Everything about Empire Nicaea totally explained
The
Empire of Nicaea (
Greek: Βασίλειον τῆς Νίκαιας,
Turkish:
İznik İmparatorluğu) 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 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
Epirus and
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 wasn't immediately successful, as he was defeated at Poemanenum and Prusa (now
Bursa) in 1204, but he was able to capture much of northwestern
Anatolia after the Latin Emperor
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
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
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 II of Hohenstaufen, 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) in 1259, and soon defeated a combined invasion by Manfred, the Despot of Epirus, and the Latin
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
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