Empire of Nicaea - Revision history

Angellight 888: cat.

2009-03-07T18:04:22Z

cat.

Irlandos at 10:06, December 28, 2006

2006-12-28T10:06:36Z

Irlandos at 10:04, December 28, 2006

2006-12-28T10:04:34Z

New page

The '''Empire of Nicaea''' was the largest of the Byzantine Greek states founded by the nobility of the [[Byzantine Empire]] after [[Constantinople]] was conquered during the [[Fourth Crusade]]. It lasted from [[1204]] to [[1261]].

==Foundation==

In 1204, [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Alexius V|Alexius V Ducas Murtzouphlos]] fled [[Constantinople]] after French crusaders invaded the city. [[Theodore I Lascaris]], the son-in-law of Emperor [[Alexius III Angelus]], was proclaimed emperor, but he too fled, to the city of [[Nicaea]] in [[Bithynia]], realizing the situation in Constantinople was hopeless.

The [[Latin Empire]], which was established by the Crusaders in Constantinople, had poor control over former Byzantine territory, and Byzantine successor states sprang up in [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]] and [[Empire of Trebizond|Trebizond]] as well as Nicaea. Nicaea, however, was the closest to the Latin Empire and was in the best position to attempt to re-establish the Byzantine Empire. Theodore Lascaris was not immediately successful, as he was defeated at Poemanenum and Prusa in 1204, but he was able to capture much of northwestern [[Anatolia]] after the Latin Emperor [[Baldwin I of Constantinople|Baldwin I]] had to defend against invasions from Kaloyan of Bulgaria. Theodore also defeated an army from Trebizond, as well as other minor rivals, leaving him in charge of the most powerful of the successor states. In [[1206]], Theodore proclaimed himself emperor at Nicaea.

Numerous truces and alliances were formed and broken over the next few years, as the Byzantine successor states, the Latin Empire, the [[Bulgaria]]ns, and the Seljuks of [[Iconium]] (whose territory also bordered Nicaea) fought each other. Theodore tried to validate his claim by naming a new [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] in Nicaea. In [[1219]], he married the daughter of Latin Empress [[Yolanda of Flanders]], but he died in [[1222]] and was succeeded by his son-in-law [[John III Ducas Vatatzes]].

==Expansion==

In [[1224]] the Latin [[Kingdom of Thessalonica]] was captured by the Despot of Epirus, but Epirus itself came under Bulgarian control in [[1230]]. With Trebizond lacking any real power, Nicaea was the only Byzantine state left, and John III expanded his territory into the [[Aegean Sea]]. In [[1235]] he allied with Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria, allowing him to extend his influence over Thessalonica and Epirus. In [[1242]] the Mongols invaded Seljuk territory to the east of Nicaea, and although John III was worried they might attack him next, they ended up eliminating the Seljuk threat to Nicaea. In [[1245]] John allied with the Holy Roman Empire by marrying Constance Anna, daughter of Frederick II. By [[1248]] John had defeated the Bulgarians and surrounded the Latin Empire. He continued to take land from the Latins until his death in [[1254]].

[[Theodore II Lascaris]], John III’s son, faced invasions from the Bulgarians in [[Thrace]], but successfully defended the territory. Epirus also revolted and allied with [[Manfred of Sicily]], and Theodore II died in [[1258]]. [[John IV Lascaris]] succeeded him, but as he was still a child he was under the regency of the general Michael Palaeologus. Michael proclaimed himself co-emperor (as [[Michael VIII Palaeologus|Michael VIII]]) in [[1259]], and soon defeated a combined invasion by Manfred, the Despot of Epirus, and the Latin [[Principality of Achaea|Prince of Achaea]] at the [[Battle of Pelagonia]].

==Recapture of Constantinople==

In [[1260]] Michael began the assault on Constantinople itself, which his predecessors had been unable to do. He allied with Genoa, and his general Alexios Strategopoulos spent months observing Constantinople in order to plan his attack. In July of [[1261]], as most of the Latin army was fighting elsewhere, Alexius was able to convince the guards to open the gates of the city. Once inside he burned the Venetian quarter (as Venice was an enemy of Genoa, and had been largely responsible for the capture of the city in 1204). Michael was recognized as emperor a few weeks later, restoring the Byzantine Empire. Achaea was soon recaptured, but Trebizond and Epirus remained independent Byzantine Greek states. The restored empire also faced a new threat from the Ottoman Empire, when it arose to replace the defeated Seljuks.

==Emperors of Nicaea==

* [[Theodore I Lascaris]] ([[1204]]-[[1222]])
* [[John III Ducas Vatatzes]] ([[1222]]-[[1254]])
* [[Theodore II Lascaris]] ([[1254]]-[[1258]])
* [[John IV Lascaris]] ([[1258]]-[[1261]])
* [[Michael VIII Palaeologus]] (co-emperor [[1259]]-[[1261]]; restored Byzantine Empire)

{{Credit wikipedia

[[Category:Laskarid dynasty| ]]
[[Category:Byzantine Empire|Nicaea, Empire of]]
[[Category:History of Greece|Nicaea, Empire of]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, March 7, 2009
Line 32:		Line 32:
	[[Category:Byzantine Empire\|Nicaea, Empire of]]		[[Category:Byzantine Empire\|Nicaea, Empire of]]
	[[Category:History of Greece\|Nicaea, Empire of]]		[[Category:History of Greece\|Nicaea, Empire of]]
		+	[[Category:History of Anatolia]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The [[Latin Empire]], which was established by the Crusaders in Constantinople, had poor control over former Byzantine territory, and Byzantine successor states sprang up in [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]] and [[Empire of Trebizond|Trebizond]] as well as Nicaea. Nicaea, however, was the closest to the Latin Empire and was in the best position to attempt to re-establish the Byzantine Empire. Theodore Lascaris was not immediately successful, as he was defeated at Poemanenum and Prusa in 1204, but he was able to capture much of northwestern [[Anatolia]] after the Latin Emperor [[Baldwin I of Constantinople|Baldwin I]] had to defend against invasions from Kaloyan of Bulgaria. Theodore also defeated an army from Trebizond, as well as other minor rivals, leaving him in charge of the most powerful of the successor states. In [[1206]], Theodore proclaimed himself emperor at Nicaea.
-Numerous truces and alliances were formed and broken over the next few years, as the Byzantine successor states, the Latin Empire, the [[Bulgaria]]ns, and the Seljuks of [[Iconium]] (whose territory also bordered Nicaea) fought each other. Theodore tried to validate his claim by naming a new [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] in Nicaea. In [[1219]], he married the daughter of Latin Empress [[Yolanda of Flanders]], but he died in [[1222]] and was succeeded by his son-in-law [[John III Ducas Vatatzes]].
+Numerous truces and alliances were formed and broken over the next few years, as the Byzantine successor states, the Latin Empire, the Bulgarians, and the Seljuks of [[Iconium]] (whose territory also bordered Nicaea) fought each other. Theodore tried to validate his claim by naming a new [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] in Nicaea. In [[1219]], he married the daughter of Latin Empress [[Yolanda of Flanders]], but he died in [[1222]] and was succeeded by his son-in-law [[John III Ducas Vatatzes]].
 ==Expansion==
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 In [[1224]] the Latin [[Kingdom of Thessalonica]] was captured by the Despot of Epirus, but Epirus itself came under Bulgarian control in [[1230]]. With Trebizond lacking any real power, Nicaea was the only Byzantine state left, and John III expanded his territory into the [[Aegean Sea]]. In [[1235]] he allied with Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria, allowing him to extend his influence over Thessalonica and Epirus. In [[1242]] the Mongols invaded Seljuk territory to the east of Nicaea, and although John III was worried they might attack him next, they ended up eliminating the Seljuk threat to Nicaea. In [[1245]] John allied with the Holy Roman Empire by marrying Constance Anna, daughter of Frederick II. By [[1248]] John had defeated the Bulgarians and surrounded the Latin Empire.  He continued to take land from the Latins until his death in [[1254]].
-[[Theodore II Lascaris]], John III’s son, faced invasions from the Bulgarians in [[Thrace]], but successfully defended the territory. Epirus also revolted and allied with [[Manfred of Sicily]], and Theodore II died in [[1258]]. [[John IV Lascaris]] succeeded him, but as he was still a child he was under the regency of the general Michael Palaeologus. Michael proclaimed himself co-emperor (as [[Michael VIII Palaeologus|Michael VIII]]) in [[1259]], and soon defeated a combined invasion by Manfred, the Despot of Epirus, and the Latin [[Principality of Achaea|Prince of Achaea]] at the [[Battle of Pelagonia]].
+[[Theodore II Lascaris]], John III’s son, faced invasions from the Bulgarians in [[Thrace]], but successfully defended the territory. Epirus also revolted and allied with Manfred of Sicily, and Theodore II died in [[1258]]. [[John IV Lascaris]] succeeded him, but as he was still a child he was under the regency of the general Michael Palaeologus. Michael proclaimed himself co-emperor (as [[Michael VIII Palaeologus|Michael VIII]]) in [[1259]], and soon defeated a combined invasion by Manfred, the Despot of Epirus, and the Latin [[Principality of Achaea|Prince of Achaea]] at the [[Battle of Pelagonia]].
 ==Recapture of Constantinople==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 * [[Michael VIII Palaeologus]] (co-emperor [[1259]]-[[1261]]; restored Byzantine Empire)
-{{Credit wikipedia
+{{Credit wikipedia}}
 [[Category:Laskarid dynasty| ]]
 [[Category:Byzantine Empire|Nicaea, Empire of]]
 [[Category:History of Greece|Nicaea, Empire of]]