Editing Theodore I Laskaris (section)

=== Parentage ===
Theodore Komnenos Laskaris was born to a noble, but not particularly renowned, Byzantine family around 1175.<ref group="note">[[George Akropolites]] stated that Theodore was "more than 45&nbsp;years old but less than 50" when he died in 1221, implying that he was born between 1171 and 1176. [[Nicephorus Gregoras]] said that Theodore was "around 30&nbsp;years old" when he was proclaimed emperor in 1205.</ref>{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=16, 236}} His parents' names are unknown. If Theodore followed the Byzantine custom of [[Papponymic|giving his father's name to his firstborn son]], his father was called Nicholas.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=16}} Theodore's mother belonged to an unidentified branch of the imperial [[Komnenos]] family and he proudly adopted her surname.{{sfn|Volkoff|2015|p=198}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=16–17}} Theodore had no fewer than 6 brothers — [[Constantine Laskaris|Constantine]], George, [[Alexios Laskaris|Alexios]], [[Isaac Laskaris|Isaac]], Manuel and [[Michael Laskaris|Michael]]. Manuel and Michael must have been born to a different mother, as they bore the surname Tzamantouros instead of Komnenos.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=16}} Theodore was also related to the aristocratic [[Phokas (Byzantine family)|Phokas]] family, most likely through the marriage of one of his aunts.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=17}}

The [[Laskaris]] held estates in western [[Asia Minor]].{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=17}} Both Theodore and his brother, Constantine, had a seal representing Saint George and bearing the inscription Diasorites.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=17}}{{sfn|Angold|2011|pp=69–70}} The seal expressed their connection to the monastery of Saint George Diasorites, located in [[Dios Hieron (Lydia)|Pyrgion]] in the valley of the river [[Küçük Menderes River|Kaistros]].{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=17}}{{sfn|Volkoff|2015|p=197}}