European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Rival Eastern Emperors & Despots in Epirus (& Thessalonica) (AD 1204-1340)

Rome Aquitani Tribes Canaanite States Celtic Tribes Classical Colonies Germanic Tribes Iberian Tribes Mesopotamian States Syrian States

From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

With the defeat of the 'Dynasty of the Angeli' by the Fourth Crusade in Constantinople in 1204, Latin rulers governed the city and much of the former empire, backed by Venice and France. The leader of the Fourth Crusade also set up other minor Crusader states in Greece, but other territories were lost, including that of the early Albanians.

Claimants to the Eastern Roman throne set up rival powerbases, including this one in Epirus (formerly the territory of a Greek kingdom of Epirus). Its holdings also eventually included the principality of Arbanon, centred on Croia (Kruja) in the central-northern section of modern Albania.

The established Eastern Roman authorities (without the emperor himself) withdrew to Nicæa in Anatolia, but further rival claimants also established holdings in Trebizond and Thessalonica so that, at one point, there were four claimants to the Eastern Roman throne, as well as the Bulgar and Serb states which also claimed dominance over it.

Michael Angelus, a cousin of the late Alexius III and Isaac II of the Angeli, announced his claim to imperial status even though he was disqualified by his illegitimate birth. He was recognised as ruler by the cities of Epirus and he proclaimed himself 'despot' there.

Raising an army from the warlike tribes of Albania, he maintained his position with success by repelling attempts at conquest by the Crusaders of Athens and Thessalonica. He died early, but he left a compact heritage for his brother, Theodore Ducas, who succeeded him on the throne and within a few years had conquered the whole of the crusader kingdom of Thessalonica.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade, Susan Wise Bauer (2010), from The Despotate of Epiros, Donald McGillivray Nicol (Blackwell & Mott, 1957), and from External Links: Encyclopædia Britannica, and Jewish Encyclopaedia, and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive), and Byzantine Empire, CWC Oman (Fisher Unwin, 1892, and available via Heritage History).)

1204 - 1215

Descendant of the Ducas dynasty emperors. Assassinated.

1204

When the Crusaders storm Constantinople's city walls and manage to gain access, Emperor Alexius Ducas of the Angeli finds his Eastern Roman forces are reluctant to fight so he is forced to flee. Michael Ducas quickly claims a state in Epirus which serves as a rival to the various Latin states which are soon set up in Greece.

When the Fourth Crusade took control of Constantinople in AD 1204, with the help of the Venetians, they inherited a reduced Eastern Roman empire (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1207 - 1222

During the minority of Demetrius of Thessalonica the lands of his kingdom are stripped away, province by province, by the able Michael I and then by Theodore Komnenos Ducas. The kingdom additionally faces numerous major threats from the 'Second Bulgarian Empire' which seeks to conquer as many Roman territories as possible.

1215 - 1230

Brother. Gained Thessalonica. Captured by Ivan II Asen.

1215

Upon the death of Michael I, his half-brother, Theodore Komnenos Ducas, returns to Epirus to take control as emperor. The underage and illegitimate Michael II is sidelined and goes into exile.

c.1216

Theodore Komnenos Ducas begins a northwards advance which enters Krujë and terminates the independence of the principality of Arbanon as well as invading Macedonia. From now on the princes of Arbanon will be dominated by outside powers, starting with Theodore Ducas.

Krujë fortress was built in the fifth or sixth century AD, perched above the city of the same name, while the period which saw the greatest threat of Ottoman invasion witnessed Gjergj Kastrioti, 'Dragon of Albania', make it his headquarters

1217

The newly-crowned Latin king of Constantinople, Peter de Courtenay, borrows ships from the Venetians, promising to conquer Durazzo for them. He fails in this and is forced to return by land to Constantinople. Along his journey he is seized by Theodore Komnenos Ducas. Imprisoned, he does not survive the year.

1224

The Latin Crusader kingdom of Thessalonica is gained by Epirus (which includes the autonomous state of Athos), and Theodore takes the title 'Emperor of Thessalonica' as he transfers his court there.

1230

Ivan II Asen wins the Battle of Klokotnitsa, crushing the forces of Theodore Komnenos Ducas. Theodore's empire soon collapses, allowing Ivan Asen to take possession of great swathes of Macedonia, Thessaly, and Thrace, plus Arbanon. Theodore himself is captured and held for the next seven years.

Baldwin IX of Flanders became Baldwin I of Constantinople when he was selected as the first Latin possessor of its throne, despite its territory having been almost entirely denuded and the city being almost penniless

1230 - 1231?

Brother. Emperor in Thessalonica. Expelled.

1230 - 1231

Manuel quickly accepts the position of submissive client to the Asen tsar, despite being his son-in-law. The dispossessed Michael II Ducas takes the opportunity to return to Epirus while Manuel is more focussed on Thessalonica.

He quickly wins local approval and is restored to command much of his father's territories before Manuel has even realised he is losing part of his own state. Manuel can do nothing but recognise Michael's authority in Epirus.

1231 - 1271

Regained father's holdings. Granted title of 'despot'.

1241 - 1242

Ruler of Thessaly after taking it from his brother in Thessalonica, Manuel now dies. Michael II of Epirus moves quickly to take the territory before his uncles in Thessalonica can react. Anyway, John Angelus soon finds his field army being defeated in the same year by Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa. His capital is locked into a siege until he surrenders in 1242.

1246 - 1249

Thessalonica falls to John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa in 1246 while Michael II in Epirus remains neutral. John III confers the title of 'despot' upon Michael in 1249, thereby granting him an acknowledgement of legitimacy.

An icon showing four episodes from the life of Christ which was probably painted in Thessalonica, the most important artistic centre in the crumbling Eastern Roman empire after Constantinople itself

1252

Golem of Arbanon submits in 1252 to Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa. But the principality suffers a revolt against imposed Nicæan rule. That is put down before the principality is annexed by Grand Logothete George Akropolites of Constantinople.

1257

George Akropolites of Constantinople serves Theodorus II Lascaris of Nicæa as a military commander in the field of battle against Epirus, but his role is short-lived as it happens. He is now captured in 1257 and is imprisoned for two years.

1260

General Michael VIII Palæologus takes hold of the throne of Nicæa, and the young John Lascaris is entirely sidelined, his eyes are put out, and he is exiled to a dungeon in which he remains until his death thirty years later. However, the outraged leaders of the various Latin and Eastern Roman rival territories are no match for Michael's forces when they meet in battle. His victory is complete.

1261

The Nicæan-Latin Wars are not concluded when Michael VIII Palæologus recaptures Constantinople from his base in Nicæa, as Achaia and Athens are still occupied by Latin rulers. Constantinople falls during a surprise attack when much of the garrison is raiding Nicæan territory.

Self-established co-emperor of Nicæa during the early years of the reign of the young Emperor John IV Lascaris, Michael VIII quickly challenged the impoverished Latin emperor of Constantinople and found him wanting

The Latins are helped in their largely successful evacuation by the Venetian fleet, although they persist in retaining their claim to the throne (held by Philip de Courtenay in 1281, the son of Baldwin II). Michael VIII is able to claim Constantinople as his seat from which to command the reduced Eastern Roman empire, as the capital of the Palaeologus.

1271

The reign of Michael II in Epirus has been one of loss and gain, relatively futile attempts to expand the state at the expense of his neighbours. Upon his death his state is divided between two sons, with Nicephoras retaining Epirus and John (his half-brother) gaining Thessaly as John I Doukas.

1271 - 1296

Son. Only in Epirus, not Thessaly.

1296 - 1318

Son. Aged about 12. Murdered by Orsini.

1296 - 1313?

Mother and regent. Last mentioned in 1313.

1318 - 1323

Nephew of Thomas. Count of Cephalonia. Murdered.

1318

Having only succeeded his father as count of Cephalonia in 1317, Nicholas Orsini is quick to murder his uncle, Thomas Komnenos Doukas, and seize control of Epirus. His reach only really covers the south, with a large area of the north happily accepting an invasion by and inclusion into the Palaeologus Eastern Roman empire at Constantinople.

Two sides of a denier coin which was issued during the reign of John I Orsini, despot of Epirus for twelve years and count of Cephalonia

1323 - 1335

Brother and usurper. Count of Cephalonia. Died.

1324

John's Angevin overlord, John of Gravina, stops at Cephalonia on his way to fight the Eastern Romans of the Palaeologus in the Peloponnese. John Orsini is deposed as count of Cephalonia and the territory is annexed.

John has to agree peace with and suzerainty under Andronicus II Palæologus so that he can be allowed to establish his control over all of Epirus. After marrying into the imperial family he is confirmed as despotes by the emperor.

1331

John is attacked by Walter VI of Brienne, titular duke of Athens and a son-in-law of the Angevin Philip I of Taranto and Thamar Angelina Komnene. Walter besieges Arta, which forces John temporarily to accept Angevin suzerainty.

1332 - 1335

Free once again to act, John invades and annexes the now-anarchic Thessaly. His success provokes Eastern Roman Emperor Andronikos III of the Palaeologus to assert control over at least the eastern portion of the region. John's death in 1335 is sudden, possibly having been poisoned by his wife.

This stone shield from the Guildhall in London shows the royal arms of the Angevin Edward III of England and former areas of France after he laid claim to the French throne (around 1340), with the fleurs-de-lis on a blue field alongside the three lions of England on a red field

1335 - 1338

Son. Acceded aged 7.

1335 - 1338

Mother and regent.

1338

Epirus is invaded and annexed by the forces of Eastern Roman Emperor Andronikos III of the Palaeologus. Anna is taken prisoner to Thessalonica from where she escapes in 1341. She manages to reach the Epirote capital of Arta but John Angelos, the Eastern Roman governor (shown here in red text), places her under house arrest.

1339 - 1348

Eastern Roman aristocrat. Governor of Epirus.

1347 - 1348

The arrival of the Black Death causes a great swathe of fatalities in the region, including that of John Angelos in 1348. By then Stephen Urosh IV Dušan of Serbia has already taken advantage by invading Epirus in the autumn of 1347. Thessaly is taken shortly after John's death, and both regions are drawn into the Serbian empire under General Preljub (shown in green).

Stephen Urosh IV Dušan, creator of the Serbian empire, was pictured in this mid-fourteenth century fresco in a typical Eastern Roman pose and style

1348 - 1356

Serbian general. Governor of Epirus & Thessaly.

1351

With the Eastern Roman civil war having been concluded, Emperor John Cantacuzenes of the Palaeologus has realised the threat posed by the Ottoman Turks. His attempts to form a united front alongside Serbia and Bulgaria are rebuffed, however. This is despite Bulgaria's Tsar Ivan Alexander already having lost a son and brother to Ottoman raids.

1356

The death in battle of Gregory Preljub allows Nicephoras II to reclaim Epirus with the support of the region's Greek population. The Serbs are kicked out in favour of Eastern Roman rule.

1356 - 1359

Re-established claim by ejecting Serbs. Killed.

1359

Nicephoras is killed while putting down a revolt by Albanian tribes. Eastern Roman control is permanently ended, with the territory initially being drawn back into the Serbian empire. Various local Serb and Albanian factions carve out temporary smallholdings until a degree of reunification is achieved by the Tocco family of Cephalonia in 1416.

The fall of Constantinople not only ended the last vestiges of the Roman empire, now dating back almost two millennia in its many forms, but it also opened up south-eastern Europe to the Ottoman Turks

Such unification is tenuous whenever it happens, and is often focussed on the towns and cities alone. Internal dissension makes easy the subsequent Ottoman conquest, first of Ioannina in 1430, then Arta in 1449, Angelokastron in 1460, and finally Vonitsa in 1479.