Administrative organization

The Catalans established in the duchy of Athens military and administrative institutions that conformed to their mentality and traditions. Their relations to the people were determined by the Articles or Statutes (Els Capitols de la Companyia) written in the Catalan language and based on the Usages of Barcelona. The latter was the standing law of Barcelona that regulated the public and private life of its inhabitants. Unfortunately the text of the Articles does not survive intact, except for a few extracts in certain documents.

Thebes remained the capital of the Athenian duchy. Under the authority of the duke came the vicar-general, who was the political administrator of the duchy (vicarius, vigerius, vaguer, capitaneus, capita), and the marshal, who was the military commander of the duchy (marescalcus exercitus ducatuum). The office of the vicar-general had a particular importance mostly in those cases that the duke was minor and could not exercise his duties.

The municipal local system replaced the feudal organization of the Franks. There is reference to five communities (universitates): Thebes, Athens, Livadia, Siderokastron and Neopatras (Hypate). Every city had its own governor (vicarius) and the castellan (castellanus), who had the military authority. The city had also separate municipal authorities with representatives in the central council. Those local councils of the citizens were the effort of the Catalans to establish a system of local administration. The municipal authorities of the cities often solicited to the duke for resolving issues with regard to social and administrative problems. The judiciary authority was exercised by the castellan who ruled on civil and penal cases.

The Catalan language ("llengua catalana") succeeded the "lingua franca" and was designated the official language of the Catalan-ruled Greek lands. Naturally, the Latin language did not cease to be used, but the most important documents were drawn up in the Catalan language.