Editing 1275 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[Battle of Neopatras]]: Emperor [[Michael VIII Palaiologos]] assembles a Byzantine expeditionary force (some 30,000 men), mostly mercenaries from [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]], [[Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)|Serbia]] and the [[Sultanate of Rum]]. He places these forces under his own brother, [[John Palaiologos (brother of Michael VIII)|John Palaiologos]], and General [[Alexios Kaballarios]]. Michael sends them against [[Thessaly]], and is supported by the [[Byzantine navy]] led by Admiral [[Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos]], who is ordered to attack the Latin principalities and prevent them from aiding [[John I Doukas of Thessaly|John I]] ("Angelos"), ruler of Thessaly. John is caught by surprise by the rapid advance of the Byzantine forces and is bottled up with a garrison in his capital of [[Ypati|Neopatras]], which the Byzantines proceed to lay siege. John manages to escape: he climbs down the walls of the fortress with a rope and walks through the Byzantine lines. After 3 days, John reaches [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], where he requests the aid of [[John I de la Roche]], duke of [[Duchy of Athens|Athens]]. He receives some 500 horsemen with whom he returns to Neopatras. Meanwhile, the Byzantine forces have been weakened, with several detachments sent off to capture other forts or plunder the region. The Byzantines panic under the sudden attack of a smaller but disciplined Latin force and breaks completely when a Cuman contingent switches sides. Despite John's attempt to rally his forces, they flee and scatter.<ref>Fine, John Van Antwerp (1987). ''The Late medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest'', p. 188. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|0-472-08260-4}}.</ref>
* [[Battle of Demetrias]]: Michael VIII Palaiologos sends a Byzantine fleet led by Alexios Philanthropenos to harass the Latin coasts. A joint Latin fleet composed of Lombard and Venetian vessels from [[Chalcis|Negroponte]] ([[Euboea]]) and [[Kingdom of Candia|Venetian-held Crete]], is variously given at 30 to 60 ships. The Latin fleet under Admiral [[Guglielmo II da Verona]] takes the Byzantines by surprise and their attack is so effective that they almost win. Their ships, on which high wooden towers have been erected, have the advantage, and many Byzantine seamen and soldiers are killed or drowned. Just as victory seem sure, Greek reinforcements arrive, led by John I. His arrival boosts the Byzantines' morale, and John's men, ferried on board the ships by small boats, begin to replenish their casualties and turn the tide. The Latin casualties are heavy, which also include Guglielmo. By nightfall, all but two Latin ships have been captured.<ref>Geanakoplos, Deno John (1959). ''Emperor Michael Palaeologus and the West, 1258–1282: A Study in byzantine-Latin Relations'', p. 284. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. {{OCLC|1011763434}}.</ref>