Editing Theodore I Laskaris (section)

==Legacy==

Western Asia Minor developed into an "empire in exile" during Theodore's reign.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|p=151}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=28, 30}} As the Byzantinist [[Warren Treadgold]] concludes, "Theodore had built up a functioning [Byzantine] successor state&nbsp;... from next to nothing".{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=714}} He revived the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other fundamental Byzantine institutions. He also borrowed from the Latins and the Seljuqs{{mdash}}the military offices of ''[[konostaulos]]'' (a hellenization of "[[constable]]") and ''[[tzaousios]]'' (from Turkish ''[[çavuş]]''), are first documented during his reign.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=28, 30, 243 (note 104)}} He introduced his own currency, issuing [[electrum]] and [[Billon (alloy)|billon]] coins, but he did not restore the Byzantine system of gold and copper coins.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=29}} He levied regular taxes from 1216 at the latest.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=29}} Following [[Pronoia|Byzantine patterns]], he rewarded the aristocrats with tax-collecting rights.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=29}} The Latins and the Venetians made treaties with him, thus acknowledging that his realm was destined to lasting existence.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|pp=162, 164}}

The defence of the Orthodox faith was the central ideology of Theodore's realm. Niketas Choniates compiled his ''Treasury of Orthodoxy''{{mdash}}a treatise against heresy{{mdash}}in the Nicaean court. He described the fall of Constantinople as a punishment for the Byzantines' sins and compared their exile into Asia Minor to the Israelites' [[Babylonian captivity]].{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=735}} Theodore realized that he was unable to recapture Constantinople from the Latins,{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=28, 30}} but located near the old Byzantine capital, Nicaea was ideally placed for its future reconquest.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|p=151}}

Historian Dimiter Angelov emphasizes that Theodore's political success was "due, in no small part, to his sanguine and pragmatic approach". He had an [[itinerant court]], travelling from place to place and discussing political issues with the local noblemen. He was not afraid of commanding his armies in person. He hired Latin mercenaries, offering them salaries higher than the rulers of the Latin Empire.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=30}}