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In 1225 the Despot of Epirus Theodore Theodore Dukas arranged for his coronation as emperor by the autocephalous archbishop of Ohrid, Demetrios Chomatianos. Theodore's forces advanced through the Aegean coast of Thrace and in late 1225 seized Adrianople and the surrounding portions of Thrace from the Nicaeans. Worried by the alliance of Ivan Assen II of Bulgaria with the Latin Empire of Constantinople, Theodore broke his treaty with Ivan Asen and invaded Bulgaria with an army of 85000 men reinforced by western mercenaries in 1230. Allegedly affixing the text of the broken treaty to one of his spears as a flag, Ivan Asen II rallied 25000 soldiers and defeated Theodore in the Battle of Klokotnitsa on 9 March 1230. Theodore was captured and remained a prisoner in the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo for seven years.
WI Theodore had defeated the much lesser Bulgarian army in 1230 (Theodore was taken by surprise and his army was annihilated in OTL) and proceeded in recovering Constantinople from Crusaders?
How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
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