Theodore I Palaiologos
Theodore I. Palaiologos (Greek: Θεόδωρος Α Παλαιολόγος, Theodoros I. Palaiologos ) (* 1355, † June 24 1407 in Constantine Opel ) was Byzantine Despot of Morea from 1383 to 1407 He was the fourth son of the Byzantine emperor John V Palaeologus. and his wife Helena Kantakouzena. His maternal grandfather was the former Emperor John VI. Cantacuzenus. His older brothers were Emperor Andronikos IV and Manuel II.
Life
1376 was Theodor I. Palaiologos, entitled despotes already wore, his father entrusted him trying to take over power in Thessaloniki. However, before he could take office, he was arrested and taken from his oldest brother along with his father and his brother Manuel in the tower of the Anemas. This captivity lasted over the entire reign of Andronikos 1376-1379. Soon after the return of John V. on the throne in Constantinople Opel, Manuel asked him again with the government in Thessaloniki, and Theodore went to the Morea.
The Morea was also after the abdication of Emperor John VI. in 1354 remained in the hands of Manuel Cantacuzenus, his younger son. Manuel Cantacuzenus died 1380th He was succeeded by his elder brother, the former co-emperor Maththaios Cantacuzenus, who died in 1383 or retired. At this time Theodore was appointed despot of Morea, but Matthew had succeeded shortly before use I. Cantacuzenus as despots his son Demetrius. Theodore I. Palaiologos met in 1383 in the Morea and took possession of the province.
The young despot soon started wars for territorial expansion of its scope of power to run. His military campaigns were the most successful Byzantine military operations since the annexation of large parts of Thessaly and Epirus by his paternal grandfather Andronikos III. Palaiologos in the 14th century. To increase the combat power of his army Theodor promoted the settlement of Albanians in the Morea, and recruited them as mercenaries in the fight against the local landowners that bordered on his province against the Roman territories, and against the progressive conquest by the Ottoman Empire.
Theodore's first success came in 1388, soon followed by his conquest of Argos. The Republic of Venice intervened, however, and took back control of Argos, but also offered Patras their protection. The situation was defused in 1394 with the signing of a military alliance between the Despotate of Morea and Venice. Bayezid I, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire had begun to extend its control over the Balkan peninsula and the two rivals for control of the Peloponnese had to arm themselves against a possible invasion by the Ottomans. The new alliance was accompanied by the decision to build a fortification wall across the Isthmus of Corinth.
The military genius of Theodor I. Palaiologos soon became apparent. He beat back the invading Ottoman forces, led by successful counter- attacks and captured Corinth ( 1395 ) and Athens ( 1396 ). His victories attracted the attention of Bayezid I and he began to consider Theodor as a dangerous opponent. Bayezid personally led a full military invasion of the Morea.
Unlike his older brother Manuel II, Theodor did not try to negotiate and continued to fight until the end. When he was no longer prevent Mystras, Corinth came under Ottoman control in the situation, Theodor offered both cities ( Corinth 1397, Mystras 1400 ) to the Order of Malta in Rhodes. This ensured continued resistance against the Ottomans, but not under its own control.
At the end proved his strategy. Bayezid I explained the Peloponnese to the Ottoman province, but failed to establish full control over the area before the termination of his campaign and returning to his capital Edirne. Theodor soon succeeded in regaining control in the Morea and most of his previous conquests. When in 1404 their help was no longer needed, the Knights of Malta Mystras, Corinth gave him back.
1400 Bayezid I turned his attention back to Konstantin Opel and besieged the city. Manuel II managed to escape along with most members of the imperial family from his capital. He traveled to ask for help to Western Europe. Meanwhile, he left his family behind under the protection of Theodore. Theodore gave his relatives in his new provincial capital Monemvasia a safe refuge.
Theodor had 1384 Bartolomea Acciaiuoli married a daughter of the Duke Nerio I. Acciaiuoli of Athens. It is not known whether the couple had offspring. Shortly before his death Theodor performed under the name " Theodoret " in a monastic order one. He died on 24 June 1407. The issue of the succession has been fixed by Manuel II his own young son named Theodore II Palaiologos as new despotes of Morea.
Some sources mention a daughter of Theodore as the wife of Süleyman Çelebi, the Sultan of Edirne Sultan during the Ottoman Interregnum.