Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions

Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions

After Michael VIII restored the empire in Constantinople in 1261 he frequently harassed Epirus, and forced Michael's son Nicephorus to marry his niece Anna Cantacuzena in 1265. Michael considered Epirus a vassal state, although Michael II and Nicephorus continued to ally with the Princes of Achaea and the Dukes of Athens. In 1267 Corcyra and much of Epirus were captured by Charles of Anjou, and in 1271 Michael II died, although Michael VIII did not attempt to annex Epirus directly. He allowed Nicephorus to succeed him and deal with Charles, who took Dyrrhachium the same year. In 1279 Nicephorus allied with Charles against Michael VIII, agreeing to become Charles' vassal. With Charles' defeat soon after Nicephorus lost Albania to the Byzantines.

Under Andronicus II, Nicephorus renewed the alliance with Constantinople. Nicephorus, however, was convinced to ally with Charles II of Naples in 1292, although Charles was defeated by Andronicus' fleet. Nicephorus married his daughter to Charles' son Philip I of Taranto and sold much of his territory to him. After Nicephorus' death in 1296 Byzantine influence grew slightly under Anna, Andronicus II's cousin, who ruled as regent for her young son Thomas. In 1306 she revolted against Philip in favour of Andronicus; the Latin inhabitants were expelled but she was forced to return some territory to Philip. In 1312 Philip abandoned his claim to Epirus and claimed the defunct Latin Empire instead.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Italian invasions", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki