Successors to the Byzantine Empire, 1211
The Seljuk army had besieged Antioch-on-the-Maeander, in southwestern Anatolia. Their commander, Sultan Kaykhusraw, was confident of victory. At his side stood the deposed Roman Emperor Alexios III, who some seven years before had fled from the sack of Constantinople in 1204. Alexios had been welcomed by the Sultan of Roum, who set out to restore his guest’s Empire. This first required him to remove the claimant Nicaean Empire. Thus the Sultan now sought Theodoros I of Nicaea to come and battle his ten-thousand strong army.
Theodoros obliged, and advanced rapidly on Antioch. The Nicaean Emperor attacked first with a cavalry charge, which succeeded in damaging the Seljuks until the Sultan restored discipline. He then enveloped the impetuous mercenaries and cut them down. Then the Sultan turned on the terribly outnumbered Greeks, who began to break up under the pressure. The Sultan wanted to charge with his cavalry, but a force from somewhere held him back, and he judged it to be the hand of Allah, so he stayed.
Theodoros’ army had been obliterated, and he was slain by Turkish horsemen. Within weeks, Nicaea’s enemies had learned of the defeat, and one, David, co-Emperor of Trebizond, wasted no time in taking advantage.
Alexios III had been installed as Emperor in Nicaea, and the Sultan agreed to recognize him as such. But Alexios was confronted with many problems. The Greeks hated him for his cowardness in defending Constantinople from the Crusaders, and the Sultan refused to surrender the lands he had seized. He decided to lead his army against David, who had established control of Bithynia. Alexios’ scraped-together army was smashed at Kienos.
David had eclipsed his brother, the other co-emperor, and he was found dead in his home in July 1213, in true Byzantine fashion. Now the undisputed master of his realm, David continued his campaign and met Alexios III again at Malagina. Alexios III attacked first, but his worn-out troops were impotent (many refusing to fight for their leader after the failed attack), and David sent out his cavalry, who swept away the Nicaeans. Alexios III was killed in the ensuing chaos. David then moved on to Nicaea, and established himself as rule there.
Trebizon was still nominally a vassal of the Latin Empire, but its leader, Henry of Flanders, had come to see David as a threat. David ceased sending the agreed-upon tribute, and the stage was set for a showdown to determine who would become the true successor of the Byzantine Empire.
Successors to the Byzantine Empire, 1213
Notes:
-Technical POD is Kaykhusraw defeating Theodoros.
The Seljuk army had besieged Antioch-on-the-Maeander, in southwestern Anatolia. Their commander, Sultan Kaykhusraw, was confident of victory. At his side stood the deposed Roman Emperor Alexios III, who some seven years before had fled from the sack of Constantinople in 1204. Alexios had been welcomed by the Sultan of Roum, who set out to restore his guest’s Empire. This first required him to remove the claimant Nicaean Empire. Thus the Sultan now sought Theodoros I of Nicaea to come and battle his ten-thousand strong army.
Theodoros obliged, and advanced rapidly on Antioch. The Nicaean Emperor attacked first with a cavalry charge, which succeeded in damaging the Seljuks until the Sultan restored discipline. He then enveloped the impetuous mercenaries and cut them down. Then the Sultan turned on the terribly outnumbered Greeks, who began to break up under the pressure. The Sultan wanted to charge with his cavalry, but a force from somewhere held him back, and he judged it to be the hand of Allah, so he stayed.
Theodoros’ army had been obliterated, and he was slain by Turkish horsemen. Within weeks, Nicaea’s enemies had learned of the defeat, and one, David, co-Emperor of Trebizond, wasted no time in taking advantage.
Alexios III had been installed as Emperor in Nicaea, and the Sultan agreed to recognize him as such. But Alexios was confronted with many problems. The Greeks hated him for his cowardness in defending Constantinople from the Crusaders, and the Sultan refused to surrender the lands he had seized. He decided to lead his army against David, who had established control of Bithynia. Alexios’ scraped-together army was smashed at Kienos.
David had eclipsed his brother, the other co-emperor, and he was found dead in his home in July 1213, in true Byzantine fashion. Now the undisputed master of his realm, David continued his campaign and met Alexios III again at Malagina. Alexios III attacked first, but his worn-out troops were impotent (many refusing to fight for their leader after the failed attack), and David sent out his cavalry, who swept away the Nicaeans. Alexios III was killed in the ensuing chaos. David then moved on to Nicaea, and established himself as rule there.
Trebizon was still nominally a vassal of the Latin Empire, but its leader, Henry of Flanders, had come to see David as a threat. David ceased sending the agreed-upon tribute, and the stage was set for a showdown to determine who would become the true successor of the Byzantine Empire.
Successors to the Byzantine Empire, 1213
Notes:
-Technical POD is Kaykhusraw defeating Theodoros.