Michael II Komnenos Doukas

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_II_Komnenos_Doukas

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.

 Life

Michael was an illegitimate son of Michael I Komnenos Doukas 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 Germanos 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.

Family

By his marriage to Theodora Petraliphaina (St. Theodora of Arta), Michael II had several children, including:

• Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas, who succeeded as ruler of Epirus
• John Komnenos Doukas
• Demetrios (renamed Michael) Komnenos Doukas
• Helena Angelina Doukaina, who married King Manfred of Sicily
• Anna Komnene Doukaina, who married (1) Prince William II Villehardouin of Achaea and (2) Nicholas II of St Omer, lord of Thebes.

By his mistress Gangrene, Michael II had at least two other sons:

• John I Doukas, who succeeded as ruler of Thessaly
• Theodore Doukas

  ---

-http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ALBANIA.htm#MikhaelEpirusdied1267B

MIKHAEL [KONSTANTINOS] Komnenos Doukas Angelos, illegitimate son of MIKHAEL Komnenos Doukas [Angelos] Lord of Epirus & his mistress --- ([1205]-[1267/68]). The primary source which confirms his parentage has not been identified. Baptised as KONSTANTINOS, he was known as MIKHAEL after the death of his father, whom he succeeded in [1215] as Lord of Epirus, under the guardianship of his uncle Theodoros who exiled him with his mother to Peloponnesos and seized the lordship[64]. He returned to Epirus after Bulgaria defeated Theodoros at Klokotniça in 1230, and installed himself at Arta as Lord of Epirus in [1231][65]. He was awarded the title despot, probably by his uncle Manuel titular emperor of Thessaloniki, in the 1230s. By 1236 he had expanded his authority over the whole of Epirus, as well as Corfu, acting as an independent prince free from the control of his uncle[66]. On the death of his uncle Manuel in 1241, he occupied the latter's territories in Thessaly[67]. He concluded a treaty with Emperor Ioannes III Batatzes, sealed by his son's betrothal to the emperor's granddaughter, but broke the treaty and attacked Thessaloniki in 1251. He made peace in 1253, losing much of his Albanian and Macedonian territories, although his title of despot was confirmed[68]. Forced to surrender Durazzo to Nikaia in 1256 in order to secure the release of his wife, he was held hostage after attending their son's marriage. Mikhael launched a military campaign to regain his lost Albanian and Macedonian lands. He halted his attack on Thessaloniki after Manfredo King of Sicily occupied Corfu, Durazzo and other Albanian towns, but made peace with King Manfredo in return for support against Nikaia, the alliance being confirmed by the king's marriage to Mikhael's daughter Helena, whose dowry consisted of the territories which Manfredo had already conquered[69]. Allied with King Manfredo and Guillaume de Villehardouin Prince of Achaia, he attacked Nikaia in 1259 but was defeated in the valley of Pelagonia in Autumn 1259, largely due to disunity among the allies[70]. Nikaia overran Epirus, but Mikhael regrouped with his illegitimate son Ioannes and expelled the Nikaians by 1260[71]. Mikhael rebelled again in 1264, but was obliged to swear allegiance to Emperor Mikhael VIII, confirmed by the marriage of his son Nikephoros to the emperor's niece. On his death, Mikhael's lands were divided between his son Nikephoros (who inherited Epirus) and his illegitimate son Ioannes (who took Thessaly)[72].

m ([1230], repudiated Easter [1252/56]%29 THEODORA Doukaina Petraloiphaina Basilissa, daughter of IOANNES Petraloiphas & his wife Helena --- (bur Arta). Ephræmius names "Theodora Michaelis coniux" when recording that she attended the marriage of her son Nikephoros[73]. Her parentage is indicated by Georgius Akropolites who names "Petraliphas…uxoris Michaelis frater"[74]. She was banished by her husband in favour of his mistress, but was later restored to favour[75]. After attending her son's marriage to the daughter of Theodoros II Emperor in Nikaia in 1256, she was held hostage and only released after her husband surrendered Durazzo to Nikaia[76]. She became a nun, known as Holy Theodora of Arta, and was the subject of a hagiography by the 13th century monk Job (Melias Iasites)[77].

Mistress (1): GANGRENE, daughter of ---. The primary source which confirms her relationship with Mikhael has not been identified.

Mistress (2): ([1252/56]%29 ---. Mikhael's mistress for whom he exiled in his wife in [1252/56][78]. Her name is not known. However, it is clear that she was a different person from the mother of his three illegitimate children shown below, who must have been born much earlier than the date Mikhael repudiated his wife.

 Mikhael [II] Komnenos Doukas Angelos & his wife had six children:

Mikhael [II] Komnenos Doukas Angelos had three illegitimate children by Mistress (1):