Battle of Halmyros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Halmyros |
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 Map of the Greek and Latin states in southern Greece c. 1278 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Catalan Company | Duchy of Athens and allies |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Unknown | Walter V † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 cavalry 4,000 infantry (Chronicle of the Morea) 3,500 cavalry 4,000 infantry (Gregoras) |
700 knights 24,000 infantry (Muntaner) 6,400 cavalry 8,000 infantry (Gregoras) 2,000 cavalry 4,000 infantry (Chronicle of the Morea) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Very heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Halmyros was a major fight that happened on March 15, 1311. It was between the army of the Duchy of Athens (a state ruled by French knights in Greece) and a group of skilled soldiers called the Catalan Company. The Catalans won a huge victory. This battle changed who ruled a big part of Greece for many years.
The Catalan Company was a group of mercenaries, which means they were soldiers who fought for money. They had been fighting for the Byzantine Empire in other parts of Greece. But they had a disagreement with the Byzantines and moved into southern Greece in 1309.
Walter of Brienne, the new Duke of Athens, hired the Catalans to attack the Greek ruler of a nearby region called Thessaly. The Catalans were very good at fighting and won many areas for Walter. However, Walter then refused to pay them what he owed. He tried to force them to leave the lands they had conquered.
So, the two armies met for battle near Halmyros in southern Thessaly. The Catalans had fewer soldiers. But they were smart and chose a good place to fight. They set up their army behind a swampy area and even made it wetter to make it harder for the enemy.
Walter of Brienne was very proud and confident in his strong cavalry (soldiers on horseback). He led a direct charge against the Catalan lines. But his heavy cavalry got stuck in the mud and swamp. The Catalan foot soldiers, who were lighter and faster, easily defeated them. Walter and almost all the knights of his army were killed.
Because of this battle, the Catalans took over the Duchy of Athens. They ruled this part of Greece until the 1380s.
Contents
What Led to the Battle?
Frankish Rule in Greece
After the capture of Constantinople in 1204, many parts of Greece came under the rule of Frankish (Western European) knights. These knights were part of the Crusader principalities, which were states they set up. The most important of these were the Principality of Achaea and the Duchy of Athens.
The Duchy of Athens, with its capital at Thebes, became very rich and powerful. Trade grew, and its court was famous for its splendor. But in 1308, the last Duke of Athens, Guy II, died without children. After some debate, Walter of Brienne became the new Duke in 1309.
The Catalan Company's Journey
At the same time, a group of skilled mercenary soldiers called the Catalan Company was causing trouble in the Greek world. These soldiers were veterans from a war in Italy. They were first hired by the Byzantine Empire to fight against the Turks in Asia Minor.
However, the Catalans and the Byzantines started fighting each other. The Catalans were forced to leave their base and marched west, fighting and taking things as they went. They moved through Thrace and Macedonia until they reached Thessaly in early 1309.
The ruler of Thessaly, John II Doukas, was worried about the 8,000 Catalan soldiers. He asked for help from the Byzantines and other Greek states. The Catalans were defeated by the Greeks. They then agreed to pass peacefully through Thessaly towards the Frankish lands in southern Greece.
Walter Hires the Catalans
Walter of Brienne had fought the Catalans before in Italy. He knew their language and they respected him. So, he hired the Catalan Company for six months to fight against the Greeks. He promised them a lot of money.
The Catalans turned back and captured many towns and fortresses in Thessaly. They also took a lot of wealth from the rich plains. This forced the Greek states to make peace with Walter. Walter received praise and money from Pope Clement V for his success.
But Walter then refused to pay the Catalans for the last four months of their service. He chose only 500 of their best soldiers to stay with him. He paid them and gave them land. He ordered the rest of the Catalans to give back the lands they had conquered and leave.
The Catalans offered to accept Walter as their leader if they could keep some of the land they had won. But Walter said no. He prepared to force them out. He gathered a very large army, including his own knights and soldiers from other Frankish states in Greece.
The Battle of Halmyros
Where the Battle Happened
Historians have debated the exact place of the battle for a long time. Some old writings say it was near Thebes, in a swampy plain. This made people think it was near the Boeotic Cephissus river.
However, other old writings say the battle happened at "Halmyros," which is a town in southern Thessaly. More recent studies of these old writings show that the battle most likely happened at Halmyros. A letter from a Venetian captain named Marino Sanudo, who was nearby on the day of the battle, clearly states it happened at Halmyros.
The Armies Meet
The Catalan army had about 2,000 to 3,500 cavalry (horse soldiers) and 4,000 infantry (foot soldiers). Many of their cavalry were Turkish fighters. Walter's army was much larger. Some sources say he had 6,400 cavalry and 8,000 infantry, or even more. Even though the numbers are probably exaggerated, it's clear Walter had more soldiers.
The Catalans knew they were outnumbered. So, they picked a strong defensive spot. They chose a place protected by a swamp. They even dug trenches and filled them with water from a nearby river to make the swamp worse. They then stood on dry ground behind this watery barrier.
Walter's army gathered at Zetouni (modern Lamia). On March 10, 1311, Walter wrote his will there and then led his army to battle. The fact that his army was at Zetouni also supports the idea that the battle was at Halmyros, as Zetouni is southwest of Halmyros.
The Fight Begins
Just before the battle, the 500 Catalans who had joined Walter's army felt bad. They asked Walter if they could leave and rejoin their old friends. Walter reportedly told them they could go and die with the others. The Turkish soldiers who were with the Catalans also moved to a separate spot. They thought the Catalans and Walter might be tricking them to kill them.
Walter was known for being very brave, almost reckless. He was sure he would win because he had more soldiers and believed his heavy cavalry was unbeatable. He didn't think the Catalans were a serious threat.
Walter ordered his cavalry to charge first, even though the swampy ground was bad for horses. He put himself at the front. The Frankish attack failed. The heavy cavalry got stuck in the mud. The Catalan foot soldiers, who were lightly armed with swords and darts, easily killed the knights who were trapped in their heavy armor.
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As the battle raged, the Turkish soldiers with the Catalans realized there was no trick. They joined the fight, attacking Walter's army. This caused panic, and the rest of Walter's army ran away.
Many soldiers died in the battle. Walter of Brienne and almost all the knights of his realm were killed. Only a few important people survived, like Roger Deslaur and Boniface of Verona. Walter's head was cut off by the Catalans. Years later, it was taken to Italy by his son, Walter VI, and buried there.
What Happened Next?
The Battle of Halmyros was a huge turning point for Frankish Greece. Almost all the important Frankish leaders of Athens were dead or captured. When the Catalans moved into the Duchy of Athens, there was very little resistance.
The Greek people of Livadeia quickly surrendered their town. They were rewarded by being given the same rights as Frankish citizens. The capital city, Thebes, was emptied as many people fled. The Catalan soldiers then looted the city. Finally, Athens itself was given to the Catalans by Walter's widow.
All of Attica and Boeotia came under Catalan rule. Only the area of Argos and Nauplia in southern Greece remained loyal to Walter's family. The Catalans divided the land among themselves. Many Catalan soldiers even married the widows and mothers of the knights they had killed in the battle.
The Catalan's Turkish allies did not want to settle in the Duchy. They took their share of the loot and left for Asia Minor. But they were attacked and almost completely destroyed by Byzantine and Genoese forces. Other Turkish soldiers joined the Serbian king, but they were also killed after they rebelled.
The Catalan Company needed a new leader. They asked Boniface of Verona, one of the captured knights, to lead them, but he said no. So, they chose Roger Deslaur. But Deslaur was not a good leader. Other states like Venice were against the Catalans. So, the Catalans asked Frederick II, the King of Sicily, to be their protector. He made his son Manfred the Duke of Athens.
In reality, the Duchy was ruled by leaders chosen by the King of Aragon. One of the most successful was Alfonso Fadrique, who expanded the Duchy into Thessaly in 1319. The Catalans kept their rule strong. They even survived an attempt by Walter of Brienne's son to take back the Duchy in 1331–1332.
In the 1360s, the Catalan duchies faced problems from inside and from the rising Ottoman Turks. Another attempt to attack them in 1370–1371 failed. But in 1379–1380, a group called the Navarrese Company conquered Thebes and much of Boeotia. Finally, in 1386–1388, a lord named Nerio I Acciaioli captured Athens. By 1390, the time of Catalan rule in Greece was over.
The Battle of Halmyros was important in military history. It showed that foot soldiers could defeat strong, heavy cavalry. This was a big change in how wars were fought in Europe, similar to the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.
Images for kids
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The plain of Halmyros, as seen from the Othrys mountains
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del río Cefiso para niños
