Histoire de la conquète et de l'occupation de Constantinople par les Latins
POUJOULAT, Baptistin. Histoire de la conquète et de l'occupation de Constantinople par les Latins. Tours: Mame, 1855. (Bibliothèque de la jeunesse chrétienne)
First edition, rare, in its original boards highly decorated with gilt and adorned with vibrant floral designs, and a coloured lithograph vignette to the front board.
This is a history of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, which began in 1204 with the Fourth Crusade, the capture of Constantinople by French and Venetian crusading forces, and the settlement of French-speaking people in Byzantium. With chapters on Latin emperors and empresses, such as Baldwin I, Agnes de France, Henri de Hainault, Robert de Courtenay, Jean de Brienne, and Baldwin II, the final French emperor of Constantinople. Also, with a chapter on the history of the Bulgarian Empire, their medieval leaders, and wars against the Latins.
Baptistin Poujoulat (1809-1864) was a French historian, journalist and traveler to the Ottoman Empire.
284 pp; 6 plates. Small 8vo, original boards. Some scattered foxing. Contemporary prize plate to front pastedown; small stain to rear endpaper. A rare and very attractive first edition on Byzantine medieval history.