Editing 1281 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; [[Siege of Berat (1280–1281)|Siege of Berat]]: A Byzantine relief force under [[Michael Tarchaneiotes]] arrives at the strategically important citadel of [[Berat]]. Tarchaneiotes avoids a confrontation with the Angevines and relies on ambushes and raids instead. He manages to capture the Angevin commander, [[Hugh of Sully]], a few of Sully's guards escape and reach their camp – where they report his capture. Panic spreads among the Angevin troops at this news and they begin to flee towards [[Vlorë|Avlon]]. The Byzantines take advantage of their disordered flight and attacks, joined by the troops in the besieged citadel. Tarchaneiotes takes an enormous booty, a small remnant of the Angevin army manages to cross the [[Vjosa|Vjosa River]] and reach the safety of [[Kaninë|Kanina]].<ref>Setton, Kenneth M. (1976). ''The Papacy and the Levant (1204–1571), Volume I: The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries'', p. 137. Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society. {{ISBN|0-87169-114-0}}.</ref> 
* [[October 18]] &ndash; Emperor [[Michael VIII Palaiologos|Michael VIII]] ('''Palaiologos''') is excommunicated by Pope [[Pope Martin IV|Martin IV]] without any warning or provocation. Martin authorizes [[Charles I of Anjou|Charles I]], king of [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]], to make a [[Crusades|Crusade]] against Michael, who has re-established his rule in [[Constantinople]]. Charles prepares an expedition in Sicily and assembles a fleet of 100 ships, and 300 more in [[Naples]], [[Provence]], and the Greek territories, which carry some 8,000 cavalrymen.<ref>Geanakoplos, Deno John (1959). ''Emperor Michael Palaeologus and the West, 1258-1282: A Study in Byzantine-Latin Relations'', pp. 341–42. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. {{OCLC|1011763434}}.</ref>