The Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1082 was a trade and defence pact signed between the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

and the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

, in the form of an imperial chrysobull or

golden bull A golden bull or chrysobull was a decree issued by Byzantine emperors and monarchs in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Description A golden bull was a decree issued by Byzantine Emperors. It was later used by monarchs in Europe ...

, issued by Emperor

Alexios I Komnenos Alexios I Komnenos (, – 15 August 1118), Latinization of names, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus, was Byzantine Emperor, Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118. After usurper, usurping the throne, he was faced with a collapsing empire and ...

. This treaty, which provided the Venetians with major trading concessions in exchange for their help in the wars against the Normans, would have a major impact on both the empire and the republic that would later dictate their histories for several centuries to come.

Stipulations

The

made a large number of trade concessions to the

in exchange for military support against the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...

who were invading and conquering various Byzantine holdings in and outside the empire. According to the treaty, the Byzantines would allow the Venetians the right to trade throughout the empire without the imposition of taxes.Gregory. The Venetians would also be allowed control of the main harbor facilities of

Byzantium Byzantium () or Byzantion () was an ancient Greek city in classical antiquity that became known as Constantinople in late antiquity and Istanbul today. The Greek name ''Byzantion'' and its Latinization ''Byzantium'' continued to be used as a n ...

(

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

), along with control of several key public offices.Bideleux. The treaty also granted various honors to the

Doge of Venice The Doge of Venice ( ) – in Italian, was the doge or highest role of authority within the Republic of Venice (697–1797). The word derives from the Latin , meaning 'leader', and Venetian Italian dialect for 'duke', highest official of the ...

, along with an income. Finally, the Venetians were granted their own district within Byzantium, with shops, a church, and a bakery,Constable. which could be compared to the concessions of 19th century

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

. In exchange for these trade concessions, the Byzantine Empire requested military support from the Venetians, especially in the form of ships, since the empire had no real navy to speak of.

Consequences

The military aid promised by the Republic of Venice did in fact arrive in the form of a naval blockade of the Normans at Dyrrachium, which forced the Normans to engage in a battle with the Romans. However, the Venetians gains largely overweighed those of the Romans as they reaped great benefits from the new trade advantages they enjoyed by the treaty. The Byzantine Empire's ability to recuperate after losses was significantly reduced, because of the immense revenue the empire had given up when it allowed the Venetians to trade freely without the imposition of taxes. This stifled the empire's power of recuperation and ultimately started its terminal decline.

Notes

References

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Stipulations

Consequences

See also

Notes

References

Further reading