Editing Theodore I Laskaris (section)

=== Consolidation ===

The Latin clerics wanted to compel the Orthodox population of Constantinople to adopt the [[Catholic liturgy]] and to pay the [[tithe]], but they resisted. Pope Innocent{{nbsp}}III sent [[Pelagio Galvani|Cardinal Pelagius]] as his legate to Constantinople in 1213 to discipline the Orthodox population for their resistance.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=743}}{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=78}} Pelagius closed Orthodox churches and ordered the imprisonment of the resistant monks, but the Greeks did not give in and many of them fled to Nicaea. The Greek aristocrats approached Emperor Henry, asking him either to stop the persecution of Orthodoxy or to allow them to move to Nicaea. Henry capitulated and ordered the re-opening of Orthodox churches in Constantinople.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=78}} Pelagius entered into negotiations with Theodore about a possible [[Church union]] at Heraclea Pontica, but their discussions proved inconclusive.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=743}}

Michael&nbsp;I Komnenos Doukas was assassinated in late 1214 or in 1215.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=68}} Theodore Komnenos Doukas, who succeeded him, questioned Theodore Laskaris's claim to supremacy, ignoring his previous oath of fealty.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=68}} In concert with [[Demetrios Chomatenos]], the ambitious [[Archbishop of Ochrid]], Doukas denied the right of the patriarch residing in Nicaea to appoint bishops to the Balkan episcopal sees under Epirote control.{{sfn|Fine|1994|pp=68, 116}} Doukas's expansionist policy forced Emperor Henry to launch a military campaign against him, but Henry died unexpectedly before reaching Epirus.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=718}} The Latin barons elected his brother-in-law, [[Peter II of Courtenay|Peter of Courtenay]], as his successor, but he was captured and killed in Epirus during his journey towards Constantinople in 1217.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=718–719}} A lasting vacancy followed his death, with his widow, [[Yolanda of Flanders]], ruling the Latin Empire as [[regent]].{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=719}} She gave her daughter, [[Maria of Courtenay]], in marriage to Theodore who agreed to prolong his peace treaty with the Latin Empire.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|pp=364–365}}

Yolande of Flanders died before October 1219.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=365}} Theodore sent envoys to Constantinople to announce his claim to succeed her, but the Latin barons ignored it.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=352}} Theodore proposed new negotiations about the Church union in 1219, taking advantage of the vacancy of the [[Latin patriarchate of Constantinople]].{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=743}} He planned to convoke the Orthodox patriarchs of Constantinople, [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch|Antioch]], [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] and [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria|Alexandria]] to a synod in Nicaea, but the Orthodox clergy thwarted the idea.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=743}}{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|pp=365–366}} [[Jacopo Tiepolo]], the ''[[Podestà of Constantinople|Podestà]]'' (or head) of the Venetian community in Constantinople, convinced Theodore to spell out the Venetian merchants' privileges in a [[chrysobull]] in August 1219.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|p=163}} The decree granted the Venetians the right to trade freely in the Empire of Nicaea and exempted them from taxation.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|p=163}} The diploma also prohibited each party from copying or counterfeiting coins issued by the other.{{sfn|Nicol|1988|pp=163–164}} Theodore attempted to enforce his claim to Constantinople by force in 1220, but the Latins repelled his attack.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=365}} The new Latin Emperor, [[Robert I, Latin Emperor|Robert of Courtenay]], came to Constantinople in March 1221.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=365}} Peace between the two empires was soon restored.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=365}}

Theodore died in November 1221.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=57}}{{sfn|Angold|2011|p=52}}{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=366}} A dynastic conflict followed because his two brothers, Alexios and Isaac, and his son-in-law, [[John III Doukas Vatatzes|John Doukas Vatatzes]], claimed the throne.{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=367}} The conflict ended with Vatatzes's victory; Theodore's brothers were forced into exile.{{sfn|Angold|2017|p=737}}{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=57}}{{sfn|Van Tricht|2011|p=367}} Theodore was buried next to his father-in-law and his first wife in the monastery of Saint Hyakinthos in Nicaea.{{sfn|Angelov|2019|p=44}}