Administrative structure and offices

The regent (moderator imperii) played a significant role in the administration of the empire and virtually exercised imperial power. Other very important institutions in the administration of the Latin Empire of Constantinople was the private council of the emperor, which consisted of his trustees, and the council of the empire, which consisted of the emperor (and the regent, if there was one), of the Venetian podesta of Romania and his six-member council and, lastly, of the Frankish barons of the empire.

After 1205, the council of the empire was probably replaced by the council of the Frankish barons. The political and military administration of the empire was exercised by various officials, such as the protovestiarios, the first in rank official of the imperial court, who was responsible for the defence of Constantinople and of the imperial palaces and had economic jurisdiction, and the seneschal, head of the military administration accompanied by inferior officials, the constabularius (constable) and the marshal. Important positions in the administration of the imperial army were held by the buticularius, the panetarius and the major cocus. The head of the imperial secretariat was the chancellor, under the service of whom were the notaries, the scriptores, the clerici and the capellani.

Authority over the Venetian sector of the city was exercised by the so-called podesta (or potestas) and dominator of the Venetian acquisitions of Romania, who was appointed by the Venetian doge. The latter wanted to ensure from the very start the brief term of office of the podesta of Romania, so that the holder of the office would not concentrate extended powers to the detriment of the power of the doge himself. The Venetian podesta of Romania and his council participated together with Frankish barons in the council of the emperor as equal members. The system of the Venetian administration in Romania functioned independently from the administrative machine of the empire maintaining its own institutions, such as the committee of six Venetians, who assisted the podesta, and a group of judiciary, economic and other officials (avocatores, camerarii, constabularii). As part of the (relative) political independence that he enjoyed, the Venetian podesta could sign treaties with various rulers.