Byzantine Greek noble family; ruling dynasty of the Empire of Nicaea (1204-61)
Lascaris
Λάσκαρις
Lascarid dynasty
Imperial dynasty
Aspron of Theodore I Lascaris (r. 1205–1221)
Country
Byzantine Empire Empire of Nicaea
Place of origin
Constantinople
Founded
1205[a] (as imperial family)
Founder
Theodore I Laskaris
Final ruler
John IV Laskaris
Titles
Byzantine Emperor
Emperor of Nicaea
Traditions
Greek Orthodoxy
Deposition
1261 (Empire of Nicaea)
The House of Laskaris (Greek: Λάσκαρις, later Λάσκαρης; feminine form Laskarina; Greek: Λασκαρίνα), Latinized as Lascaris, was a Byzantine Greek noble family which rose to prominence during the late Byzantine period. The members of the family formed the ruling dynasty of the Empire of Nicaea, a Byzantine rump state that existed from the 1204 sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade until the restoration of the Empire under the Palaeologan dynasty in 1261.[1]
Upon the sack of the Byzantine capital by the Crusaders, Alexios V Doukas was overthrown and the Latin Empire was established in most of his former lands. Byzantine nobility would flee the Latin territories and establish the three independent Greek states that rivaled the Crusaders. After a successful resistance in Asia Minor, Theodore I Laskaris founded the Empire of Nicaea and laid claims to the Byzantine throne, along with the Angelos family of Epirus and the Komnenoi of Trebizond.[2] The Byzantine Greek population of Asia Minor sought refuge to Theodore's empire, which gradually acquired control over much of western Anatolia. The empire was further strengthened after the military victories of Theodore's successor, John III Vataztes. John's son, Theodore II Laskaris, maintained the empire's strength until the throne was passed to his underage son, John IV Laskaris. In 1259 John fell victim to an aristocratic conspiracy which managed to establish Michael Palaiologos as his regent and co-emperor.[3][4]
The Nicaeans recaptured Constantinople in 1261 and Michael established the Palaiologos family as the new imperial dynasty.[5] Under the Palaeologan rule, the Lascarids remained among the senior nobility up to the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, whereupon many of them emigrated to Italy. Advertising their ties to the Komnenoi, early family members used the name 'Komnenos Laskaris', while two were additionally called 'Tzamantouros'.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
^Bradford 1990, pp. 196–197.
^Bradford 1990, pp. 195–196.
^Vasiliev 1964, pp. 506–508.
^Van Arsdall & Moody 2018, Introduction: The Greek rulers.
John's son, Theodore II Laskaris, maintained the empire's strength until the throne was passed to his underage son, John IV Laskaris. In 1259 John fell victim...
brothers: Manuel Laskaris (died after 1256), Michael Laskaris (died 1261/1271), Georgios Laskaris, Theodore, Alexios Laskaris, and Isaac Laskaris. The last two...
Zoe Laskari (Greek: Ζωή Λάσκαρη, pronounced [zoˈi ˈlaskari]; 12 December 1942 – 18 August 2017) was a Greek actress and beauty pageant titleholder who...
Isaac Laskaris (Greek: Ισαάκιος Λάσκαρις) was a brother of Nicaean emperor Theodore I Laskaris, who along with his brother Alexios Laskaris fled to the...
John IV Doukas Laskaris (or Ducas Lascaris) (Greek: Ἰωάννης Δούκας Λάσκαρις, Iōannēs Doukas Laskaris; December 25, 1250 – c. 1305) was emperor of Nicaea...
Tzamantouros Laskaris (Greek: Μιχαήλ Τζαμάντουρος Λάσκαρις) was a Byzantine aristocrat and military commander. Michael was a younger son of Theodore I Laskaris (r...
Theodore I Laskaris or Lascaris (Greek: Θεόδωρος Κομνηνὸς Λάσκαρις, romanized: Theodōros Komnēnos Laskaris; c. 1175 – November 1221) was the first emperor...
earlier periods. Theodore I Laskaris (1204–1222) John III Ducas Vatatzes (1222–1254) Theodore II Laskaris (1254–1258) John IV Laskaris (1258–1261) Michael VIII...
John Laskaris or Lascaris may refer to: John IV Laskaris (1250–c.1305), emperor of Nicaea John Laskaris Kalopheros (1325/30–1392), Byzantine aristocrat...
Theodore Laskaris or Lascaris may refer to: Theodore I Komnenos Laskaris, Byzantine Nicene emperor from 1205 to 1221 Theodore II Doukas Laskaris, Byzantine...
Alexios Laskaris (Greek: Ἀλέξιος Λάσκαρις) was a brother of Nicaean emperor Theodore I Laskaris, who along with his brother Isaac Laskaris fled to the...
Laskaris Kananos (or Lascaris Cananus) was a 15th-century Greek traveler to northern Europe who left an account in Medieval Greek of his travels. Kananos...
daughter of his predecessor Theodore I Laskaris in 1212. They had one son, the future Theodore II Doukas Laskaris. Irene fell from a horse and was so badly...
Fourth Crusade (1204) and the partition of the Byzantine Empire, Theodore Laskaris (r. 1205–1222), crowned emperor in 1208, built up a power base in the former...
Christos Laskaris (Greek: Χρίστος Λάσκαρης, 1931 – December 11, 2008) was a Greek poet. Laskaris was born in the village of Chavari in Elis, but moved...
1962) was a Spanish lawyer who claimed to be a descendant of the medieval Laskaris family, which had ruled the Byzantine Empire in Nicaea from 1204 to 1261...
Angelos Alexios V Doukas Theodore I Laskaris (w. Nicholas) John III Vatatzes Theodore II Laskaris John IV Laskaris Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos...
the blinding and imprisonment of the last Laskaris emperor, John IV Laskaris, members of the extended Laskaris family not part of the immediate former imperial...
John Laskaris Kalopheros (1325/30–1392) was a wealthy Byzantine aristocrat who converted to Catholicism and served as an advisor and diplomat to the Kingdom...
for Sultan Kaykaus II; in that later year the Emperor Theodore II Doukas Laskaris recalled Michael, and after both exchanged oaths of loyalty and guarantees...
chronicles written in the 15th century. Demetrios Laskaris Leontares (c.1360s–6 Sep. 1431). John Laskaris Leontares (c.1380s–9 Jan. 1437) served as a general...
SHELLY VINCENT AND KALI REIS - REAL COMBAT MEDIA". October 29, 2013. Sam Laskaris (2014). "Native Boxer Wins Women's IBA Crown". Indian Country Today Media...
Pavlos Laskaris (Greek: Παύλος Λάσκαρης; born 19 March 1996) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Super League 2...
O'Donoghue – violin Emily Holland – violin Kirsty Mangan – violin Cara Laskaris – violin Ronald Long – violin Dan Oates – violin Iona Allan – violin Nicholas...
Serbia. List of princesses of Serbia Laskaris 1926, pp. 7–37. Laskaris 1926, pp. 38–52. Laskaris 1926, pp. 53–82. Laskaris 1926, pp. 83–97. Ivić, Aleksa (1928)...
had three daughters and two short-lived sons: Nicholas Laskaris (died c. 1212) John Laskaris (died c. 1212) Irene Doukaina Komnene Laskarina, who married...
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