À propos de l'organisation des pouvoirs dans la région de Potamia aux XIIIe-XVIe siècles

Résumé En

Despite the lack of written sources before the Frankish period, we may assert that the Byzantine tradition structures in depth the organization of the Cypriote countryside under the Lusignan as well as during the Venetian domination. This tradition enabled the Lusignan to install a centralized monarchy, the foundation of which was laid on a powerful administrative instrument, the Secrète, whose task was to control the royal domain (the régale ) and the feuds, granted to knights in certain circonstances, such as civil wars and epidemics. The Franks were clustered at Nicosia, what raises the question of the seigniorial domains' organization : in every case, a bailli, appointed by the lord, directly managed the exploitation, with the assistance of Greek or Syrian secretaries who paid the domain's tax to Nicosia. The economical structure thus perfectly reflects the hierarchical organization of the political and administrative powers : it highlights Nicosia as the main outlet for the products of the neighbouring areas which were redistributed and consumed there. Under those circonstances, the fate of the settlements established in the medium Gialias Valley was closely linked to Nicosia, and this for the whole period of Latine domination on the island.