Robert of Courtenay was a French nobleman who became the Emperor of the Latin Empire, a short-lived state established after the Fourth Crusade. He was born around 1175 and was a member of the Courtenay family, which had ties to the royal family of France. Robert's reign began in 1221, but he faced significant challenges, including internal strife and external threats from the Byzantine Empire. His rule was marked by instability, and he struggled to maintain control over his territories. Robert's authority was often undermined by powerful nobles and rival factions. He died in 1228, leaving behind a fragmented empire that would eventually fall to the Byzantines.