would have a major impact on both the empire and the republic that would later dictate their histories for several centuries to come.
Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1082
The Byzantine Empire and neighbouring countries at the beginning of the 11th century
The Byzantine Empire made a large number of trade concessions to the Republic of Venice in exchange for military support against the Normans who were invading and conquering various Byzantine holdings in and outside the empire. According to the treaty, the Byzantines would allow the Venetians the right to trade throughout the empire without the imposition of taxes.[1] The Venetians would also be allowed control of the main harbor facilities of Byzantium (Constantinople), along with control of several key public offices.[2] The treaty also granted various honors to the Doge of Venice, along with an income.[1] Finally, the Venetians were granted their own district within Byzantium, with shops, a church, and a bakery,[3] which could be compared to the concessions of 19th century colonialism.
In exchange for these trade concessions, the Byzantine Empire requested military support from the Venetians, especially in the form of ships, since the empire had no real navy to speak of.
Consequencesedit
The military aid promised by the Republic of Venice did infact arrive in the form of a naval blockade of the Normans at Dyrrachium, which forced the Normans to engage in a battle with the Romans. However, the Venetians gains largely overweighed those of the Romans as they reaped great benefits from the new trade advantages they enjoyed by the treaty.[2] The Byzantine Empire’s ability to recuperate after losses was significantly reduced, because of the immense revenue the empire had given up when it allowed the Venetians to trade freely without the imposition of taxes. This stifled the empire’s power of recuperation and ultimately started its terminal decline.[2]
Frankopan, Peter (2004). . Journal of Medieval History. 30 (2). Elsevier: 135–60. doi:10.1016/j.jmedhist.2004.03.005. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
Nicovich, John Mark (2009). "The Poverty of the Patriarchate of Grado and the Byzantine–Venetian Treaty of 1082". The Mediterranean Historical Review. 24 (1). New York: Routledge: 1–16. doi:10.1080/09518960903000736.
byzantine, venetian, treaty, 1082, trade, defence, pact, signed, between, byzantine, empire, republic, venice, form, imperial, chrysobull, golden, bull, issued, emperor, alexios, komnenos, this, treaty, which, provided, venetians, with, major, trading, concess. The Byzantine Venetian treaty of 1082 was a trade and defence pact signed between the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice in the form of an imperial chrysobull or golden bull issued by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos This treaty which provided the Venetians with major trading concessions in exchange for their help in the wars against the Normans would have a major impact on both the empire and the republic that would later dictate their histories for several centuries to come Byzantine Venetian treaty of 1082The Byzantine Empire and neighbouring countries at the beginning of the 11th centuryTypeChrysobullContextByzantine Norman warsSignatoriesByzantine Empire Republic of Venice Contents 1 Stipulations 2 Consequences 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further readingStipulations editThe Byzantine Empire made a large number of trade concessions to the Republic of Venice in exchange for military support against the Normans who were invading and conquering various Byzantine holdings in and outside the empire According to the treaty the Byzantines would allow the Venetians the right to trade throughout the empire without the imposition of taxes 1 The Venetians would also be allowed control of the main harbor facilities of Byzantium Constantinople along with control of several key public offices 2 The treaty also granted various honors to the Doge of Venice along with an income 1 Finally the Venetians were granted their own district within Byzantium with shops a church and a bakery 3 which could be compared to the concessions of 19th century colonialism In exchange for these trade concessions the Byzantine Empire requested military support from the Venetians especially in the form of ships since the empire had no real navy to speak of Consequences editThe military aid promised by the Republic of Venice did infact arrive in the form of a naval blockade of the Normans at Dyrrachium which forced the Normans to engage in a battle with the Romans However the Venetians gains largely overweighed those of the Romans as they reaped great benefits from the new trade advantages they enjoyed by the treaty 2 The Byzantine Empire s ability to recuperate after losses was significantly reduced because of the immense revenue the empire had given up when it allowed the Venetians to trade freely without the imposition of taxes This stifled the empire s power of recuperation and ultimately started its terminal decline 2 See also editList of Byzantine foreign treatiesNotes edit a b Gregory a b c Bideleux Constable References editBideleux Robert and Ian Jeffries 1998 A History of Eastern Europe Crisis and Change London Routledge ISBN 978 04151 6112 1 Constable Olivia Remie 2003 Housing the Stranger in the Mediterranean World Lodging Trade and Travel in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0521 81918 3 Gregory Timothy E 2010 A History of Byzantium Malden Massachusetts John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 1405 18471 7 Further reading editFrankopan Peter 2004 Byzantine Trade Privileges to Venice in the Eleventh Century The Chrysobull of 1092 Journal of Medieval History 30 2 Elsevier 135 60 doi 10 1016 j jmedhist 2004 03 005 Archived from the original on 2008 10 14 Retrieved 2014 12 08 Nicovich John Mark 2009 The Poverty of the Patriarchate of Grado and the Byzantine Venetian Treaty of 1082 The Mediterranean Historical Review 24 1 New York Routledge 1 16 doi 10 1080 09518960903000736 Ostrogorsky George 1956 History of the Byzantine State Blackwell ASIN B0000CJHS9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Byzantine Venetian treaty of 1082 amp oldid 1219210931, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
