1. Historical Background
The rebellion of Laskaris was one of the most important rebellious acts that broke out in the Empire of Nicaea (1204-1261); it took place in the middle of the third decade of the 13th century (1224-1225). The political scene of the period was particularly fragile, since the balance that had been achieved with difficulty in the relations of the empire with the neighbouring countries, mainly the Latin Empire of Constantinople and the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, was still very delicate.
2. The Events
Τwo prominent officials, the elder brothers of the founder of the Empire of Nicaea, Theodore I Komnenos Laskaris, were at head of this rebellion. They were Alexios and Isaac Laskaris, who played a leading role in this important movement against the new emperor, John III Doukas Vatatzes. The latter had succeeded Theodore I already from 1222, as the husband of his first-born daughter, Eirene. The rebellion possibly broke out in 1224, although it must have been planned in the beginning of 1222, after Theodore I died and John III ascended the throne.
The position the people involved in the rebellion held in the imperial administration as well as their influence was very high. Both Laskaris brothers had been awarded the senior title of sebastokrator by their brother Theodore I during his reign (1204-1222). They were the eldest among his six brothers, the first being Isaac. They held significant offices and had gained high prestige. The sebastokratores Alexios and Isaac reacted quite strongly to the election and proclamation of John III, second husband of their niece Eirene, as emperor. This attitude must have resulted from their view that John III was not the legal heir to the throne. In addition, it should be mentioned that the latter had not been awarded any important title by Theodore I, apart from that of the protovestiarios, which was a rather mediocre title in the court. Moreover, when Theodore I died (1222), his son, whom he had designated as his successor, was alive and approximately eight years old. However, the sources do not provide further information about him.
The Laskarides must have reacted instantly to this obvious circumvention of their brother’s male child in the legal succession to the throne, which would also restrict their influence on the imperial circle. Their reaction was clearly illustrated in the alliance they created with the head of the state that was the main enemy of Nicaea at the time. In an attempt to destabilise the political scene of Nicaea, they reached an agreement with the emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, Robert de Courtenay (1221-1228), based on the fact that their brother, Theodore I, shortly before he died, possibly circa 1221, aspired after a marriage between Robert de Courtenay and his youngest daughter, Eudokia. The latter was involved in the intrigue of the alliance, as her two uncles had taken her with them to the Latin-occupied Constantinople, thus demonstrating their intention to pursue the policies of the first ruler of Nicaea; they used such arguments in order to legalise their claims. With the help of the Latins, the rebellion acquired a military aspect and became part of the conflict between Nicaea and Constantinople. The crucial battle between the forces of the two empires took place at Poimanenon, to the southeast of Cyzıcus, towards the late 1224 or in early 1225. During that battle, the Frank knights were defeated by the forces of Nicaea.
3. Consequences
The two sebastokratores and main instigators of the rebellion were arrested and blinded for their attitude, which was considered an act of betrayal. Their punishment was relatively light, given that all the rest of their collaborators arrested by the forces of Nicaea were killed. This rebellious act, although suppressed, is considered to have resulted in the rebellion of Andronikos and Isaac Nestongos in 1225. However, there is no reliable testimony about the extent to which the people were involved. But this seems quite impossible, since the most decisive phase of the rebellion took place in the Latin Empire of Constantinople. It was the growing discontent of notable members of the imperial family of the Laskarides against the new emperor of Nicaea, John III Doukas Vatatzes, that was explicitly expressed in that rebellious movement, because they felt that Vatatzes would elbow them.