1206 =Theodore (I) Lascaris= crowned emperor by the Greek patriarch. His title is contested by several princes, among them Alexius Comnenus, reigning as emperor of Trebizond. David Comnenus, the latter’s brother, proceeds against him, but is badly defeated on the Sangarius. 1210 Alexius, father-in-law of Theodore, claims throne, supported by the sultan of Iconium. The latter slain in battle, Alexius falls into Theodore’s hand, and is put into a monastery. 1214 War with Henry of Romania. Peace defining limits of empire. 1214-1222 Years of peace. 1222 Death of Theodore. His son-in-law, =Joannes (III) Ducas Vatatzes=, succeeds. Theodore Angelus, despot of Epirus and Ætolia, assumes title of emperor of Thessalonica. 1224 Victory of Pemanene over Robert, the Latin emperor. 1225 Peace with the Latins. Conspiracy of Nestongos. 1233 Defeat of the Latins by Joannes in Bithynia. Naval campaign to obtain sovereignty of the sea. The Greek fleets driven back to Asia by the Venetian, Marino Sanuti. 1234 Alliance of Joannes Vatatzes and Asan of Bulgaria against Baldwin II. Vatatzes reduces the empire of Thessalonica to a despotat (despotat of Epirus). 1236 Attack of the allies on Constantinople unsuccessful. 1237 Asan breaks the alliance as Constantinople is about to be attacked the second time. 1241 On the death of John Asan of Bulgaria, Vatatzes begins to assert his supremacy over the emperor of Thessalonica. 1242 Joannes Comnenus, the Thessalonian emperor, reduced to rank of despot by Vatatzes. Alliance with the sultan of Iconium to resist threatened invasion of Mongols who have already destroyed the Seljuk empire. 1245 Joannes Vatatzes reconquers Byzantine dominions in Thrace from the infant king Michael of Bulgaria. 1246 Vatatzes unites despotat of Epirus to the empire. 1251-1253 War with Michael II, despot of Epirus, ending in a peace ceding some Thracian territory to Vatatzes. 1254 Death of Joannes Vatatzes. His son =Theodore (II) Lascaris= succeeds. 1255-1256 War with Bulgaria resulting in slight concessions to Theodore. 1257 War with Michael of Epirus conducted by Michael Palæologus, with unfavourable results. 1258 Death of Theodore. Succeeded by his young son =Joannes (IV) Lascaris=. The prime minister Muzalon and the patriarch Arsenius are regents. 1259 =Michael (VIII) Palæologus= proclaimed emperor as the result of a successful conspiracy. Muzalon murdered. The emperor goes to war with Michael of Epirus and puts him to flight. Battle of Pelagonia. Capture of William Villehardouin, prince of Achaia. 1261 The general Strategopulus captures Constantinople. Fall of the Latin Empire. Michael removes the seat of empire thither.