British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Eastern Mediterranean in the Thirteenth century:
identities and allegiances
Abstract
Epiros
Professor Dr Günter Prinzing
In 1204-1261 Epiros was a region of less political coherence and consistence than Nicaea or Trebizond.
1st phase, 1204-1214: In the years 1204-1209/1210 the political situation was difficult because of the confusing rivalry of Latin, Greeks/Byzantines and even Bulgars in the regions west of the Pindos range, where there was a vacuum of power. There we observe the emergence/or continuity of new or old structures of an administration of Byzantine character, headed by Michael (I) Doukas, who did not himself hold a title. After an agreement with the Latin emperor Henry in 1209, which he had soon broken, Michael became a vassal of Venice (promissio to the Doge) in 1210: but in 1212 he expelled his overlords from Epiros, i.e.from Dyrrachion and from Corfu. 1212-1214: Michael became an increasingly independent ruler, supported by his half-brother Constantine. The latter then became permanent governor of the region of Naupaktos, in effect his apanage. Michael I was murdered in 1214.
2nd phase, 1215-1230: Michael's successor was his (half-)brother Theodoros Doukas (1215-1230), who initially (until 1226) ruled without any title in his own right, being sometimes addressed as Megas Komnenos. He was supported in his internal rule by his brothers Manuel and Constantine The latter continued to govern the region of Naupaktos, while Manuel became governor of Thessaly. As such, both brothers became 'despots' in Theodore's imperial phase (1226-1230). This began, when Theodore became emperor by acclamation in 1225/26. He was crowned at Thessalonike in 1227. Since his title of emperor was the traditional Byzantine title, not regionally restricted, he became rival to the rulers in Nicaea. His rule came to an end with his utter defeat by the Bulgars at Klokotnica in 1230.
3rd phase, 1231-1261: A time of fragmentation and new consolidation of Epirus. The 'empire' was initially reduced to the region of Thessalonike: Despot Manuel Doukas (1230-1237), who proclaimed himself 'emperor' (c. 1235) ruled there. He was succeeded by Theodore's sons John Doukas (emperor 1237-1242, then despot) and Demetrios Doukas (despot 1244-1246). The other parts of the 'empire' were occupied in part by the Bulgars (until 1241), in part by the increasingly consolidated rule of Michael II Doukas (c. 1236-67, an illegitimate son of Michael I), who crossed over from Corfu, in order to gradually seize the mainland. In 1251 Michael was forced to make peace with emperor John III Vatatzes, confirmed by a marriage agreement (a granddaughter of John III became the wife of Michael's son Nicephoros; Michael II became Despot (?Despotate Epiros!). In 1257 king Manfred of Sicily occupied several parts of Epiros and the islands (Dyrrachion, Aulon, Kanina, Berat and Corfu). Michael II's daughter Helena was married to Manfred. The territories he had occupied were declared to be Helena's dowry. The newly formed alliance of Michael II, William II of Villehardouin and Manfred was defeated at Pelagonia in 1259: Michel II had to flee to Cephalonia, Nicaea occupied vast regions of Epiros. But Michael II succeeded in returning to the mainland after 1261.
The source material and some of its peculiarities
It consists of correspondence, expert opinions, documents / records, subscriptions, inscriptions (stone, metal, painted), seals, historiography and chronicles of Nicaea and the Morea (in Greek, in part in Latin) and chronicles, letters and documents of the Latin Empire.
Phase 1: The sources are for the most part Latin (important: the contract of vassalage 1210 with Venice), Old French, Greek (historians Nicetas Choniates, George Akropolites, Nikephoros Gregoras, & records etc.), and even Old Serbian vitae. Only a relatively restricted number of orthodox Greeks or Byzantines acting in the regions of Epirus are to be found in the sources. Phase 2: A marked increase of Greek-Byzantine sources: Despite the complete lack of historians from the Epiros region, we do have a wealth of information on secular and ecclesiastical individuals, especially the rich correspondence of the (patriarchal) metropolitans John Apokaukos of Naupaktos (1200-ca.1233), Basileios Pediadites (d.1216 and George Bardanes of Corfu (Greek/Latin), and the autocephalous archbishop Demetrios Chomatenos of Bulgaria/Ohrid (1216-c.1236).- Phase 3: Documents of Michael II since 1236 (cf. Lemerle, Trois actes). Letters of George Bardanes. Akropolites and the later historians (as mentioned above), and in part the Chronicle of Morea.
Large quantities of prosopographically relevant names and data are to be found in the ecclesiastical often judicial files, deeds and letters, especially of Chomatenos and John Apokaukos.In this connection assigning them to Byzantium is not difficult as a rule, provided it concerns the period after 1212. Chomatenos and his synod know clearly to differentiate between Serbs, Bulgars (or: Drougoubites) and Latins, as well as his colleagues of the episcopate (see e.g. his rich no. 22 about the relations of Theodore Doukas to (hostile and allied) archontes of the Peloponnese).
In conclusion I shall deal with a previously neglected short necrology, which I chanced upon in Cod. Cromwell 11 (Bodleiana), written and subscribed 1225 near Ioannina. Some of the names (in part Slavic and Vlach) contained in the necrology are not registered yet in our repertoires. The respective individuals might possibly have been members of an unknown confraternity there.