5 & 6 – The Regents: Conon De Bethune (1219) & Giovanni Colonna (1220 – 1221)
As Robert was still in France, a French crusader named Conon De Bethune was elected as regent until the new emperor arrived. Conon was involved in the Third and Fourth Crusades and was one of the six knights chosen to command transport and supplies when the army arrived at Constantinople in 1203. He held a number of important positions within the empire and was known for being a chivalrous, noble and wise knight. Conon had served Henry and Yolanda, so he was an obvious choice as a short-term ruler.
However, Conon died within a couple of months, so yet another regent had to be found. The role fell to Cardinal Giovanni Colonna, who was released from captivity by Theodore Doukas when Peter was captured. Little of note happened within Constantinople during his relatively brief spell as regent, but because he was no military commander or leader, he was unable to do anything about the empire’s enemies as they continued to strengthen.
By the time Robert arrived at Constantinople in 1221, the Latin Empire was already in dire straits. The chronic lack of leadership since the death of Henry five years earlier had almost crippled the Latins, and its empire proved brief because it was practically on its last legs from the moment Henry died.
Indeed, in The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453, Donald M. Nicol asserts that the regime only survived because of the strength of its enemies as opposed to weakness. The exiled Greeks knew that they could reclaim Constantinople, but the rivalry between the Byzantines in Nicaea and Epiros meant they were unwilling to set aside their differences and join forces. As a result, the Latin Empire was able to stumble on until 1261 when it could have been deposed decades sooner.