John I de la Roche (died 1280) succeeded his father, Guy I, as Duke of Athens in 1263. He was cultured and chivalrous, spoke fluent Greek, and read Herodotus.
In 1275, John, with 300 knights, relieved Neopatras, which had been blockaded by a Byzantine mercenary army. It was at this battle that he said "'Great are their numbers but few among them are true men," quoting Herodotus, who said, of the Battle of Thermopylae, "the Persian are great in their numbers but true men are far and few."
The next year (1276), the Byzantine EmperorMichael VIII Palaeologus invaded Euboea and Thessaly. John joined Gilbert of Verona to march to the relief of Negroponte, which was under attack by Licario. During a battle six miles to the north, at Vatonda, John was thrown from his horse and captured, along with Gilbert and many other knights.
In 1280 he died and was succeeded by his brother William.
Longnon, Jean (1969) [1962]. "The Frankish States in Greece, 1204–1311". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Wolff, Robert Lee; Hazard, Harry W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades, Volume II: The Later Crusades, 1189–1311 (Second ed.). Madison, Milwaukee, and London: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 234–275. ISBN0-299-04844-6.
john, roche, died, 1280, succeeded, father, duke, athens, 1263, cultured, chivalrous, spoke, fluent, greek, read, herodotus, 1275, john, with, knights, relieved, neopatras, which, been, blockaded, byzantine, mercenary, army, this, battle, that, said, great, th. John I de la Roche died 1280 succeeded his father Guy I as Duke of Athens in 1263 He was cultured and chivalrous spoke fluent Greek and read Herodotus In 1275 John with 300 knights relieved Neopatras which had been blockaded by a Byzantine mercenary army It was at this battle that he said Great are their numbers but few among them are true men quoting Herodotus who said of the Battle of Thermopylae the Persian are great in their numbers but true men are far and few The next year 1276 the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus invaded Euboea and Thessaly John joined Gilbert of Verona to march to the relief of Negroponte which was under attack by Licario During a battle six miles to the north at Vatonda John was thrown from his horse and captured along with Gilbert and many other knights In 1280 he died and was succeeded by his brother William References editGregorovius Ferdinand Geschichte der Stadt Athen im Mittelater Stuttgart 1889 Longnon Jean 1969 1962 The Frankish States in Greece 1204 1311 In Setton Kenneth M Wolff Robert Lee Hazard Harry W eds A History of the Crusades Volume II The Later Crusades 1189 1311 Second ed Madison Milwaukee and London University of Wisconsin Press pp 234 275 ISBN 0 299 04844 6 Preceded byGuy I Duke of Athens1263 1280 Succeeded byWilliam I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John I de la Roche amp oldid 1165226142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
