Crusader Constantinople’s Crucified Constable?

Abstract

This paper explores the account of a Greek lord, Michael Ducas of Epirus, crucifying the constable of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, Amedée Pofey. It argues that the account of this event in a papal letter has not received significant scrutiny, especially in relation to the unprecedented accusation of the crucifixion of one Christian against another. It explores the careers of the two figures at the center of the incident, and then builds a case against the veracity of the crucifixion claim by focusing on the frequent distortions in the letters of the Latin Emperor Henry I who is the source of this claim. It then explores a similar method of execution, the phourka, which may have been confused with or exaggerated into a crucifixion.