Production, trade, coinage

As results from the Chronicle of the Morea, domestic trade was being carried on in the local fairs (panejours), where Franks and Greeks gathered to sell their products. As far as foreign trade was concerned, the Franks had ceded it to the Venetians, who by virtue of the Sapienza treaty (concluded in 1209 with Geoffrey I de Villehardouin) had only Modon and Coron under their rule and had recognized to Geoffrey dominion over the rest of the Peloponnese. They had also maintained the right to conduct trade inside the principality without being liable to duty. In addition, they were licensed to found in every city a church and a court and construct storage areas for the merchandise.

The land of the Peloponnese yielded products, such as wine, raisin, wax, honey, oil and especially silk which was exported to Italy. Wheat was not sufficient and was imported from Apulia. Charles had under his jurisdiction the trade of grain and organized missions for the supply of the castles, either for personal use of the barons and the prince or for sale, usually to Glarenza for the Angevin court. The Angevin archives provide plenty of information about the organization of the grain trade (quantities, buying and selling prices, export duties, names of merchants, marketplaces etc.).

Charles reorganized the mint of Glarenza (Clarentie sicle nostre, mod. Kyllene), in order to pay his troops and sent metal and special officials (siclarii, zecchieri) for its orderly operation. However, the production of tornesi remained low, because it was impossible to compete the strong Venetian grosso and the Florentine fiorino. The mint ceased to operate in the first half of the 14th century.