Nicaean–Venetian treaty of 1219
The Nicaean–Venetian Treaty of 1219 was a trade and non-aggression defense pact signed between the Empire of Nicaea and the Republic of Venice, in the form of an imperial chrysobull issued by Emperor Theodore I Laskaris (r. 1205–1222).[1] Although Venice did receive the greatest benefit from the Crusade, they renounced direct sovereignty over the territories of Epirus, Acarnania, Aetolia, and the Peloponnese, which were originally assigned to the Republic.Instead, the Republic of Venice claimed the islands in the Aegean Sea, most importantly Crete, and a chain of ports and coastal forts along the Greek shores, thus coming to dominate the trade centers and routes all across the former Byzantine Empire.In response, Nicaean emperor Theodore Lascaris made contact with King Leo I of Lesser Armenia in Cilicia who was also threatened by the Sultanate.[4] The Latin text of the treaty was published in the collection of Venetian diplomatic documents compiled by Gottlieb Tafel and Georg Thomas for the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna.