Latin Patriarch of Antioch

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The Latin Patriarch of Antioch was an office established in the aftermath of the First Crusade by Bohemund, the first Prince of Antioch. The Patriarch of Antioch was one of the major ecclesiastical authorities in the Crusader states and was established to serve the Catholic members of the diocese and represent all Christians living in its territory. Throughout the Crusader period both Greeks and Latins served under its hierarchy which included numerous suffragan bishops, abbots, cathedrals, monasteries, and churches under its eccesiastical rule.

The seat of the Patriarch of Antioch was one of the oldest and most prestigious in Christendom. Since 1054, the Holy See of Antioch had fallen under the influence of the Byzantine Empire. As part of his grand strategy, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos sought to utilize the military elan and prowess of the Frankish and European princes in recovering the Eastern Roman Empire including Antioch and its Holy See. However, in aftermath of the Siege of Antioch in 1099, the Crusaders had no intention of submitting Antioch to Byzantine rule. In the arguments over ecclesiastical authority, the Greek Patriarch, John the Oxite, was expelled and fled to Constantinople.

The Byzantine Empire was greatly offended by this and worked towards re-establishing either a joint patriarchate or a single Greek patriarchate; the terms of the Treaty of Devol in 1108 nominally restored a Greek patriarch, although this was never enforced. Under Manuel I Komnenos there was briefly a joint patriarchate when Antioch fell under Byzantine control, but for the most part there was only a Latin patriarch. The Byzantine Empire curiously recognized this de facto control of the Antiochene See and the Latin Patriarch soon played a key role in solidifying ties between the Crusader states and the Byzantine Empire. This represented one of the sole instances of coordinated action by Byzantine and the Franks throughout the crusader period, and led to a number of joint political, diplomatic, military, and marriage alliances.

The Latin Patriarch remained in Antioch, up until the principality was recaptured by the Mamluks in 1268. Nonetheless, both a Latin and Greek Patriarch continued to be appointed by their respective soveriegns throughout the following centuries. Indeed, the Latin titular office maintained itself, seated at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, and continued to play a role in helping to protect the various isolated Christian communities in the Near East and eventually secure their unity with Rome before the office was finally abolished in 1964.

[edit] List of Latin Patriarchs of Antioch

This patriarchate was officially abolished in 1964.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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