Portal:Crusades/Selected article/5
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The Battle of the Olive Grove of Koundouros or Koundouras took place in the spring of 1205, in Messinia, Peloponnese, between the Franks and the Greeks, resulting in a victory of the Frankish knights and the collapse of the local resistance.[1]
In 1204, Constantinople, the capitol city of the Byzantine Empire was taken by the crusaders of the Fourth Crusade and the Republic of Venice. This lead to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of the Latin Empire.
Meanwhile, a Crusader force of between 500-700 knights under the command of William of Champlitte and Geoffrey I of Villehardouin advanced into the Peloponnese to deal with Byzantine resistance. In the Olive Grove of Koundouros in Messenia, they confronted an army of around 5,000 Peloponnesian Greeks under the command of Michael I Ducas in Messinia. In the ensuring battle, the Crusaders emerged victory making the Byzantine's retreat and crushing resistance in the Peloponnese.
The Battle of the Olive Grove of Kountoura was decisive for the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Franks. After their victory, there was no serious threat against them in the Morea. In Andravida, they were received by the people and Church. The only resistance met later was defensive, by Leo Sgouros, guarding the castles of Nafplion and Acrocorinth. William of Champlitte was able to build upon his victories by forming the Principality of Achaia, a Frankish state comprising most of the Peloponnese except for the Venetian cities on the coast.
