Editing Theodore I Laskaris (section)

=== Wars ===

[[File:Byzantium1204.png|thumb|right|upright=1.5|alt=Map showing the Latin Empire and the Byzantine successor states| The Latin Empire and the Byzantine successor states{{mdash}}Nicaea, Trebizond and Epirus (the borders are uncertain).]]

Four realms developed from the ruins of the Byzantine Empire by 1209.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=715}} Alexios{{nbsp}}I and David Komnenos consolidated their Empire of Trebizond in northern Asia Minor; Henry of Flanders integrated Thrace and almost all of Greece into the Latin Empire; Michael{{nbsp}}I Doukas secured his rule in Epirus; and Theodore{{nbsp}}I Laskaris emerged as the unrivaled ruler of western Asia Minor.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=715–716}} The balance of power, however, remained unstable, because the four monarchs were rivals, always ready to form alliances against their neighbors.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=716–717}} Emperor Henry concluded an alliance with Sultan Kaykhusraw{{nbsp}}I against Theodore, while Theodore allied himself with Kaloyan of Bulgaria's successor, [[Boril of Bulgaria|Boril]].{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}} Henry's vassal, Michael{{nbsp}}I Doukas, paid off the ransom of Theodore's father-in-law, Alexios{{nbsp}}III in 1209 or 1210.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}{{sfn|Korobeinikov|2017|p=719}} Alexios{{nbsp}}III avoided Nicaea and went to Konya, seeking asylum at the court of Kaykhusraw{{nbsp}}I, his adopted son.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}

Both Boril of Bulgaria and Michael{{nbsp}}I Doukas wanted to expel the Latins from [[Thessalonica]], prompting Emperor Henry to visit the town regularly.{{sfn|Fine|1994|pp=97–98}} Taking advantage of Henry's absence, Theodore sent his fleet to attack Constantinople in the spring of 1211.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=99}} Boril invaded Thrace, but he could not prevent Henry from returning to his capital.{{sfn|Fine|1994|pp=99–100}} Kaykhusraw{{nbsp}}I and Alexios{{nbsp}}III invaded Nicaea, forcing Theodore's troops to abandon the siege and hurry back to Asia Minor.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=99}} The two armies met at [[Antioch on the Maeander]] in late spring or around 17&nbsp;June.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}{{sfn|Korobeinikov|2017|p=719}} The Seljuq troops were close to winning the [[Battle of Antioch on the Meander|battle]], but Theodore sought out Kaykhusraw and killed him in single combat.{{sfn|Korobeinikov|2017|p=719}}{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}} Alexios{{nbsp}}III was captured during the battle, and Theodore had his father-in-law imprisoned.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}} He concluded a peace treaty with Kaykhushraw's son and successor, [[Kaykaus&nbsp;I]].{{sfn|Korobeinikov|2017|p=719}}

Theodore sent letters to the Greeks under the Latins' rule to inform them of his triumph and to urge them to rise up against the "Latin dogs".{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} However, he had only won a [[Pyrrhic victory]], because his best troops{{mdash}}his Latin mercenaries{{mdash}}perished in the battlefield.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}} Emperor Henry led his army across the Bosporus and [[Battle of the Rhyndacus (1211)|routed Theodore's troops]] on the [[Mustafakemalpaşa River|Rhyndakos River]] on 15{{nbsp}}October 1211. Henry captured [[Nymphaeum (Bithynia)|Nymphaion]] and [[Pergamon]]. In a circular letter sent to the European monarchs early in 1212, he boasted of having subjugated the Greeks as far as the Seljuq frontier, save the garrisons of some fortresses.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} Henry had to end his military campaign because he did not have enough troops to garrison the captured fortresses.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}} The two emperors made [[Treaty of Nymphaeum (1214)|peace]] between 1212 and 1214<ref group="note">Treadgold proposes the treaty was most probably concluded in 1212.</ref>{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=717}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} The peace confirmed the Latins' possession of the [[Troad]] region.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} The Latins also seized some strategically important Bithynian fortresses,<ref group="note">[[Adramyttium]], [[Achyraous]], [[Lentiana]] and [[Poimanenon]] were among the fortresses seized by the Latins.</ref> taking control of the roads between the northern and southern territories of Theodore's realm.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} Theodore adopted an intensive fortification program. New fortresses were built, and the old fortresses' walls were restored.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=31}} He also urged local officials to settle colonists around the new forts, granting arable lands to them.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=32}}

Theodore quickly recovered from his defeat.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=718}} Taking advantage of a conflict between the Latin Empire and Serbia,{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=354}} Theodore and Sultan Kaykaus{{nbsp}}I invaded the Empire of Trebizond simultaneously in 1214.{{sfn|Korobeinikov|2017|p=719}} Theodore forced David Komnenos to abandon Heraclea Pontica on the Black Sea.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=718}} Whether he conquered eastern Paphlagonia during this campaign, or only years later, is unclear.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=352}} His conquest of the region put a narrow strip of land along the Black Sea coast under Nicaean control,{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=49}} and thus removed the emperors of Trebizond from the competition for Constantinople.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}}