Michael I Komnenos Doukas

Michael I Komnenos Doukas (Greek: Μιχαήλ Α Κομνηνός Δούκας, Mikhael I Komnenos Doukas ) ( † 1215 in Berat ) is often referred to as a member of the Angelos family as Michael Angelo, though he himself never used that name. He was the founder and from 1205 first ruler of the Despotate of Epirus.

Origin

Michael came - despite its name - from the home of the Angels. He was an illegitimate son of John Sebastocrator Dukas ( Angelos ), but called himself Michael Komnenos Doukas. This illustrates the confusing practice of Byzantine families, their own family name add the more famous ancestors. Here, however, we went even further: The actual name - Angelos - was left out altogether, although it cousins ​​Michael, the Emperor of Byzantium Isaac II Angelos and Alexios III. Angelos did not wear with pride. Instead, Michael used the surname of his paternal grandmother, Theodora Comnena, ( daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos ), and his paternal great-grandmother, the (!) Dukaina Irene ( wife of his great-grandfather Emperor Alexios I Komnenos ). He was the half-brother of Theodoros I. Angelos, who as the ruler of Epirus from 1215 to 1230 followed him to 1224 made ​​the ruler of the kingdom of Thessaloniki and 1225/26 proclaimed in Arta Emperor of Byzantium and had himself crowned, but ultimately as a prisoner to Nicaea in 1253 died.

Biography

In 1189 he was one of the hostages, the Emperor Isaac II of Byzantium Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa to secure compliance with its promises had to make to the Crusaders. He wore in 1195 the title of " Sebastos " and was Dux ( governor ) of the topic Mylasa in Asia Minor.

After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 he entered the service of the Marquis Boniface I of Montferrat, the Kingdom of Thessalonica and the supremacy over Greece received in the division of the Byzantine Empire. However, Michael gave their allegiance soon back on, stood on the side of the resistance against the Crusaders, and perhaps also participated in the Battle of the olive grove of Kunduros (Spring 1205 ).

After the defeat in this battle he fled to Epirus, where he subdued the territory of Dyrrachium (now Durrës in Albania) to the Gulf of Corinth, and established a strict military regiment. The Latin Kingdom of Thessaloniki in the East, the Venetians in the Adriatic, the Slavs in the north and northeast of the created by him Epirot State of Epirus, Acarnania and Aetolia sat (now Region Aetolia - Acarnania in western Greece) included, as an independent Byzantine Empire against. As the Empire of Nicaea in Asia Minor, so Epirus was on the Balkan peninsula the Byzantinertum to the center of cultural self- preservation and to the nucleus of the political rally.

Capital of Arta was in Nicopolis theme. Epirus soon became a refuge for many Greek refugees from Constantinople Opel, Thessaly and the Peloponnese, and Michael called a second Noah, who saved the people from the Latin flood. When John X. Kamateros, the patriarch of Constantinople Opel, Michael but not recognized as a legitimate ruler and instead Theodor Laskaris joined Michael Epirus subordinate to the authority of Pope Innocent III. and thereby cut all connections to the Orthodox Church in the Empire Nikaia.

In addition, he resisted all attempts Boniface to subdue him. The Latin Emperor of Constantinople Opel Henry of Flanders told him to acknowledge his suzerainty, but then accepted an alliance that was reaffirmed with the marriage between Henry's brother Eustace and a daughter Michaels 1209. Michael, however, paid no attention to this alliance in the assumption that it will be the Latins almost impossible to conquer the mountains of Epirus. 1210 Michael allied with the Republic of Venice and reached Thessaloniki. Since he is supposed to have it crucified Catholic priest, he was called by Pope Innocent III. excommunicated. Emperor Henry liberated Thessaloniki towards the end of the year, forcing Michael to a new alliance.

Despite this Treaty Michael conquered in the aftermath strategically important towns in the region of its current and former allies, including Larisa in Thessaly (1212), Dyrrachium and Corfu ( 1214) and also took control of the ports in the Gulf of Corinth. When he was involved as an ally of the Latins and Bulgaria in a war against the Serbs, he was assassinated in 1215 by a servant. He was succeeded by his half-brother Theodore Komnenos Doukas.

Family

Michael married twice:

• First marriage: Ne Melissene
• Second marriage: 1204 Ne Melissene, cousin of his first wife and widow of Senacherim Strategist of the topic Nicopolis.

Child from her first marriage:

• Ne Komnene ( Angela )

From second marriage:

• Theodora Comnena ( Angela )

She was provided prior to 1217 as a bride for a son of the Serbian Großzupans Stefan.

• Maria Comnena ( Angela )

She was engaged to be married before in 1217 with Stefan " Prvovenčani " ( the Erstgekrönte ) King of Serbia ( 1217-1227 ), the betrothal was annulled due to the near relatives ( 5th grade ).

• Konstantinos Komnenos ( Angelos ), cl 1210 1214 v.

Comes from an extramarital connection

• Michael II Komnenos Doukas Angelos Nothos

He was from 1237 to 1266 Archon of Epirus and Aetolia, and was in 1249 by the Empire Nikaia recognized as Despotes (* c. 1205 09.1266 / 08.1268 )