Michael II Komnenos Doukas
Encyclopedia
Michael II Komnenos Doukas or Comnenus Ducas (Greek
: Μιχαήλ Β΄ Κομνηνός Δούκας, Mikhaēl II Komnēnos Doukas), often called Michael Angelos in narrative sources, was the ruler of Epirus
from 1230 until his death in 1266/68.
of Epirus and had gone into exile after his father's murder in 1215. After the defeat and capture of his uncle Theodore Komnenos Doukas
by Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria
at the Battle of Klokotnitsa
he returned to Epirus and became the ruler of the region. It is not entirely clear whether he recognized the supreme authority of his uncle Manuel Komnenos Doukas
of Thessalonica or of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria. Michael II secured the support of local notables by marrying Theodora Petraliphaina, and established a close relationship with the Empire of Nicaea
. In 1241 Michael succeeded his uncle Manuel as ruler of Thessaly. In 1238, Michael was visited by the Nicaean Patriarch Germanus II
and in 1249 he received the court dignity of despotes
from Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes
.
Michael II's relations with Nicaea ensured his neutrality during the conflict in which John III Doukas Vatatzes conquered Thessalonica and penetrated into northern Greece
in 1244. However, when he was forced to surrender Dyrrhachium and Servia to the Nicaeans in 1256, Michael determined to expand his state at Nicaea's expense. However, while he was advancing towards Thessalonica, King Manfred of Sicily
seized Dyrrhachium and its environs. Resolved to take Thessalonica, Michael came to terms with Manfred and sent him his daughter as wife, ceding the lost towns and the island of Corfu
as dowry. He also concluded an alliance with Prince William II Villehardouin of Achaea.
The troops of the three allies overran the Nicaean possessions in Macedonia
and in 1259 prepared to fight the Nicaean army led by John Palaiologos, a brother of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos
, on the plain of Pelagonia
. Nevertheless, the allied operation was compromised by mutual suspicion and Michael's illegitimate son John Doukas
deserted to the enemy, while Michael himself abandoned his allies. The Nicaeans inflicted a crushing defeat on Prince William of Achaea, who was captured in the battle. While Michael fled to the Ionian Islands
, the Nicaeans occupied Epirus but they were faced with so much resistance that they were forced to withdraw. Michael recovered his domains with further help from Manfred. After further warfare another Byzantine victory in 1264 forced him to accept the nominal suzerainty of Michael VIII Palaiologos and to strengthen the bond by dynastic marriages. When Michael II died in or shortly before 1268, his domains were split between his sons Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
of Epirus and John I Doukas
of Thessaly.
), Michael II had several children, including:
By a mistress, Michael II had at least two other sons:
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Μιχαήλ Β΄ Κομνηνός Δούκας, Mikhaēl II Komnēnos Doukas), often called Michael Angelos in narrative sources, was the ruler 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...
from 1230 until his death in 1266/68.
Life
Michael was an illegitimate son of Michael I Komnenos DoukasMichael I Komnenos Doukas
Michael I Komnenos Doukas or Comnenus Ducas , often inaccurately called Michael Angelos , was the founder and first ruler of the principality of Epirus from 1205 until his death in 1215.-Life:...
of Epirus and had gone into exile after his father's murder in 1215. After the defeat and capture of his uncle Theodore Komnenos Doukas
Theodore Komnenos Doukas
Theodore Komnenos Doukas was ruler of Epirus from 1215 to 1230 and of Thessalonica from 1224 to 1230.-Life:...
by Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria
Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria
-Early rule:He was a son of Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria and Elena . Elena, who survived until after 1235, is sometimes alleged to be a daughter of Stefan Nemanja of Serbia, but this relationship is questionable and would have caused various canonical impediments to marriages between various descendants...
at the Battle of Klokotnitsa
Battle of Klokotnitsa
The Battle of Klokotnitsa occurred on 9 March 1230 near the village of Klokotnitsa . As a result, the Second Bulgarian Empire emerged once again as the most powerful state in Eastern Europe and the power of the Despotate of Epirus faded...
he returned to Epirus and became the ruler of the region. It is not entirely clear whether he recognized the supreme authority of his uncle Manuel Komnenos Doukas
Manuel Komnenos Doukas
Manuel Komnenos Doukas , often inaccurately called Manuel Angelos , was ruler of Thessalonica from 1230 to 1237 and of Thessaly from 1239 until his death in c. 1241.-Life:Manuel was a legitimate son of the sebastokratōr John Doukas...
of Thessalonica or of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria. Michael II secured the support of local notables by marrying Theodora Petraliphaina, and established a close relationship with the Empire of Nicaea
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
. In 1241 Michael succeeded his uncle Manuel as ruler of Thessaly. In 1238, Michael was visited by the Nicaean Patriarch Germanus II
Patriarch Germanus II of Constantinople
Germanus II was Patriarch of Constantinople from 1223 until his death in June 1240.He was born at Anaplous in the second half of the 12th century...
and in 1249 he received the court dignity of despotes
Despotes
Despot , was a senior Byzantine court title that was bestowed on the sons or sons-in-law of reigning emperors, and initially denoted the heir-apparent...
from Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes
John III Doukas Vatatzes
John III Doukas Vatatzes, Latinized as Ducas Vatatzes |Nymphaion]]) was emperor of Nicaea 1221–1254.-Life:John Doukas Vatatzes was probably the son of the general Basileios Vatatzes, Duke of Thrace, who died in 1193, and his wife, an unnamed daughter of Isaakios Angelos and cousin of the Emperors...
.
Michael II's relations with Nicaea ensured his neutrality during the conflict in which John III Doukas Vatatzes conquered Thessalonica and penetrated into northern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1244. However, when he was forced to surrender Dyrrhachium and Servia to the Nicaeans in 1256, Michael determined to expand his state at Nicaea's expense. However, while he was advancing towards Thessalonica, King Manfred of Sicily
Manfred of Sicily
Manfred was the King of Sicily from 1258 to 1266. He was a natural son of the emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen but his mother, Bianca Lancia , is reported by Matthew of Paris to have been married to the emperor while on her deathbed.-Background:Manfred was born in Venosa...
seized Dyrrhachium and its environs. Resolved to take Thessalonica, Michael came to terms with Manfred and sent him his daughter as wife, ceding the lost towns and the island of 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...
as dowry. He also concluded an alliance with Prince William II Villehardouin of Achaea.
The troops of the three allies overran the Nicaean possessions in Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
and in 1259 prepared to fight the Nicaean army led by John Palaiologos, a brother of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
, on the plain of Pelagonia
Battle of Pelagonia
The Battle of Pelagonia took place in September of 1259, between the Empire of Nicaea and the Despotate of Epirus, Sicily and the Principality of Achaea...
. Nevertheless, the allied operation was compromised by mutual suspicion and Michael's illegitimate son John Doukas
John I Doukas
John I Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268 to his death in 1289....
deserted to the enemy, while Michael himself abandoned his allies. The Nicaeans inflicted a crushing defeat on Prince William of Achaea, who was captured in the battle. While Michael fled to the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
, the Nicaeans occupied Epirus but they were faced with so much resistance that they were forced to withdraw. Michael recovered his domains with further help from Manfred. After further warfare another Byzantine victory in 1264 forced him to accept the nominal suzerainty of Michael VIII Palaiologos and to strengthen the bond by dynastic marriages. When Michael II died in or shortly before 1268, his domains were split between his sons 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 and John I Doukas
John I Doukas
John I Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268 to his death in 1289....
of Thessaly.
Family
By his marriage to Theodora Petraliphaina (St. Theodora of ArtaTheodora of Arta
Theodora Petraliphaina , canonized as Saint Theodora of Arta , was a consort of Epirus and an Orthodox Christian saint.- Life :Her life is known mostly from a short hagiography written by the monk Job, sometimes identified with the late-13th century cleric Job Iasites...
), Michael II had several children, including:
- Nikephoros I Komnenos DoukasNikephoros I Komnenos DoukasNikephoros 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...
, who succeeded as ruler of Epirus - John Komnenos DoukasJohn Komnenos DoukasJohn Komnenos Doukas was ruler of Thessalonica from 1237 until his death in 1244....
- Demetrios (renamed Michael) Komnenos Doukas
- Helena Angelina DoukainaHelena Angelina DoukainaHelena Angelina Doukaina was the second wife but only Queen consort of Manfred of Sicily.-Biography:She was a daughter of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, Ruler of Epirus and his wife Theodora Petraliphaina...
, who married King Manfred of SicilyManfred of SicilyManfred was the King of Sicily from 1258 to 1266. He was a natural son of the emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen but his mother, Bianca Lancia , is reported by Matthew of Paris to have been married to the emperor while on her deathbed.-Background:Manfred was born in Venosa... - Anna Komnene Doukaina, who married (1) Prince William II Villehardouin of Achaea and (2) Nicholas II of St Omer, lord of ThebesThebes, GreeceThebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
.
By a mistress, Michael II had at least two other sons:
- John I DoukasJohn I DoukasJohn I Doukas was ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268 to his death in 1289....
, who succeeded as ruler of Thessaly - Theodore Doukas