Roger Deslaur facts for kids

Roger Deslaur (also known as Desllor) was a brave knight from a place called Roussillon. He worked for Walter V of Brienne, who was the Duke of Athens. Roger was one of the very few people who survived a terrible battle called the Battle of Halmyros on March 15, 1311. After the battle, he was captured by a group of soldiers known as the Catalan Company. They offered him an important job as their leader and manager, called "rector and marshal," and he accepted it. Another person, Boniface of Verona, had turned down the job first.

Roger Deslaur's Early Role

Roger Deslaur was the person who first helped Walter V of Brienne hire the Catalan Company. This happened in 1310, and the soldiers were hired for six months. Even when Walter tried to get rid of the Catalans later, Deslaur stayed loyal to Walter.

Becoming Lord of Salona

After the Battle of Halmyros, the Catalan Company gave Roger Deslaur a special gift. They gave him control of a land called Salona. A writer named Ramon Muntaner called this place "La Sola." The Catalans also arranged for Roger to marry the widow of the previous lord of Salona, Thomas III of Autremencourt.

Challenges and Changes

However, Roger Deslaur was not very good at protecting the lands the Catalans had won. Other powerful groups, like the people from Venice who lived in Negroponte, and the Frankish rulers in Morea, threatened his lands.

To get help, Roger Deslaur talked to Frederick II of Sicily. He agreed to let Frederick become the main ruler (or "suzerain") over these lands. Frederick then made his young son, Manfred, the new Duke of Athens in 1312.

Frederick sent a person named Berenguer Estañol to act as Manfred's main helper and manager. Because of this, Roger Deslaur stepped down from his job as the leader of the Catalan Company and Duke of Athens. He went to live in his castle at Salona. Around 1318, he either gave up his land or was forced to give it to Alfonso Fadrique.

See also

In Spanish: Roger Desllor para niños