Consider the development of Crusdaer ‘democracy’ using Villehardouin’s
account of the Conquest of Constantinople
during the Fourth Crusade. Here is an
excerpt from his chapter dealing with ‘The Emperor’s Covenant, July-November
1205’, when, eventually, “peace and concord were established in the army”.[1] Interesting parallels can be drawn with the
following account and the signing of the Magna
Carta, June 15, 1215.
The barons replied
that they would like to talk the matter over in private. They recognized quite clearly that the [new]
Emperor [of Constantinople] had given them a true picture of the situation, and
were fully aware that such a course as he had proposed was best, for both him
and themselves. They told him, however,
that they could not consent to it except with the general agreement of the
army. They would therefore find out the
army’s opinion on this matter and let him know what transpired. So the Emperor left and went back to
Constantinople. The barons remained in
camp, the next day held a conference to which they summoned all the great lords
and leaders of the army, together with most of the knights. Here the Emperor’s request was communicated
to them exactly as he had made it.
This proposal gave
rise to much discord in the assembly, as much indeed as had on many other
occasions been provoked by those who wished the army to be disbanded, since the
whole affair seemed to them to be lasting too long. The party that had stirred up dissension at
Corfu now reminded the others of their oaths, and said: ‘Give us the ships as
you swore to do, for we wish to go off to Syria.’[2]
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