For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. 1278 - Events. August 26 - Kings Rudolph I of Germany and Ladislaus IV of Hungary defeat King Otakar II of Bohemia in the Battle of Marchfield, a match of over 80,000 men and the largest battle of knights in the middle ages. The battle ends a power struggle between Rudolph and Otakar over the fate of central Europe, and Rudolph's Habsburg family will continue to rule Austria and other captured territories until the end of World War I ...

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• 1278 - Events
• 1278 - Births
• 1278 - Deaths

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Charles II, known as the Lame (Fr. le Boiteux) (born c. 1248, died 5 May 1309, Naples) was the King of Naples and Sicily, titular king of Jerusalem, and Prince of Salerno. He was a son of Charles I of Naples. He had been captured by Roger of Lauria in the naval battle at Naples in 1284. When his father died, he was still a prisoner of Peter III of Aragon. In 1288 King Edward I of England mediated to make peace, and Charles was liberated only to retain Naples alone. Sicily was left to the Aragonese. Charles ...

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Durrës - Greek foundation. The city was founded as Epidamnos in 627 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corcyra (Corfu). Its geographical position was highly advantageous, being sited around a natural rocky harbour which was surrounded by inland swamps and high cliffs on the seaward side, making the city very difficult to attack from either land or sea. Epidamnos was noted for being a politically advanced society, prompting the ancient philosopher Aristotle to praise its political system. However, Corinth and Corcyra quarrelled over the city, helping to precipita ...

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Durrës, Durrës - Geography and demographics, Durrës - History, Durrës - Greek foundation, Durrës - Roman and Byzantine rule, Durrës - The Middle Ages, Durrës - 20th century, Durrës - Economy, Durrës - Local sights

Read more here: » Durrës: Encyclopedia II - Durrës - History

The main picture of this century-long situation: The Principality was under violent succession dispute. That originated from dispossessed Latin Emperor Baldwin II giving overlordship of Achaia to Charles I of Sicily, in order to gain his support for reconquering the throne in Constantinople - Baldwin did not secure the rights of Villehardouin Princes of Achaia when doing that. As a result, Angevin kings of Naples gave Achaia as their fief to a series of their own relatives and creatures, who fought against Princess Margaret Ville ...

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Principality of Achaea, Principality of Achaea - The feudal conflict of Morea 1307-1383, Principality of Achaea - Incomplete List of the Princes of Achaea

Read more here: » Principality of Achaea: Encyclopedia II - Principality of Achaea - The feudal conflict of Morea 1307-1383

The Despotate was founded in by Michael I Ducas, cousin of the Byzantine emperors Isaac II Angelus and Alexius III. At first Michael allied with Boniface of Montferrat, but then went to Epirus, where he considered himself the Byzantine governor of the old province of Nicopolis and revolted against Boniface. Epirus soon became the new home of many Greek refugees from Constantinople, Thessaly, and the Peloponnese, and Michael was described as a second Noah, rescuing men from the Latin flood. John Camaterus, the Patriarch of Constantinople, did ...

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Despotate of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Foundation, Despotate of Epirus - Conflict with Nicaea and Bulgaria, Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty, Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions, Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate, Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Nemanjić dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - External link

Read more here: » Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Foundation

Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksander Moisiu theater, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, the philharmonic orchestra, etc. There are also several museums such as the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of History. The city's beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists, with an estimated 600,000 tourists visitsing annually. Many Albanians from Tirana spend their sum ...

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Durrës, Durrës - Geography and demographics, Durrës - History, Durrës - Greek foundation, Durrës - Roman and Byzantine rule, Durrës - The Middle Ages, Durrës - 20th century, Durrës - Economy, Durrës - Local sights

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Anna succeeded in marrying Thomas to a daughter of Andronicus II, but Thomas was assassinated in 1318 by Nicholas Orsini, who married his widow and took control of the despotate. He was recognized as legitimate by Andronicus, but was overthrown by his brother John in 1323. John was poisoned around 1335 by his wife Anna who became regent for Nicephorus II. In 1337 Andronicus III, arriving in the area to help the Albanians fight the Ottomans, recaptured all of Epirus. However, Nicephorus II escaped to Italy where Philip of Taranto's widow Cath ...

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Despotate of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Foundation, Despotate of Epirus - Conflict with Nicaea and Bulgaria, Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty, Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions, Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate, Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Nemanjić dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - External link

Read more here: » Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate

Epirus never regained its power after this defeat. Michael II lost Thessalonica to Nicaea in 1246 and then allied with the Latins against them. In 1248 John Vatatzes forced Michael to recognize him as emperor, and officially recognized him in turn as despot of Epirus. Vatatzes' granddaughter Maria married Michael's son Nicephorus. Also in 1248 Michael's daughter Anna married William II, Prince of Achaea, and Michael decided to honour this alliance over his obligations to Vatatzes. He was defeated in the ensuing conflict, and ...

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Despotate of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Foundation, Despotate of Epirus - Conflict with Nicaea and Bulgaria, Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty, Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions, Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate, Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Nemanjić dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - External link

Read more here: » Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty

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, ...

See also:

Despotate of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Foundation, Despotate of Epirus - Conflict with Nicaea and Bulgaria, Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty, Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions, Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate, Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Nemanjić dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - External link

Read more here: » Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions

Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty. Michael Angelus Comnenus Ducas (1204-1214) (Michael I Ducas) Theodore Ducas (1214-1230), emperor from 1227-1230 Michael II Ducas (1230-1271) Nicephorus I Ducas (1271-1296) Thomas Ducas (1296-1318) Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty. Nicholas Orsini (1318-1323) John Orsini (1323-1335) ...

See also:

Despotate of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Foundation, Despotate of Epirus - Conflict with Nicaea and Bulgaria, Despotate of Epirus - Nicaean and Byzantine suzerainty, Despotate of Epirus - Italian invasions, Despotate of Epirus - Collapse of the despotate, Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus, Despotate of Epirus - Ducas dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Orsini dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - Nemanjić dynasty, Despotate of Epirus - External link

Read more here: » Despotate of Epirus: Encyclopedia II - Despotate of Epirus - Despots of Epirus