Art, Power, and Patronage in the Principality of Epirus, 1204–1318

The Principality of Epirus was a medieval Greek state established in the western Balkans after the fall of Constantinople in 1204. This book explores a corpus of Epirote architecture, frescoes, sculpture, and inscriptions from the early thirteenth to the early fourteenth century, focusing on the nexus of art, patronage, and political ideology. It uncovers how the Epirote elite mobilized art and material culture to address issues of succession and legitimacy, construct memory, reclaim Constantinople, and mediate encounters and exchanges with the Latin West.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Principality of Epirus, a medieval Greek state, emerged in the western Balkans following the fall of Constantinople to the forces of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The Epirote rulers, hailing from the Komnenos Doukas family, asserted their legitimacy as successors to the Byzantine imperial throne, supported by the high clergy and aristocracy within their domain. Despite their exile, they carefully preserved their Byzantine identity. This book delves into a comprehensive corpus of Epirote architecture, frescoes, sculptures, and inscriptions from the early thirteenth to the early fourteenth century. It employs a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, focusing on the interplay between art, patronage, and political ideology. Through an examination of a vast array of visual and textual sources, many of which have been understudied or previously unpublished, the book reveals how the Epirote elite utilized art and material culture to address critical issues such as succession, legitimacy, memory, the reclamation of Constantinople, and interactions with the Latin West. By offering a fresh perspective on Byzantine political and cultural history in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade, this study contributes significantly to our understanding of this pivotal period.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032254173