THE KINGDOM OF SALONICA (1204-1222 A.D.)
1204 In the division of the Byzantine Empire among the crusaders, Boniface, marquis of Montferrat, commander-in-chief, receives a feudatory kingdom in Asia, but not liking to be so far from his Italian domains, he exchanges it for the province of Macedonia with Thessalonica for his capital. He calls it the kingdom of Salonica. He also believes himself entitled to Crete, and exchanges it with the Venetians for portions of Thessaly. Boniface would like to maintain an independent realm, but Baldwin I of Romania promptly compels him to do homage.
1204-1207 Boniface defeats attempts of the Greeks to recover his kingdom. He marches into the Peloponnesus and lays siege to Corinth and Argos, but is recalled by a rebellion in Thessalonica.
1207 Death of Boniface in a skirmish with the Bulgarians. Demetrius his son two years old succeeds with the queen, Margaret, as regent.
The kingdom is protected against the prince of Epirus and the king of Bulgaria by the Romanian emperor, until after the death of Pierre de Courtenai.
1222 While Demetrius is still completing his education in Italy, Theodore, prince of Epirus, conquers the kingdom and is crowned emperor of Thessalonica. Demetrius makes unsuccessful attempts to recover his kingdom. The title is held by the descendants of Demetrius until William marquis of Montferrat cedes it to the Byzantine emperor in 1284.
1266 Baldwin II, then titular emperor of Romania, granted the kingdom of Salonica to the house of Burgundy, where it remained until Eudes IV sold it to Philip of Tarentum, titular emperor of Romania in 1320.
THE DESPOTAT OF EPIRUS AND EMPIRE OF THESSALONICA (1204-1469 A.D.)
1204 After the conquest of Constantinople, Michael I, a natural son of Constantine Angelus and uncle of Isaac II and Alexius III, escapes into Epirus, marries a native lady, and establishes a government in the territory west of the Pindus Mountains. His capital is at Joannina. It is a typical Byzantine state, totally different from the Frankish feudatory governments. Michael and his descendants all take name of Angelus Comnenus Ducas. He is an able military leader, and extends his principality over all Epirus, Acarnania, Ætolia, and a part of Macedonia and Thessaly. He is virtually independent, but acknowledges Theodore Lascaris I as the lawful emperor of the East.
1214 Assassination of Michael by one of his slaves. His brother Theodore succeeds, having sworn fidelity to the throne of Nicæa. He at once begins to extend his dominions.
1217 Theodore captures the Latin emperor, Pierre de Courtenai, who is on his way to Constantinople.
1222 Theodore drives the Lombards out of Salonica, and is crowned emperor of Thessalonica.
The Empire of Thessalonica
1224 Theodore takes Hadrianopolis. His empire now extends from the Adriatic to the Black Sea. He plans attack on Constantinople, but becomes involved in war with John Asan of Bulgaria.
1230 John Asan takes Theodore prisoner and puts out his eyes. Theodore’s brother Manuel assumes imperial title.
1232 John Asan marries Theodore’s daughter and releases him. Theodore returns to Thessalonica and forms party strong enough to drive Manuel out. Theodore’s blindness prevents him from reigning, so his son Joannes takes the title. Manuel escapes to Nicæa and returns with aid from Joannes Vatatzes, but Theodore persuades him and his brother Constantine to aid in defending the empire against Nicæa.
1234 Vatatzes takes Thessalonica. Joannes compelled to give up imperial dignity and assume rank of despot.
The Despotat of Epirus
1244 Demetrius succeeds his brother Joannes.
1246 Joannes Vatatzes, owing to disputes, drives Demetrius from office and unites Thessalonica to the Greek Empire. A natural son of Michael I, Michael is, however, in possession of a portion of the despotat and the blind Theodore of another. Joannes Vatatzes makes Michael II despot under promise of absolute fidelity, but Theodore, 1251-1255 by his intrigues, involves Michael in war with Vatatzes.
1255 Michael delivers up Theodore and makes peace with Vatatzes. Michael is expelled from his dominions, but recovers the southern portion and rules there.
1267 Death of Michael. Nicephorus, his son, receives title and marries daughter of Theodore Lascaris II. He extends his territory in Acarnania and Ætolia.
1290 Nicephorus attacked by Andronicus II and the Genoese, but he repels them with help of the prince of Achaia and the count of Cephalonia.
1293 Death of Nicephorus. His son Thomas succeeds.
1318 Murder of Thomas by his nephew, Thomas II, the count of Cephalonia, who is murdered by his wife Anne, who is guardian of her son, Nicephorus II, twelve years old, when in 1337 Andronicus III invades the country. Anne turns the despotat over to him. Nicephorus killed, 1358, in a battle with the Albanians while attempting to recover the despotat.
The Wallachian Princes of Thessaly
1259 Joannes Ducas I, natural son of the despot Michael II, marries daughter of the Wallachian chief in Thessaly. He founds an independent government, fighting with or against Epirus or Constantinople, as suits his interests.
1290 Succeeded by his son, name not known.
1300 Joannes Ducas (II) succeeds under guardianship of Guy II, duke of Athens, his cousin.
1308 On death of Joannes, his possessions are divided among the frontier states.
The Servian Despots of Epirus
1367 Thomas Prelubos recognised by Stephen Dushan as prince of Joannina or Arta.
1385 Assassination of Prelubos on account of his cruelties. His widow marries Esau Buondelmonte, who wars with the Albanians until captured in 1399.
The Tocco Family in Epirus (Despotat of Romania)
1400 Charles Tocco, grandson of Leonardo Tocco, who was invested with Cephalonia by Robert of Tarentum, titular emperor of Romania, invades Epirus about 1390, and finally conquers enough territory to declare himself despot of Romania.
1429 Charles II succeeds his uncle.
1431 The Turks capture Joannina and Ætolia.
1433 Charles becomes a citizen of Venice in order to obtain the protection of that republic.
1452 Leonard succeeds his father.
1469 The Turks drive Leonard from the throne.
THE DUCHY OF ATHENS (1205-1456 A.D.)
The House of de la Roche
Between the kingdom of Salonica and the Peloponnesus lie several feudal states apportioned among the crusaders. Of these the duchy of Athens is the most important.
1205 Otto de la Roche, a Burgundian noble, takes possession of Athens. He is master of all Attica and Bœotia, but does homage to Boniface of Salonica.
1207 On death of Boniface Thebes is taken from Otto and added to Salonica, but is returned later by Henry of Romania.
1225 Otto prefers to return to his fief in France and resigns in favour of his nephew, Guy I.
1264 John succeeds his father. He assists Joannes Ducas against the Byzantine army and forms a close alliance with him later on. John captured in the battle of Oreus by the forces of Michael VIII and is released without payment of ransom.
1275 John succeeded by his brother, William I.