greek died ruler rest macedonia western power rule sons john distinguished byzantine aristocratic family related imperial known life conquest constantinople dissolution byzantine_empire fourth crusade following fall constantinople served founder years called half brother michael founded independent michael died sidelined brother illegitimate son assumed governance state continued brother policy territorial expansion allied serbia expanded macedonia threatening capture latin emperor opened way gradual culminating city fall ruler quickly declared emperor challenging emperor claims byzantine imperial throne advanced outskirts constantinople final attack seat reduced delayed year amassed army constantinople diverted bulgaria ambivalent ally threatened northern flank defeated captured battle spent seven years captivity meantime succeeded brother quickly lost macedonia albania bulgarian bulgarian vassal proper power seized returning exile released daughter married quickly managed regain control having blinded captivity disqualified occupying throne installed eldest son john emperor remained facto regent state tried regain support negotiated settlement reached gave left john invited visit welcomed treated great honour effectively detained spring year marched tow sent negotiate son convince accept rank recognize john died succeeded younger son unpopular annexed influenced nephew launch attack campaigned forced michael come terms taken prisoner sent exile died early life career born son paternal grandparents daughter byzantine emperor reigned uncle father emperors iii cousins members family preferred use surname contemporaries variously called grand usually found ruling family evidently preferred associated successful disastrous reign medieval writers later hostile pro historians refers defeat early life obscure followed asia minor fourth crusade captured constantinople founded service relatively unknown brief reference letter written writes took dangers sake fortresses enemies subdued rule distinguishing receiving rewards ruler modern scholars identified certain appears lord successor leading resistance northwestern death view questioned argues evidence assumption conversely established service time invited half brother michael michael founded independent greek michael wanted aid son future illegitimate michael half brothers considered lack ability rule allowed leave bound oath allegiance heirs going married children ruler michael engaged campaign expansion chiefly expense east initial conquered recovered traditional view historians events marked michael allegiance sworn historian argues michael later remained theory michael assassinated servant late illegitimate young trouble boy according boy mother spent duration reign exiled capable extremely ambitious notwithstanding oath expand state expense eventually recover constantinople revive byzantine_empire secure northern flank allied serbia clans political orbit michael closer ties developed ruler died leaving widow promptly remarried year greek magnate serbs abandoned michael attempt pursue northward expansion instead pursued alliance serbian prince directed keeping check ties serbia solidified marriage brother sisters sought sons likelihood eldest son heir michael second daughter refused marriage second cousin mother daughter iii tried suggesting groom half sister maria vetoed proposal similar grounds finally married daughter anna winter position strengthened expanded territory northern macedonia possible region captured michael death local bulgarian ruler unclear extent expansion involved direct conflict bulgarian held plain old capital likely approaching greek historian noted capture seat eponymous particularly important standing state aspirations sponsored election distinguished throne repay support claims byzantine imperial inheritance rival claims following fourth crusade orthodox clergy main greek states effectively separated convened elected successor vacant patriarch constantinople election questionable legitimacy turn meant imperial title open challenge crowned michael local bishops emerged domains carry administration church largely independent patriarch ambitious soon pre eminent western bishop sought strengthen autonomy ecclesiastical affairs including appointment bishops local sees patriarch interference policy ambitions independence rivalry brought branches open quarrel based patriarch began appointing bishops sees refused accept despite close ties exploited rivalry advantage secure traditionally jurisdiction aside objections managed brother renamed consecrated archbishop serbia took care let affect relations serbian ruler drive macedonia local ruler sworn enemy abandoned ally allied bulgaria facing possible attack preferred common cause married niece wife capture peter successes macedonia worried opened way attack weakened death founder ruled regency son campaign asia minor took contact preparing march suddenly died june probably malaria poisoning second wife maria bulgaria suggested death henry followed pope fourth crusade month later major stroke good fortune removed eminent capable opponents barons elected cousin king philip france new receiving news election peter assembled small army knights foot horse set france crowned rome set sail april peter landed promised conquer return venice wife flanders sailed constantinople norman invasion sicily peter intended capturing follow ancient albania macedonia control process commonly accepted version events resisted success casualties mounted peter forced raise siege start march march proved difficult harsh terrain open hostility local population western sources richard stress loyalty local population days army confronted peter requested talks papal assured goodwill support western sources claim offered recognize catholic_church support peter planned participation fifth crusade offered food guides mountains peter glad receive unexpected help agreement concluded soon let guard fell peter count william latin nobles taken captive peter army scattered small bands trying survive chronicler western sources hand claim captured followed modern scholars including french according view offered acknowledge peter city fall ambush defeat historian remarks important version correct outcome lost quickly peter capture according actions motivated factors led regard peter threat peter attempt return venice failed moment ill future peter recognition rights half brother opened way william power rulers claimed strengthened particularly given presence exiled nephew court time court resented increased papal interference greek affairs especially aftermath mission cardinal previous papal constantinople actions deepened rift greeks wars capture true course events unexpected victory echoed greek world greatly enhanced standing usually hostile forced admit history feat great help romans conversely dismayed sent letters latin princes greece peter son law king hungary urging engage secure release peter wrote andrew french bishops crusade threatened letter contingents crusade assembling late eager profit crusade recover pressure bore fruit march released offering assurances loyalty pope changed policy point forbidding harm hoping secure release prisoners lesser barons freed peter senior lords remained captivity death unknown died probably september capture peter left major latin states greece constantinople hands female arriving constantinople gave birth peter posthumous son stopped quickly came appreciate wealth strength arranged marriage daughter heir politically ruler secured eastern border offering daughter marriage widowed second time launching final stroke took care secure southern flank appointing brother governor energetic governor constantine effectively shielded domains threat soon recovered turned attention clearing remaining latin presence culminating surrender great castle years captured fortresses controlled entrance surrender late cut land connection constantinople left words island midst possessions fall appeared imminent ordered horses troops supplies adriatic ports sent letters constantinople urging assistance went italy seek aid received pope rome march emperor soon crusade proclaimed troops began gather italy meantime embroiled warfare supported brothers challenge new emperor detachments assembling crusade arrived summer joined facto regent preliminary operations late early laid siege city effort promote crusade come meantime pope urging venice emperor frederick promised aid pledged assist called latin princes southern greece join effort crusade finally assembled march instructions rule possibility coming terms true word april robert sent army siege latin generals learned disastrous defeat main latin army hands battle lifted siege constantinople intercepted men latin army killed taken prisoner double disaster destroyed pope plans crusade envisaged land rear engaged robert army time prospective leader crusade fell ill november pope forced postpone crusade departure spring news latin defeats crusade exhausted defenders surrendered city december crusade relieve sailed march landed army soon allegedly greeks poisoned local water supply william succumbed remnants army left greece hoped recover realm help died emperor capture traditionally second city byzantine_empire constantinople major stroke greatly boosted standing regarded superior openly claimed byzantine imperial title putting purple boots reserved emperor major supporters eminent metropolitan letter patriarch declared regarded god sent regent emperor later wrote wife expressing hope able assist imperial coronation coronation controversy according byzantine custom coronation emperor place constantinople performed patriarch constantinople latin hands patriarch resided turned restored removing latin recognized patriarch legitimate refused perform rite despite pressure brother constantine submit preferred return exile response march convened council bishops domains chaired council approved declaration composed achievements liberation greek lands catholic priests restoration orthodox bishops imperial descent declared council recognized emperor armed declaration loyal perform coronation instead appears assumed addressed imperial title immediately capture date actual coronation unknown french scholar places period june april greek rejects reasoning obvious reason delay coronation long suggested crowned immediately council hand based letters suggests date april august narrowed date emperor began setting court new capital court titles relatives followers brothers constantine raised rank long serving chief minister number old byzantine aristocratic families sought refuge appointed provincial governors alongside members local aristocracy title unlike earlier times civilian governors little military authority awarded titles exclusive titles came held city secure new capital instituted guard initially reacted proclamation emperor offering recognize sort lands rejected publicly assumed byzantine emperors romans coronation deepened rift western greeks expressed sphere tried limit blame writing patriarch expressed privilege emperor claimed successor ancient independent authority bishops tried find compromise acknowledging overall authority patriarch requesting administrative autonomy right appoint bishops domains gave patriarch months reply suggested proposals forced recognize supremacy pope instead replied having condemn assumption imperial title conflict escalated appointed candidate vacant expelled bishop instead elected friend bishop attacked directly response composed letter insisted ecclesiastical autonomy challenged legality claims result churches lasted expansion following coronation rulers claimed imperial title control constantinople latin emperor young ambitious bulgaria shadow strength following lost territories asia europe soon reduced constantinople captured spring advanced eastern macedonia western seizing attempt pre block advance constantinople answered summons inhabitants taken city crossed blockaded city agreed surrender army allowed withdraw asia ships provided capture opened path constantinople order secure northern flank concluded alliance sealed second marriage brother maria illegitimate daughter time turned concluded peace treaty exchange territorial concessions pact sealed marriage daughter latin baron summer led army constantinople reaching towns leading latin army heavily wounded clashes constantinople attacked unprepared siege mighty news william landing forced break operations return west reasons unknown renew attack constantinople years instead occupied domestic affairs taking care improve relations stop lead sixth crusade sent company greek troops serve frederick italy time presided relations venice governor cargo venetian ship issued august prohibiting venetian merchants practising commerce realm january year robert died leaving throne year old brother regency taking governance state latin empire stood moment offered alliance marry daughter regency lend assistance attacks latin barons viewed offer offer opportunity constantinople instead negotiations eventually chose year old energetic john regent bulgarian offer failed served open rift nominal ally clearly directed september agreed year truce regent border running line bulgarian captivity finally late began assembling forces including contingent troops sent projected final attack constantinople troops marched east spring unexpectedly turned army north followed valley bulgaria motives sudden change debated contemporary later historians like denounced sign likely suggestion hitherto undefeated battle desired check bulgarian power avoid possibility striking rear engaged besieging constantinople caught surprise reacted rapidly allegedly text broken treaty spears flag rallied troops met battle april ensuing crushing victory bulgarian ruler took officers captive aftermath bulgaria emerged power balkans deprived energetic ruler empire collapsed months macedonia albania fell bulgarian rule boasted inscription capital occupied land greek serbian alike apparently remained greek hands annexed extinguished process spending rest life court brother managed escape took throne domain reduced city family core territories brother constantine recognized son law allowed maintain internal autonomy purposes client bulgarian time michael son returned exile quickly succeeded apparently support local population taking control forced recognize michael recognized token conferred title reality michael fully independent quickly ceased acknowledge seized order preserve freedom manoeuvre counter attempts subordinate turned brother rivals brought end ecclesiastical acknowledging legitimacy superiority based patriarch remained captivity seven years initially treated honour point captivity accused plotting blinded result customary byzantine punishment treason means potential political rivals according contemporary letter written hebrew initially ordered jews carry deed jews territory wealth fund campaigns spared refused carry enraged thrown cliff finally released recently widowed fell love sole unmarried daughter immediately marriage released allowed depart wished return final years recovery soon set free returned lacking escort followers disguised order enter city secret contacted old supporters favourites organized conspiracy soon ousted took city byzantine custom barred assuming imperial office installed son emperor coronation ceremony remained real ruler empire son john appears interested religion inclined enter monastery emperor persuade named emperor god given gift rightful emperor romans imperial descent deposed sent exile asia minor wife maria allowed return father despite actions overthrow daughter son law reports remained favourably disposed passionate love remain exile determined avenge secured passage turkish lands welcomed agreed support secured loyalty early ships set sail greece landing near received widespread support province local governor michael son law allowing raise army short time occupy faced option open civil war eventually came terms dividing territories renounced allegiance received john kept remaining parts macedonia far west constantine confirmed secure position michael concluded treaties powerful prince submission brothers agreement continued pursue policies independently died michael moved quickly occupy june year died leaving throne seven year old son coupled increasingly deteriorating situation development left pre eminent ruler region obvious candidate capture constantinople undertaking moves constantinople realized need settle affairs particular ambition capability feared issued invitation assurances safe conduct visit accepted treated great honours deferred uncle table reality prisoner allowed leave court preparations swing campaign spring crossed europe head army accompanying honorary prisoner facing resistance army fleet arrived city garrison inhabitants resisted success army lacking heavy siege equipment settle drawn blockade soon news arrived invasion asia minor forced break campaign return emperor kept news secret sent son negotiate john reportedly willing surrender city outright father convinced hold better terms end days negotiations john allowed control renounced imperial title accepted title allowed remain son john ruled years death retired supervised affairs state john death raised younger son place sent embassy announce succession terms agreed john religious enjoyed favourites married women remained charge governance quickly unpopular leading citizens began viewing direct rule favour things came head autumn died leaving country hands regency younger brother quickly attacked bulgaria months captured eastern northern macedonia took advantage opportunity expand albania northwestern macedonia close campaign november informed conspiracy deliver exchange traditional rights privileges city readily granted sent envoys calling appear person camp suspicious intentions refused marched days conspirators opened gates army city quickly captured captured exiled macedonia placed governance grand domestic isolated power refuge apparently remained events final throw death secured turned offering marriage alliance michael eldest son granddaughter maria offer enthusiastically accepted michael wife young couple engaged michael abandoned family ambitions remained ambivalent alliance influence nephew turn spring michael launched sudden attack city resisted successfully spring year crossed europe campaign michael turned north capturing received news arrival withdrew besieged captured stronghold soon area stalemate broken generals defected followed shortly ruler forced michael come terms fortresses captured remaining holdings macedonia marriage alliance furthermore explicitly demanded handing ambassadors met offered young hostages granted title soon allowed return moved prisoner asia minor died shortly assessment modern biographer described energetic ambitious statesman inherited ancestor endurance persistence intelligence diplomacy ability adapt furthermore points despite great ability ambition recover constantinople rivalry actually hampered delayed restoration byzantine_empire decades legacy left lasting mark political western greeks remarks memory victories title byzantine crown lived northern greece hearts descendants years come continued uncle rivalry delaying recovery constantinople restoration byzantine_empire rulers continue challenge revived empire uphold claim byzantine throne family wife children married king serbia emperor married succeeded ruler
Theodore Komnenos Doukas