Theodore II Laskaris (1254-1258), Author and Emperor Historical and Cultural Interconnections in the Eastern Mediterranean of the Thirteenth Century

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Theodore II Laskaris (1254-1258), Author and Emperor Historical and Cultural Interconnections in the Eastern Mediterranean of the Thirteenth Century Theodore II Laskaris (1254-1258), author and emperor Historical and cultural interconnections in the Eastern Mediterranean of the thirteenth century Theodore II Laskaris Seventh Discourse on Christian Theology An international workshop organized by (Vaticanus graecus 1113, f. 94v) Panagiotis Agapitos and Dimiter Angelov Nicosia, 9-10 November 2012 at the “Greenhouse for Visual Culture” Nicosia Municipal Garden Programme Friday, 9 November Performance Break First Session: 17.30-20.00 Co-ordinator: Dimiter Angelov Chair: Panagiotis Agapitos The voices of the texts Dimiter Angelov (Harvard University) Readings from selected works of Theodore Laskaris The many faces of Theodore Laskaris and from The Tale of Livistros and Rodamne Andrew Peacock (University of St Andrews) Seljuq policies towards Nicaea and the western uj Panagiotis Agapitos and Andria Andreou (University of Cyprus) in the age of John III Doukas Vatatzes and Theodore II Laskaris Of masters and servants:Hybrid power in the political works of Theodore Laskaris and in the “Tale of Livistros and Rodamne” Lunch break: 13.00-14.00 Third Session: 14.00-17.00 Chair: Dimiter Angelov Christian Foerstel (Bibliothèque Nationale de France) Theodore’s treatise “De communione naturali” and its textual transmission Antonia Giannouli (University of Cyprus) Saturday, 10 November The hymns of Theodore II Laskaris Second Session: 9.30-13.00 Martin Hinterberger (University of Cyprus) Chair: Alexander Beihammer The literary style and emotions of Theodore Laskaris as author-emperor Sara Nur Yildiz (Research Fellow, St Andrews /Orient-Institut, Istanbul) Seljuks, Mongols and the reconfiguration of the western uj during the reigns of Theodore II Laskaris and Michael VIII Palaeologos, 1256-1262 Pagona Papadopoulou (University of Thessaloniki/University of Cyprus) Coinage and ideology under the reign of Theodore II Laskaris .
Recommended publications
  • INTRODUCTION the Capture of Constantinople by the Armies of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 Fragmented the Byzantine Empire. Territor
    INTRODUCTION The capture of Constantinople by the armies of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 fragmented the Byzantine empire. Territories which did not submit to the Crusaders fell into the hands of Byzantine magnates who became rulers of numerous small political entities. The most important of these newly founded states, which each claimed to be the successor of the destroyed Byzantine empire, were the empires of Trebizond and Nicaea in Asia Minor and the principality of Epiros in the Balkans.1 The so-called empire of Nicaea, which was established as a viable state by Theodore I Laskaris (1204–1221), was the most suc- cessful of these. Laskaris averted the threat of a combined attack from the Latin empire of Constantinople and the Seljuks of Rum and over- came various local lords who, in the wake of the collapse of Byzantium, had established their own independent authorities in Asia Minor. His successors, John III Vatatzes (1221–1254) and Theodore II Laskaris (1254–1258), conquered large territories in the Balkans. They forced the rulers of Epiros to abandon their claim to the imperial title and reduced the military strength of the Latin empire of Constantinople. Under John III and Theodore II, Nicaea prevailed as the legitimate successor to the Byzantine empire. In 1261, the Nicaean army cap- tured Constantinople and Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259–1282), who had seized the throne from the Laskarids, restored the Byzantine empire. Yet, despite the conquests of the Laskarids and the recovery of Constantinople by Michael VIII, much territory which had belonged to the Byzantine empire before the Fourth Crusade remained beyond imperial control.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Masters and Servants: Hybrid Power in Theodore Laskaris
    ANDRIA ANDREOU - PANAGIOTIS A. AGAPITOS Of Masters and Servants Hybrid Power in Theodore Laskaris’ Response to Mouzalon and in the Tale of Livistros and Rodamne Abstract The present paper examines two Byzantine texts from the middle of the thirteenth century, ostensibly unrelated to each other: a political essay written by a young emperor and an anonymous love romance. The analysis is conducted through the concept of hybrid power, a notion initially developed by postcolonial criticism. It is shown that in the two texts authority (that of the Byzantine emperor and that of Eros as emperor) is constructed as hybrid and thus as an impossibility, though in the case of the political essay this impossibility remains unresolved, while in the romance it is actually resolved. The pronounced similarities between the two texts on the level of political ideology (e.g. the notion of friendship between master and servant, the performance of power relations, shared key concepts) informing the hybrid form of authority and its relation to its servants is a clear indication that they belong to the same socio-cultural and intellectual environment, namely the Laskarid imperial court in Nicaea around 1250. * The present paper is a substantially The aim of this study* is to examine two ostensibly unrelated Byzan- revised and expanded version of a talk tine texts. The first is a ‘political essay’ by the emperor Theodore II given at a workshop on Theodore Doukas Laskaris (1254–58) on the relation of friendship between Laskaris as emperor and author, organized by Dimiter Angelov and rulers and their close collaborators; it can be plausibly dated between Panagiotis Agapitos in Nicosia with 1250 and 1254, at the time when the author was crowned prince.
    [Show full text]
  • Περίληψη : Manuel Laskaris Was a Member of the Laskaris Family and One of the Six Brothers of Theodore I Laskaris (1204-1222)
    IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Γιαρένης Ηλίας Μετάφραση : Βελέντζας Γεώργιος Για παραπομπή : Γιαρένης Ηλίας , "Manuel Laskaris ", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=7801> Περίληψη : Manuel Laskaris was a member of the Laskaris family and one of the six brothers of Theodore I Laskaris (1204-1222). In the years of John III Vatatzes (1222-1254), he was in disgrace, while when Theodore II Laskaris assumed the throne (1254-1958), he was recalled along with the rest of his relatives. He became an important trusty counselor of the emperor and was honoured by him with the notable title of protosebastos. He was not a successful fighter in the battlefield, though. After Theodore II died in 1258, he did not support the election of Michael Palaiologos as the regent of John IV Laskaris and, as a result, was exiled in Prousa. Άλλα Ονόματα Manuel Komnenos Laskaris, Manuel Tzamanturos, Maximos Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης late 12th / early 13th century Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου third quarter of the 13th century Κύρια Ιδιότητα protosebastos 1. Βiography Manuel Laskaris was the youngest brother of the emperor of Nicaea Theodore I Komnenos Laskaris, and the last of all six Laskaris brothers. The Laskaris brothers from the eldest to the younger were: Isaac, Alexios, Theodore (I Komnenos Laskaris, emperor in the exile of Nicaea), Constantine (XI Laskaris, uncrowned Byzantine emperor), Michael and Manuel.1 The activity of Michael Laskaris is also mentioned by George Akropolites, Theodore Skoutariotes and George Pachymeres, who calls him ‘Tzamanturos’( Tζαμάντουρος).2 There is information about his life and work until Michael VIII assumed the throne; Michael Laskaris must have died in exile in Prousa.
    [Show full text]
  • A Chronological Particular Timeline of Near East and Europe History
    Introduction This compilation was begun merely to be a synthesized, occasional source for other writings, primarily for familiarization with European world development. Gradually, however, it was forced to come to grips with the elephantine amount of historical detail in certain classical sources. Recording the numbers of reported war deaths in previous history (many thousands, here and there!) initially was done with little contemplation but eventually, with the near‐exponential number of Humankind battles (not just major ones; inter‐tribal, dynastic, and inter‐regional), mind was caused to pause and ask itself, “Why?” Awed by the numbers killed in battles over recorded time, one falls subject to believing the very occupation in war was a naturally occurring ancient inclination, no longer possessed by ‘enlightened’ Humankind. In our synthesized histories, however, details are confined to generals, geography, battle strategies and formations, victories and defeats, with precious little revealed of the highly complicated and combined subjective forces that generate and fuel war. Two territories of human existence are involved: material and psychological. Material includes land, resources, and freedom to maintain a life to which one feels entitled. It fuels war by emotions arising from either deprivation or conditioned expectations. Psychological embraces Egalitarian and Egoistical arenas. Egalitarian is fueled by emotions arising from either a need to improve conditions or defend what it has. To that category also belongs the individual for whom revenge becomes an end in itself. Egoistical is fueled by emotions arising from material possessiveness and self‐aggrandizations. To that category also belongs the individual for whom worldly power is an end in itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Byzantine Empire (Ca 600-1200): I.1
    INSTITUTE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH ΙΝΣΤΙΤΟΥΤΟ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΩΝ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ SECTION OF BYZANTINE RESEARCH ΤΟΜΕΑΣ ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΩΝ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ NATIONAL HELLENIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION ΕΘΝΙΚΟ IΔΡΥΜΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ Τομοσ 31 VOLUME EFI RAGIA CHRISTOS G. MAKRYPOULIAS – TAXIARCHIS G. KOLIAS – THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION GEORGIOS KARDARAS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (CA 600-1200): I.1. THE APOTHEKAI OF ASIA MINOR (7TH-8TH C.) AN OVERVIEW OF ARMED CONFLICTS IN LATE BYZANTIUM: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND CURRENT RESEARCH ΑΘΗΝΑ • 20092021 • ATHENS CHRISTOS G. MAKRYPOULIAS – TAXIARCHIS G. KOLIAS – GEORGIOS KARDARAS AN OVERVIEW OF ARMED CONFLICTS IN LATE BYZANTIUM: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND CURRENT RESEARCH* Military history, although viewed by most outsiders as a unified field of scholarship, usually takes two forms, not necessarily mutually exclusive, but often quite distinct from each other. On the one hand, there are those who view military history from the point of organisation and institutions; to pose it differently, they are interested in establishing what an army is. Others focus on warfare itself: battles, tactics, and military strategy; in other words, they study what an army does. Historians of the latter persuasion are viewed by proponents of the so-called “new military history” as nothing more than devotees to an obsolescent histoire événementielle1. However, one can hardly question the pivotal role played by warfare in human history and, since military engagements are the tesserae which form this mosaic in all its gory detail, the necessity to study armed conflict and its effects on human society is self-evident. * The project entitled “ANAVATHMIS. Historical research and digital applications” (MIS 5002357) is implemented under the “Action for the Strategic Development on the Research and Technological Sector”, funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014–2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).
    [Show full text]
  • The World View of the Anonymous Author of the Greek Chronicle of the Tocco
    THE WORLD VIEW OF THE ANONYMOUS AUTHOR OF THE GREEK CHRONICLE OF THE TOCCO (14th-15th centuries) by THEKLA SANSARIDOU-HENDRICKX THESIS submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF ARTS in GREEK in the FACULTY OF ARTS at the RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY PROMOTER: DR F. BREDENKAMP JOHANNESBURG NOVEMBER 2000 EFACE When I began with my studies at the Rand Afrikaans University, and when later on I started teaching Modern Greek in the Department of Greek and Latin Studies, I experienced the thrill of joy and the excitement which academic studies and research can provide to its students and scholars. These opportunities finally allowed me to write my doctoral thesis on the world view of the anonymous author of the Greek Chronicle of the Tocco. I wish to thank all persons who have supported me while writing this study. Firstly, my gratitude goes to Dr Francois Bredenkamp, who not only has guided me throughout my research, but who has always been available for me with sound advice. His solid knowledge and large experience in the field of post-classical Greek Studies has helped me in tackling Byzantine Studies from a mixed, historical and anthropological view point. I also wish to render thanks to my colleagues, especially in the Modern Greek Section, who encouraged me to continue my studies and research. 1 am indebted to Prof. W.J. Henderson, who has corrected my English. Any remaining mistakes in the text are mine. Last but not least, my husband, Prof. B. Hendrickx, deserves my profound gratitude for his patience, encouragement and continuous support.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Empire Roman Empire
    NON- FICTION UNABRIDGED Edward Gibbon THE Decline and Fall ––––––––––––– of the ––––––––––––– Roman Empire Read by David Timson Volum e I V CD 1 1 Chapter 37 10:00 2 Athanasius introduced into Rome... 10:06 3 Such rare and illustrious penitents were celebrated... 8:47 4 Pleasure and guilt are synonymous terms... 9:52 5 The lives of the primitive monks were consumed... 9:42 6 Among these heroes of the monastic life... 11:09 7 Their fiercer brethren, the formidable Visigoths... 10:35 8 The temper and understanding of the new proselytes... 8:33 Total time on CD 1: 78:49 CD 2 1 The passionate declarations of the Catholic... 9:40 2 VI. A new mode of conversion... 9:08 3 The example of fraud must excite suspicion... 9:14 4 His son and successor, Recared... 12:03 5 Chapter 38 10:07 6 The first exploit of Clovis was the defeat of Syagrius... 8:43 7 Till the thirtieth year of his age Clovis continued... 10:45 8 The kingdom of the Burgundians... 8:59 Total time on CD 2: 78:43 2 CD 3 1 A full chorus of perpetual psalmody... 11:18 2 Such is the empire of Fortune... 10:08 3 The Franks, or French, are the only people of Europe... 9:56 4 In the calm moments of legislation... 10:31 5 The silence of ancient and authentic testimony... 11:39 6 The general state and revolutions of France... 11:27 7 We are now qualified to despise the opposite... 13:38 Total time on CD 3: 78:42 CD 4 1 One of these legislative councils of Toledo..
    [Show full text]
  • New Europe College Yearbook 2015-2016 Yearbook 2015-2016 Yearbook NEW EUROPE COLLEGE NEW EUROPE
    New Europe College Yearbook 2015-2016 Yearbook 2015-2016 Yearbook NEW EUROPE COLLEGE NEW EUROPE LORENZO M. CIOLFI ERIN CORBER ÁGNES GAGYI UKU LEMBER JAMES MADAIO CRISTIANA OGHINĂ-PAVIE ISSN 1584-0298 BLAKE SMITH ALIX WINTER CRIS New Europe College Yearbook 2015‑2016 Editor: Irina Vainovski-Mihai EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrei PLEŞU, President of the New Europe Foundation, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Bucharest; former Minister of Culture and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Dr. Valentina SANDU-DEDIU, Rector, Professor of Musicology, National University of Music, Bucharest Dr. Anca OROVEANU, Academic Coordinator, Professor of Art History, National University of Arts, Bucharest Dr. Irina VAINOVSKI-MIHAI, Publications Coordinator, Professor of Arab Studies, “Dimitrie Cantemir” Christian University, Bucharest Copyright – New Europe College ISSN 1584-0298 New Europe College Str. Plantelor 21 023971 Bucharest Romania www.nec.ro; e-mail: [email protected] Tel. (+4) 021.307.99.10, Fax (+4) 021. 327.07.74 New Europe College Yearbook 2015‑2016 LORENZO M. CIOLFI ERIN CORBER ÁGNES GAGYI UKU LEMBER JAMES MADAIO CRISTIANA OGHINĂ-PAVIE BLAKE SMITH ALIX WINTER CONTENTS NEW EUROPE FOUNDATION NEW EUROPE COLLEGE 7 LORENZO M. CIOLFI NOT ANOTHER CONSTANTINE. RETHINKING IMPERIAL SAINTHOOD THROUGH THE CASE OF JOHN III VATATZES 23 ERIN CORBER LA MARSEILLAISE AND THE MOB : RE/DECONSTRUCTING ANTISEMITISM AND PROTEST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STRASBOURG, 1937 53 ÁGNES GAGYI HUNGARIAN AND ROMANIAN NEW LEFT GROUPS IN GLOBAL CONTEXT: PERSPECTIVES ON THE RELATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND MOVEMENT POLITICS 89 UKU LEMBER FROM ESTONIAN-RUSSIAN INTER-MARRIAGES TO “INTER-REGIONAL” MARRIAGES IN UKRAINE IN THE TIMES OF CRISIS 123 JAMES MADAIO RETHINKING NEO-VEDĀNTA: SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AND THE SELECTIVE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF ADVAITA VEDĀNTA 145 CRISTIANA OGHINĂ-PAVIE BIOLOGIE ET AGRONOMIE EN ROUMANIE SOUS L’EMPRISE DU LYSSENKISME (1945-1965).
    [Show full text]
  • LATE BYZANTINE SHIPS and SHIPPING 1204-1453 a Master's
    LATE BYZANTINE SHIPS AND SHIPPING 1204-1453 A Master’s Thesis by EVREN TÜRKMENOĞLU Department of Archaeology and History of Art Bilkent University Ankara December 2006 LATE BYZANTINE SHIPS AND SHIPPING 1204-1453 The Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Bilkent University by EVREN TÜRKMENOĞLU In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART BĐLKENT UNIVERSITY ANKARA December 2006 ABSTRACT LATE BYZANTINE SHIPS AND SHIPPING 1204-1453 Evren Türkmenoğlu MA. Department of Archaeology and History of Art Supervisor. Asst. Prof. Dr. Charles Gates December 2006 This study has aimed to investigate the problem of interpreting the nature and influence of Byzantine ships and shipping in the later Middle ages. Maritime transport activities and ships or shipbuilding of the Byzantines during the later Medieval age, between 1204-1453, have never been adequately revealed. The textual, pictorial, and archaeological evidence of Byzantine maritime activities is collected in this study. This limited evidence is evaluated in order to gain a better understanding of Byzantine maritime activities such as shipbuilding and maritime commerce. The impact of these activities in the Late Medieval age is discussed. Keywords: Shipbuilding, Byzantine, Maritime trade, Ship representations, Monasteries, Constantinople. iii ÖZET GEÇ BĐZANS GEMĐLERĐ VE DENĐZ TĐCARETĐ 1204-1453 Yüksek Lisans, Arkeoloji ve Sanat Tarihi Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Charles Gates Aralık 2006 Bu çalışma Geç Ortaçağ’da, Bizans gemileri ve deniz taşımacılığının durumu ve etkilerinin yorumlanmasını amaçlamaktadır. Bizanslıların 1204-1453 arası deniz taşımacılığı, gemileri yada gemi yapımı hakkında şu ana dek yapılan çalışmalar sınırlıdır.
    [Show full text]
  • The Byzantino-Latin Principality of Adrianople and the Challenge of Feudalism (1204/6–Ca
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Ghent University Academic Bibliography The Byzantino-Latin Principality of Adrianople and the Challenge of Feudalism (1204/6–ca. 1227/28) Empire, Venice, and Local Autonomy Filip Van Tricht n the aftermath of the conquest of Constantinople in designated or recognized by Venice as ruler of the city I1204 during the Fourth Crusade, one of many new of Adrianople, the author convincingly argues that political entities that took shape was a relatively short- the principality was no independent state, but a feu- lived principality centered on the city of Adrianople in dal principality within the framework of the (Latin) Thrace. Until recently not much attention had been Empire of Constantinople, a conclusion that for non- devoted to its history or position within the Byzantine Greek authors such as Jean Longnon had been rather space in the first decades of the thirteenth century.1 A self-evident.3 few years ago, however, Benjamin Hendrickx wrote an Along the way Hendrickx also makes some state- article with as starting point the observation that most ments that in my opinion raise new questions and war- Greek scholars until then had always maintained that rant further investigation. First, the author considers the principality in question was an independent state the mentioned Pactum to be an illustration of “Venice’s in the sense of a so-called Territorialstaat or toparchia independent policy in Romania” vis-à-vis the Latin as defined by Jürgen Hoffman.2 Through a renewed emperors.4 I will argue however that there are good rea- analysis of the so-called Pactum Adrianopolitanum sons to challenge this proposition.
    [Show full text]
  • Byzantina Symmeikta
    Byzantina Symmeikta Vol. 24, 2014 The Terms Ῥωμαῖος, Ἕλλην, Γραικὸς in the Byzantine Texts of the first Half of the 13th Century PAPADOPOULOU Theodora https://doi.org/10.12681/byzsym.1067 Copyright © 2015 Theodora Papadopoulou To cite this article: PAPADOPOULOU, T. (2015). The Terms Ῥωμαῖος, Ἕλλην, Γραικὸς in the Byzantine Texts of the first Half of the 13th Century. Byzantina Symmeikta, 24(1), 157-176. doi:https://doi.org/10.12681/byzsym.1067 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 27/09/2021 13:21:57 | INSTITUTE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH ΙΝΣΤΙΤΟΥΤΟ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΩΝ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ SECTION OF BYZANTINE RESEARCH ΤΟΜΕΑΣ ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΩΝ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ NATIONAL HELLENIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION ΕΘΝΙΚΟ IΔΡΥΜΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ EFI RAGIA THEODORA PAPADOPOULOU THE GEOGTHREAPHY TERMS OF Ῥ TωμαῖοςHE PROVINCIAL, Ελλην ,A ΓDMINISραῖκος TRATION OF THE BYZANIN THET INBEYZAN EMPITINREE (TCAEX T600-1200):S I.1.IN T HTHE EA FPOIRTSHTE HKAIALF OF OFA SIATH EM 13INOTHR (7CETNHTUR-8THY C.) ΑΘΗΝΑ • 20092014 • ATHENS http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 27/09/2021 13:21:57 | THEODORA PAPADOPOULOU THE TERMS Ῥωμαῖος, Ελλην, Γραῖκος IN THE BYZANTINE TEXTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 13TH CENTURY* The Topic One way to approach the past is by the analysis of words and terms in the texts written at the time, because they carry special semantic load and, thus, help us to understand the way of thinking, the perspective of various social groups. Collective nouns are a special category of such terms, because they are connected to self-definition, namely the identity of various social groups. In Byzantine texts the terms Ῥωμαῖος, Ἕλλην and Γραικὸς are conspicuous and therefore have attracted the attention and interest of modern researchers.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-48071-0 — The Byzantine Hellene Dimiter Angelov Excerpt More Information Introduction One year before he passed away at the age of thirty-six, the subject of this biography sent a polemical letter to his teacher and spiritual father. The letter ended on a note of hope that his arguments “would be judged by future generations.”1 The author called for the judgment of history because he was conscious of criticism of him as a public personality. Throughout his life, he had observed with rising concern the vilification of rulers before and after their deaths. The inevitable lot of the individual vested with royal authority, he reasoned, was “to be the target of reproach.”2 He had a good reason to fear that he would suffer the same fate, for his policies had upset many among the ruling elite and had troubled his former teacher, the addressee of the letter. He wished his lone voice to be heard through the ages and intended his writings to become a lasting monument. “I know,” he wrote over a decade earlier, “that in this way I will gain an icon of remembrance before the eyes of the future generations and a clearing of my name.”3 The author of these poignant words was the Byzantine ruler and philoso- pher Theodore Laskaris (1221/22–58). He is known as Theodore II Laskaris and his full official name is Theodore Doukas Laskaris, but we will be referring to him in the following pages with the shorter version of his name that was already circulating while he was alive.4 Theodore Laskaris ruled over the “empire of Nicaea” (1204–61), a polity established in exile in Asia Minor after the dramatic fall of Constantinople, the imperial capital of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, to the Latin armies of the Fourth Crusade in April 1204.
    [Show full text]