Constantine Doukas of Thessaly
Encyclopedia
Constantine Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from 1289 to his death in 1303.
of Thessaly by his wife, whose monastic name was Hypomone ("Patience"). He succeeded to his father's lands because his older brother Michael Komnenos had been abducted and imprisoned in Constantinople
. After succeeding his father in or shortly before 1289, Constantine ruled Thessaly and Central Greece
from Neopatras. He was assisted by his younger brother Theodore Angelos, who died c. 1300.
Early in his reign, Constantine's mother entered into negotiations with the Byzantine Empire
and, in exchange for recognizing nominal Byzantine suzerainty
, Constantine was invested with the court title of sebastokratōr
. Constantine continued his father's war against Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
of Epirus
and his Angevin
allies. The campaign of 1295 resulted in Thessalian occupation of the fortresses that Nikephoros had designated as the dowry
of his daughter Thamar Angelina Komnene when she married Philip I of Taranto
, son of King Charles II of Naples
and Maria of Hungary
. Most of these conquests were lost to the Angevins in 1296, when a truce was signed. Further fighting followed in 1301, and Angelokastron
in Corfu
had to be returned to Philip of Taranto. Virtually nothing else is known about the reign of Constantine, who died in 1303.
Life
Constantine Doukas was the second son of John I DoukasJohn I Doukas
John I Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268 to his death in 1289....
of Thessaly by his wife, whose monastic name was Hypomone ("Patience"). He succeeded to his father's lands because his older brother Michael Komnenos had been abducted and imprisoned in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. After succeeding his father in or shortly before 1289, Constantine ruled Thessaly and Central Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
from Neopatras. He was assisted by his younger brother Theodore Angelos, who died c. 1300.
Early in his reign, Constantine's mother entered into negotiations with the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and, in exchange for recognizing nominal Byzantine suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
, Constantine was invested with the court title of sebastokratōr
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
. Constantine continued his father's war against Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas, Latinized as Nicephorus I Comnenus Ducas , was ruler of Epirus from 1267/8 to c. 1297.-Life:Nikephoros was the eldest son of Michael II Komnenos Doukas and Theodora Petraliphaina...
of Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
and his Angevin
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
allies. The campaign of 1295 resulted in Thessalian occupation of the fortresses that Nikephoros had designated as the dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
of his daughter Thamar Angelina Komnene when she married Philip I of Taranto
Philip I of Taranto
Philip I of Taranto : of the Angevin house, was titular Emperor of Constantinople , despot of Epirus, King of Albania, Prince of Achaea and Taranto, and Lord of Durazzo....
, son of King Charles II of Naples
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
and Maria of Hungary
Maria Arpad of Hungary
Mary of Hungary , of the Árpád dynasty, was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Naples. She was a daughter of Stephen V of Hungary and his wife Elizabeth the Cuman.-Family:Mary's mother followed the Shamanist religion, like other Cumans...
. Most of these conquests were lost to the Angevins in 1296, when a truce was signed. Further fighting followed in 1301, and Angelokastron
Angelokastro (Corfu)
Angelokastro is one of the most important Byzantine castles of Greece. It is located on the island of Corfu at the top of the highest peak of the island's shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain...
in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
had to be returned to Philip of Taranto. Virtually nothing else is known about the reign of Constantine, who died in 1303.
Family
By his wife, Anna Euagionissa, Constantine Doukas had at least one son:- John II DoukasJohn II DoukasJohn II Doukas, also Angelos Doukas or Angelus Ducas , was ruler of Thessaly from 1303 to his death in 1318....
, who succeeded as ruler of Thessaly.