Chapter Six. Religion, Church And Empire

Abstract

Apart from the imperial authority there were in the Latin Empire other bodies in existence, the sphere of action or influence of which was of a supra-regional nature. This chapter alludes to the (Latin) patriarchate of Constantinople and to a number of Western religious orders that were established in various parts of the empire. It examines the extent - if at all - to which these supra-regional bodies may have or may not have contributed to the unity of the empire. The constitutional treaty of March 1204 determined the fundamental situation regarding the ecclesiastical organization of the Latin Empire. The chapter examines what is known about the various metropolises, archbishoprics and suffragan bishoprics under Latin rule, doing so on the basis of the available Provincialia Romana (respectively of circa 1210-1212 and 1228) and the papal correspondence, which provides complementary information about the episcopal organization under Latin rule.Keywords: constitutional treaty; imperial authority; Latin Empire; Latin rule; supra-regional bodies; Western religious orders