Boniface of Verona

Who was Boniface of Verona?

Boniface of Verona was an Lombard Crusader in Latin Greece during the early fourteenth century. From 1296 he was, in right of his wife, Agnes of Cicone, the Lord of Karystos, a triarch of Negroponte, and a great lord in the Duchy of Athens, owning thirteen castles there as a gift from Duke Guy II.

Because he had a friendly rapport with the Catalan Company, he was spared in the great Battle of Halmyros, where most of the chivalry of Athens perished alongside their duke, Walter V of Brienne. He was taken captive after the battle, but was asked by the Catalans to be their leader and governor of the Duchy of Athens. Fearing reprisals from the Republic of Venice in Negroponte, he declined the honour and it was instead given to Roger Deslaur.

In 1317, Boniface finally came to a full alliance with the Catalans; he married his daughter Maria to Alfonso Fadrique. Boniface dispossessed his own son Thomas of his inheritance and bestowed it upon his son-in-law. He died later that year. Because of a personal friendship with the chronicler Ramon Muntaner, Boniface received hearty praise as "the wisest and most courteous noble ever born."