Life Nicholas III of Saint Omer

map of greek , latin states in southern greece ca. 1278

he fought in campaigns of 1291/92 against byzantine greeks of despotate of epirus, , inherited rule on 1 half of thebes uncle otho of saint omer @ death, sometime before 1299. consequently man of influence in affairs of frankish greece. on advice guy ii de la roche, young duke of athens, wed daughter , heiress of princess isabella of villehardouin, matilda of hainaut, in effort improve relations of 2 powerful, , rival, frankish states of greece, , establish alliance between them. in 1300–1302, during isabella s absence in italy, nicholas served bailli (representative) of achaea s suzerain, king charles ii of naples.

in 1301, princess isabella married third husband, philip of savoy. new prince made himself unpopular in achaea arrogance, despotic manners, , disregard principality s feudal customs. when philip, after arrival, arrested chancellor benjamin of kalamata, nicholas confronted new prince @ glarentza , vehemently protested act; violence averted through intervention of isabella , philip s counsellors. in 1302/3 nicholas campaigned alongside liege-lord guy ii of athens in thessaly, aid local ruler john ii doukas in repelling epirote invasion. epirotes pushed back, , frankish army raided far byzantine province around thessalonica, withdrew @ request of empress yolande of montferrat.

in 1303/4, charles ii of naples launched attack on epirus, epirote regent, anna kantakouzene, refused re-affirm epirote vassalage naples. achaean contingent, under philip of savoy , nicholas present, joined neapolitan forces. combined force laid siege epirote capital, arta, suffered losses little gain , withdrew onset of autumn. charles determined renew attack next spring, anna of epirus managed sabotage plans bribing philip of savoy stay @ home. excuse refusal campaign, nicholas counselled philip call parliament @ corinth. when philip left later year italy, settle claim piedmont, nicholas appointed bailli in absence. nicholas remained in post until 1307, when new prince, philip of taranto, named guy ii of athens instead.

nicholas emerged patron of princess isabella s younger sister, margaret of villehardouin, had several enemies on account of own claims on principality. in role, in 1304 opposed philip of savoy , helped margaret secure part of inheritance of husband, count of cephalonia richard orsini, stepson, john i. according aragonese version of chronicle of morea, served once more bailli after gilles de la plainche (attested in office in 1311), possibly until death, when succeeded nicholas le maure. possible, however, reference confusion previous 2 tenures.

nicholas married, sometime after 1294, guglielma orsini, daughter of richard orsini , widow of grand constable john chauderon, marriage remained childless. when nicholas died on 30 january 1314, signalled end of saint omer line.