Editing Theodore II Laskaris (section)

===Education===

[[File:Nicaea's Byzantine fortifications, Iznik, Turkey (37799778844).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Ruins of stone walls.|Ruins of the walls of [[Nicaea]] (now [[İznik]] in Turkey)]]

Theodore was probably entrusted to an elementary teacher's care in 1228 as most Nicaean aristocratic children's formal education began around the age of six. As part of his education, he memorized texts from the Bible and prayed three times a day. He could quote from the [[Psalms]] and the [[parables of Jesus]] by heart until the end of his life.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=64–66}} Theodore's secondary education began around 1230. He detested his principal tutor (or ''[[baioulos]]'') and described him as a "great babbler" in his works, without mentioning his name. He studied grammar (that is [[Attic Greek]]), poetry, rhetoric, logic, mathematics, astronomy, geometry and music for three years. His grammatical studies raised his lifelong interest in words with multiple meanings and in [[etymologies]]. The young Theodore was captivated by the orations of [[Demosthenes]] and [[Hermogenes of Tarsus]]. He also held theologian [[Gregory of Nazianzus]] in high esteem. His tutor mocked him for "philosophizing" and urged Theodore to spend more time with military and diplomatic studies. Theodore was a passionate hunter and [[tzykanion|polo]] player with remarkable riding skills.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=68–72, 75–77}}

Negotiations over Theodore's marriage with [[Elena Asenina]] began shortly after the [[Battle of Klokotnitsa]], where Elena's father, Emperor (or Tzar) [[Ivan Asen&nbsp;II of Bulgaria]] ({{reign|1218|1241}}), inflicted a crushing defeat on the [[Emperor of Thessalonica]] and ruler of [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]], [[Theodore Komnenos Doukas]] ({{reign|1215|1230}}). The battle weakened Epirus–Thessalonica, Nicaea's western rival for the revival of the Byzantine Empire, and made [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]] the dominant power of the [[Balkan Peninsula]].{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=738}} The marriage of Theodore and Elena sealed their fathers' alliance against the [[Latin Empire of Constantinople]] in 1235. In the same year, Bulgarian and Nicaean troops laid [[Siege of Constantinople (1235)|siege to Constantinople]], but could not capture the city. In 1237, Ivan Asen then reversed his position, allying himself with the Latins to stop Nicaean expansion in [[Thrace]], only to return to his alliance with Nicaea before the end of the year. His father-in-law's tactical moves convinced Theodore that he could not fully trust the Bulgarians—a view he held for the rest of his life.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=65, 73–75}}

Theodore took philosophy classes from a most renowned teacher, [[Nikephoros Blemmydes]]. As Blemmydes was the ''[[hegumenos]]'' (abbot) of a monastery at [[Ephesus]], Theodore attended his classes while he was staying in his father's winter palace at nearby [[Nymphaion (Ionia)|Nymphaion]]. Blemmydes' zealous [[Aristotelianism]] had a strong impact on Theodore, who often mentioned Aristotelian notions, like [[potentiality and actuality]], in his writings. Blemmydes was accused of [[embezzlement]] by one of his students early in the 1240s. Although Vatatzes' intervention saved him from imprisonment, he abandoned teaching. Theodore continued to visit Blemmydes regularly and maintained a correspondence with him. A young scholar, [[George Akropolites]], replaced Blemmydes as Theodore's principal tutor. Born in Constantinople, Akropolites had firsthand experience with the Latin rule in the city. He completed Theodore's education in logic and mathematics.{{sfn|Lascaratos|Zis|1998|p=296}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=79, 85, 117–118}} Also a historian, Akropolites would complete the most detailed chronicle of the Empire of Nicaea.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=9}}

Theodore's mother died late in 1239.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=88}} Vatatzes remarried in late summer of 1240, taking an illegitimate daughter of [[Frederick&nbsp;II, Holy Roman Emperor]] ({{reign|1220|1250}}), [[Anna of Hohenstaufen|Constanza]], whose name was changed to Anna. She was around ten and Vatatzes started a scandalous affair with one of her Italian ladies-in-waiting, named Marchesina. She was granted the right to wear purple shoes and to harness her horse with purple trappings, like the Emperor's closest relatives.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|pp=90–91}}