Ravano dalle Carceri

Who was Ravano dalle Carceri?

Ravano dalle Carceri was a Lombard nobleman. He was one of the first triarchs of Negroponte from 1205.

In 1205 Ravano was among those who led forces in the capture of the island of Euboea from the Byzantine Empire as part of the Fourth Crusade. The island was made subject to the Kingdom of Thessalonica and in August King Boniface divided the island into thirds, granting probably the central third to Ravano. The rulers of Euboea were called terzieri or triarchs: rulers of thirds.

In 1209, after fellow triarchs Peccoraro de' Peccorari and Giberto da Verona, had returned to Italy and died, respectively, Ravano seized control of the whole island and rebelled against his nominal suzerain, now Demetrius. The Republic of Venice recognised his independence as Lord of Negroponte and he accepted Venetian suzerainty in March. However the rebels were defeated in May and Ravano recognized the suzerainty of Emperor Henry. Later in the year he foiled the conspiracy of Oberto II of Biandrate, his former ally, who had planned to take the life of the Emperor Henry. He was successful in maintaining his rule until his death.

Ravano had agreed to marry Isabella, the wife of another man, sometime prior to 25 May 1212, when, after she was widowed, the Archbishop of Athens received dispensation from Pope Innocent III to perform the marriage.