Relations with Epiros

marriage alliance with the state of Epiros in 1256 seemed a good way to secure the safety of the Empire of Nicaea from the danger posed by her western rival. It also seemed possible that it might favour the cooperation between Nicaea and Epiros in view of the recovery of Constantinople. However, the emperor of Nicaea, Theodore II Laskaris, set as a condition for the ratification of the alliance, the cession to him of the cities of Dyrrachion and Servia, a condition which Michael II Angelos was forced to accept, since his wife Theodora and his son Nikephoros, who had gone to Theodore's camp for the wedding, were virtually hostages of the emperor of Nicaea. But these blackmailing tactics of Theodore's only succeeded in impeding further cooperation between the two Greek states. In the next few years, Michael II Angelos incited the Albanians to rise up against Theodore, while he occupied himself with the conquest of Kastoria, Berroia and Prilapos. These developments indicated that the intention of the sovereign of Epiros was to reconquer Thessalonike. However, the death of Theodore II from epilepsy in 1258 transferred the responsibility for the termination of the war to his successor.