The period between 1185 and 1261 was one of systematic destruction of Byzantine imperial power. First, a combination of gross incompetence and bitter infighting amongst the elite under the Angelid dynasty meant that the opportunity for expelling the Seljuq turks from Anatolia which was opened by the success of the First Crusade was never acted upon.
The real problem, however, was that the Byzantine emperors had awakened a beast they could not control. Alexios I had originally expected help in the form of mercenary forces, and was totally unprepared for the immense and undisciplined hordes of Crusaders which flocked to the front. Also, instead of returning territory to the Empire, they set up their own principalities and became rivals of Byzantium in their own right.
In 1204, this culminated in open conflict between the Fourth Crusade and the Empire, which resulted in the Sack of Constantinople, and the Empire was split into three minor parts; the Nicean Empire, Trebizond, and Epirus. Much of the Nicaean Emperors' efforts now went into combating the Latins, and in 1261 Constantinople was reconquered. The Byzantine Empire was now restored – but permanently weakened.
The real problem, however, was that the Byzantine emperors had awakened a beast they could not control. Alexios I had originally expected help in the form of mercenary forces, and was totally unprepared for the immense and undisciplined hordes of Crusaders which flocked to the front. Also, instead of returning territory to the Empire, they set up their own principalities and became rivals of Byzantium in their own right.
In 1204, this culminated in open conflict between the Fourth Crusade and the Empire, which resulted in the Sack of Constantinople, and the Empire was split into three minor parts; the Nicean Empire, Trebizond, and Epirus. Much of the Nicaean Emperors' efforts now went into combating the Latins, and in 1261 Constantinople was reconquered. The Byzantine Empire was now restored – but permanently weakened.
Isaac II was Byzantine Emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204. While preparing for yet another offensive against Bulgaria in 1195, Alexios Angelos, the Emperor's older brother, taking advantage of Isaac's absence from camp on a hunting expedition, proclaimed himself emperor and was readily recognised by the soldiers as Emperor Alexios III. Isaac was blinded and imprisoned in Consta...
Alexios III was Byzantine Emperor from March 1195 to July 17/18, 1203. A member of the extended imperial family, Alexios came to throne after deposing, blinding, and imprisoning his younger brother Isaac II Angelos.
The most significant event of his reign was the attack of the Fourth Crusade on Constantinople in 1203, on behalf of Alexios IV Angelos. Alexios III took over the defense of...
The most significant event of his reign was the attack of the Fourth Crusade on Constantinople in 1203, on behalf of Alexios IV Angelos. Alexios III took over the defense of...
Alexios IV was Byzantine Emperor from August 1203 to January 1204. He was the son of Emperor Isaac II Angelus and his first wife, an unknown Palaiologina.
On 18 July 1203 the Crusaders launched an assault on the city, and Alexios III immediately fled into Thrace. The next morning the citizens had released Isaac II from prison and proclaimed him emperor. The Crusaders could not accept th...
On 18 July 1203 the Crusaders launched an assault on the city, and Alexios III immediately fled into Thrace. The next morning the citizens had released Isaac II from prison and proclaimed him emperor. The Crusaders could not accept th...
Alexios V was Byzantine emperor from 5 February to 12 April 1204 during the second and final siege of Constantinople by the participants of the Fourth Crusade.
He achieved power through a palace coup, killing his predecessors in the process. Though he made vigorous attempts to defend Constantinople from the crusader army, his military efforts proved ineffective. His actions won the supp...
He achieved power through a palace coup, killing his predecessors in the process. Though he made vigorous attempts to defend Constantinople from the crusader army, his military efforts proved ineffective. His actions won the supp...
Theodore I was the first Emperor of Nicaea, the rump state founded by the aristocracy that fled after Constantinople was occupied during the Fourth Crusade.
At first Theodore did not claim the imperial title, perhaps because there was no Patriarch of Constantinople to crown him Emperor. In addition, his own control over the Anatolian domains of the Byzantine Empire was challenged, by Da...
At first Theodore did not claim the imperial title, perhaps because there was no Patriarch of Constantinople to crown him Emperor. In addition, his own control over the Anatolian domains of the Byzantine Empire was challenged, by Da...
John III was Emperor of Nicaea from 1222 to 1254. He was succeeded by his son, known as Theodore II Laskaris.
A successful soldier from a military family, John was chosen in about 1216 by Emperor Theodore I Laskaris as the second husband for his daughter Irene Laskarina and as heir to the throne, following the death of her first husband, Andronikos Palaiologos. This arrangement excluded...
A successful soldier from a military family, John was chosen in about 1216 by Emperor Theodore I Laskaris as the second husband for his daughter Irene Laskarina and as heir to the throne, following the death of her first husband, Andronikos Palaiologos. This arrangement excluded...
Theodore II was Emperor of Nicaea from 1254 to 1258. He was the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamaterina. He suffered from epilipsy.
The succession of Theodore was exploited by the Bulgarians, who invaded Thrace under the l...
The succession of Theodore was exploited by the Bulgarians, who invaded Thrace under the l...
John IV was emperor of Nicaea from August 18, 1258, to December 25, 1261. This empire was one of the Greek states formed from the remaining fragments of the Byzantine Empire, after the capture of Constantinople by Roman Catholics during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
John IV was only seven years old when he inherited the throne on the death of his father. The young monarch was the last me...
John IV was only seven years old when he inherited the throne on the death of his father. The young monarch was the last me...