The Genoese on Crete

In 1206 Genoese pirates, "scum of men and abominations", as Nicetas Choniates refers to them, landed on Crete in the guise of merchants, but rapidly took Chandax and brought a large part of the island under their control. Enrico Pescatore, their leader, proclaimed himself Dominus Creti. He lost no time in strengthening the existing fortresses and building smaller ones in Eastern and Central Crete, in preparation for Venetian reaction.

The first Venetian campaign in 1207 ended in failure, but the following year a new, better organized expeditionary force landed on the island. Following a protracted struggle, on 11^th May 1217 the two Italian cities signed a peace treaty leaving Crete under Venetian domination.