Barony of Arcadia, Medieval Frankish fiefdom in Peloponnese, Greece
The Barony of Arcadia was a feudal territory in western Peloponnese that stretched across coastal lands. Its administrative center sat in the town of Kyparissia, which was called Arcadia at the time.
The barony was created in 1261 when Prince William II of Villehardouin granted this territory to the knight Vilain of Aulnay. It developed as an important feudal holding within the larger Principality of Achaea under Frankish rule.
The barony operated under the feudal system of the Principality of Achaea, integrating Frankish nobility with local Greek administrative structures.
The territory was protected through a network of fortifications that controlled the coastal areas. These strongholds connected inland regions with maritime trade routes and formed a strategic defensive line.
In 1348 a dramatic turn happened when knight Louis of Chafor took over the castle and held the ruling family for ransom. This event marked a turning point in the control and power of the barony in the region.
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