Achaean Disputes: Eight Centuries of Succession Conflicts for the Title of Prince of Achaea

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate succession landscape surrounding the medieval title of Prince of Achaea and the older associated dignity of King and Despot of Asia Minor, tracing their historical roots, and assessing its contemporary status if ever reclaimed by the Damalas family, senior direct-line heirs to the Genoese Zaccaria dynasty, last sovereign house to have used it as rulers of Achaea. The multidisciplinary research method used incorporates reviewing recent genealogical studies, analyzing historical sources and medieval accounts, like the Chronicles of the Morea and the Chronicle of the Tocco, to establish the title's nature, antiquity and succession history, and applying historical Roman, Byzantine and Frankish Greek feudal law (the Assizes of Romania, in particular) to assess the legitimacy of competing claims for the title over time, particularly within the Zaccaria family and later by the Tocco lineage, and ultimately of modern comparative nobiliary law and elements of private law to discuss its theoretical rehabilitation in favor of the Damalas descendants of the Zaccaria Princes of Achaea.

Keywords: Nobiliary/nobility law, legal history, succession law, comparative law, compared law, medieval law, feudal law, Roman law, Byzantine law, private law, Assizes of Romania, nobility/royal titles, sovereignty, medieval history, genealogy, Frankokratia