Coat of arms of Carlo I Tocco, founder of the last ruling dynasty of Epirus, as count palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos (dexter) and as despot of Epirus (sinister)[1]
Details
First monarch
Michael I Komnenos Doukas
Last monarch
Leonardo III Tocco (ruling) Antonio Tocco (titular)
Formation
1205
Abolition
1479 (fall of the Despotate) 1642 (last use of title)
Appointer
Hereditary
The despot of Epirus was the ruler of the Despotate of Epirus, one of the successor states of the Byzantine Empire in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade. The name "Despotate of Epirus" and the title "despot of Epirus" are modern historiographical names, and were not in use by the despots themselves. In the Byzantine Empire, the title of despot (Greek: δεσπότης, romanized: despótēs) was a prestigious court title and did not designate rule over some specific territory. Though several of the early Greek rulers of the Epirote realm did use the title of despot, it was never in reference to the lands they governed, but instead in reference to their position in the imperial hierarchy.
It was only with Epirus falling into the hands of foreign dynasties that the title of despot became applied not to the imperial hierarchy, but to the territory, sometimes to the dismay of the local population. "Despot of Epirus" is not recorded in contemporary documents for the rulers of foreign origin, but several other versions are, such as "despot of Arta" and "despot of Ioannina", the two capitals of the despotate at different points in time. Some rulers used the version "despot of Romania" (Romania essentially referring to the territories of the Roman Empire, i.e. Byzantium) or "despot of the Romans" (claiming rulership over the Romans, i.e. the Byzantines/Greeks).
The final despot of Epirus was Leonardo III Tocco, who ruled from 1448 to 1479, when the remnants of the despotate were conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Leonardo escaped into exile and his descendants continued to claim the title until 1642, when the titular despot Antonio Tocco abandoned it and instead claimed the title of prince of Achaea.
The despotofEpirus was the ruler of the Despotate ofEpirus, one of the successor states of the Byzantine Empire in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade...
even after Michael II, speaking of the Epirote rulers as "DespotsofEpirus" is technically incorrect. The title ofDespot did not imply any specific territorial...
In 168 BC Epirus became the Roman province ofEpirus Vetus. Epirus regained its statehood in 1205 AD, ruled by the DespotofEpirus. List of ancient Epirotes...
14th century, after the defeat of the local DespotofEpirus, Nikephoros II Orsini, by Albanian tribesmen in the Battle of Achelous in 1359 and ceased to...
After the death of Michael II in 1268, Epirus was ruled by his legitimate son Nikephoros I, while Thessaly – now separated from Epirus – was given to his...
death in 1266/68 the ruler of the Despotate ofEpirus, which included Epirus in northwestern Greece, the western part of Greek Macedonia and Thessaly...
(after 1436 – before August 1503) was the last ruler of the Despotate ofEpirus, ruling from the death of his father Carlo II Tocco in 1448 to the despotate's...
palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos from 1376, and ruled as the DespotofEpirus from 1411 until his death on July 4, 1429. Carlo I was the son of Count...
1290) was ruler ofEpirus from 1267/8 to his death in 1296/98. Born around 1240, Nikephoros was the eldest son of the DespotofEpirus, Michael II Komnenos...
as Counts Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos and DespotsofEpirus. During their brief period of rule in Greece, they were one of the most ambitious...
defeating both Vukašin of Serbia and his son, Prince Marko, solidifying his family's principality. He was recognized as DespotofEpirus by the Byzantine Emperor...
1317), count palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos John II Orsini, despotofEpirus (1323–1335) Giovanni Orsini (died 1359), bishop of Padua Giovanni Battista...
all of the Asian territories held by the Latin Empire in the process. In 1224, the Latin Kingdom of Thessalonica was captured by the DespotofEpirus Theodore...
by Uroš V), in reality DespotofEpirus and Thessaly (1359–1369) John Uroš, "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks", in reality Despotof Thessaly (1369–1373) Jovan...
an illegitimate son of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, DespotofEpirus in c. 1230–1268. After his father's death, he became ruler of Thessaly from c. 1268...
Orsini, the DespotofEpirus, to the Republic of Venice in exchange for Venetian aid against the Byzantine Empire. During the Epirote rebellion of 1338/39...
1678) was the last titular DespotofEpirus and Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos, claiming these titles from the death of his father Leonardo V Tocco...
Despotof the Morea, and Nerio I Acciaioli, Duke of Athens, she sought the help of Stephen of Pharsalos, the younger son of Simeon Uroš, Despotof Epirus...
House of Orsini is an Italian noble family that was one of the most influential princely families in medieval Italy and Renaissance Rome. Members of the...
Kantakouzenos remained despotes in the province of Morea from 1349 until 1380. Of John's other daughters, Maria married Nikephoros II Orsini ofEpirus, and Theodora...
conquests and held Thessaly with the rank of caesar (kesar) in 1348–56. His son Thomas Preljubović was DespotofEpirus in 1366–84. Preljub appears in sources...
Justinian I and again in the 13th century under the DespotofEpirus, Michael I Komnenos Doukas, cousin of the Byzantine Emperor. This last phase can be seen...
ruler ofEpirus from c. 1297 until his death in 1318. Thomas was the son of Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas and Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene, a niece of Emperor...
Nicephorus I Komnenos Doukas, despotofEpirus, and his first wife, Maria Laskaris Vatatzaina, daughter of the emperor of Nicea Theodore II Laskaris. In...
Doukas, and usurped his rule ofEpirus. While able to secure his control over southern Epirus, however, the north with the city of Ioannina were taken over...
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