The Historians' History of the World 07

1206 Treaty with David Comnenus, brother of the emperor of Trebizond, in the interest of the latter.

1207 Death of Joannice. Henry marries his daughter, and thus effects peace with Bulgaria. Treaty with Theodore Lascaris, emperor of Nicæa.

1209 Parliament of Ravenika (ancient Chalcidice) summoned by Henry to determine definitely the feudal relations of all subjects of the empire.

1214 War between Henry and Theodore. Defeat of Henry in Bithynia. Siege of Pemanene. Peace, ceding to Theodore all territory east of Sardis and Nicæa.

1215 A mock union between the Greek and Roman churches in Henry’s dominions.

1216 Death of Henry during expedition against Theodore, the despot of Epirus. Pierre de Courtenai, then in France, chosen emperor. He falls into the hands of Theodore of Epirus on his way to Constantinople, and dies in captivity, 1219.

1221 His second son, Robert de Courtenai, after a delay of two years, is made emperor.

1222 Theodore of Epirus takes possession of the Lombard kingdom of Thessalonica. Defeat of Robert at Serres.

1223-1224 Robert invades Nicæa with many losses. Revolt of the Greeks in Hadrianopolis. Theodore of Epirus takes the city.

1228 Death of Robert. His young brother, Baldwin II, succeeds. Jean de Brienne, titular king of Jerusalem, elected guardian and colleague. The empire is attacked by Joannes Vatatzes of Nicæa and John Asan, king of Bulgaria.

1233 Jean de Brienne routed in Bithynia.

1234 Alliance between Vatatzes and Asan to attack Constantinople. They ravage the whole Latin Empire.

1236 Danger to Constantinople averted by help from the Venetians and Geoffrey of Achaia.

1237 Death of Jean de Brienne. The Bulgarian king abandons Nicæa and makes alliance with Latins. Baldwin visits western Europe to obtain help. Louis IX of France gives pecuniary assistance.

1240 Baldwin with his new army attacks Nicæa and obtains some advantage.

1243 Baldwin makes alliance with Seljuk Turks, but in spite of this is compelled to 1245 revisit western Europe for assistance.

1259 On the accession of Michael Palæologus, the Nicæan Empire attacks the Latin Empire.

1261 Recovery of Constantinople by the Greeks of Nicæa. End of the Latin Empire of Romania. Although driven from their dominions, the descendants of Baldwin II are known in eastern Europe as titular emperors until 1383 when, with the death of James de Baux, the family of Baldwin became extinct.

THE GREEK EMPERORS AT NICÆA (1204-1261 A.D.)

1204 After the capture of Constantinople Theodore Lascaris, leader of the anti-Latin party, flees to Bithynia, and makes himself master of the city of Nicæa.

1206 Theodore (I) Lascaris crowned emperor by the Greek patriarch. His title is contested by several princes, among them Alexius Comnenus, reigning as emperor of Trebizond. David Comnenus, the latter’s brother, proceeds against him, but is badly defeated on the Sangarius.

1210 Alexius, father-in-law of Theodore, claims throne, supported by the sultan of Iconium. The latter slain in battle, Alexius falls into Theodore’s hand, and is put into a monastery.

1214 War with Henry of Romania. Peace defining limits of empire.

1214-1222 Years of peace.

1222 Death of Theodore. His son-in-law, Joannes (III) Ducas Vatatzes, succeeds. Theodore Angelus, despot of Epirus and Ætolia, assumes title of emperor of Thessalonica.

1224 Victory of Pemanene over Robert, the Latin emperor.

1225 Peace with the Latins. Conspiracy of Nestongos.

1233 Defeat of the Latins by Joannes in Bithynia. Naval campaign to obtain sovereignty of the sea. The Greek fleets driven back to Asia by the Venetian, Marino Sanuti.

1234 Alliance of Joannes Vatatzes and Asan of Bulgaria against Baldwin II. Vatatzes reduces the empire of Thessalonica to a despotat (despotat of Epirus).

1236 Attack of the allies on Constantinople unsuccessful.

1237 Asan breaks the alliance as Constantinople is about to be attacked the second time.

1241 On the death of John Asan of Bulgaria, Vatatzes begins to assert his supremacy over the emperor of Thessalonica.

1242 Joannes Comnenus, the Thessalonian emperor, reduced to rank of despot by Vatatzes. Alliance with the sultan of Iconium to resist threatened invasion of Mongols who have already destroyed the Seljuk empire.

1245 Joannes Vatatzes reconquers Byzantine dominions in Thrace from the infant king Michael of Bulgaria.

1246 Vatatzes unites despotat of Epirus to the empire.

1251-1253 War with Michael II, despot of Epirus, ending in a peace ceding some Thracian territory to Vatatzes.

1254 Death of Joannes Vatatzes. His son Theodore (II) Lascaris succeeds.

1255-1256 War with Bulgaria resulting in slight concessions to Theodore.

1257 War with Michael of Epirus conducted by Michael Palæologus, with unfavourable results.