William I de Champlitte

William I de Champlitte. First Prince of Achaia (born in France before 1170; died 1209 in Apulia on his way to France).

He was a son of Edward I de Champlitte, Count of Upper Burgundy, grandson of Hugh I, Count of Champagne. He participated in the third Crusade, assisting Boniface de Montferrat and Baldwin of Flanders to bridge their differences. In Autumn 1204, after the fall of Constantinople, he followed Boniface de Montferrat in his campaign to conquer Greece.

In 1205, William I de Champlitte, with Geoffrey I Villehardouin conquered Morea (Peloponnese). He was one of the protagonists in the battle of the Koundouros olive grove. He was appointed by Pope Innocent III "Ruler of all Achaea".

In 1208, WIlliam older brother died and he was forced to return to Burgundy, France, to claim his inheritance. Unfortunately, in 1209, William died in Apulia, Italy on his way to France.

Before he left, William appointed his nephew Hugh de Champlitte as his Viceroy in Greece.

Because his grandfather was the Count of Champagne, William I de Champlitte was affectionately known as Campanezis (Greek: Καμπανεζης). The Champlitte family were known in Greece as "Samplittes" <ref> Οι Βυζαντινοι στο Φραγκικο Πριγκιπατο τησ Αχαιας. Μαρια Ντουρου-Ηλιοπουλου. 3.- Το Βυζαντιο και οι Ξενοι. Ιδρυμα Γουλανδρη-Χορν</ρεφ>, The surname Samplittis (Greek: Σαμπλιττης), may still exist in Greece.