Thomas II Preljubovic
Encyclopedia
Thomas II Preljubović or Komnenos Palaiologos , was ruler of Epirus
in Ioannina
from 1366 to his death on December 23, 1384. He also held the title of Albanian-slayer (Ἀλβανιτόκτονος).
n governor of Thessaly, who died in late 1355 or early 1356. According to "The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest" (1994) by J. V. A. Fine, his mother Irene was a daughter of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia
and Helena of Bulgaria
.
by the advance of Nikephoros II Orsini
in 1356. Here Irene married Radoslav Hlapen, the ruler of Vodena
, who took Thomas under his wing.
During the absence of Thessaly's new ruler Simeon Uroš
Palaiologos in Epirus
in 1359–1360, Hlapen invaded Thessaly, attempting to win it for his stepson. Although Simeon Uroš managed to contain the invasion, he was forced to cede Kastoria
to Thomas and to marry him to his daughter Maria
. Over the next several years, Simeon Uroš recognized that he could not assert effective authority over most of Epirus and delegated power in Arta
and Angelokastron to local Albania
n chieftains. In 1366 the citizens of Ioannina
, the last major fortress to remain under Simeon Uroš's control, sent him a petition to appoint a governor who could protect them from the raids of Albanian clansmen.
Simeon Uroš responded by designating Thomas as his governor and forwarding the Ioanninan and Vagenetian (Thesprotian) embassy to him. Thomas entered Ioannina sometime in 1366 or 1367. Thomas' reign in Epirus is reflected in most detail in the so-called Chronicle of Ioannina, which represents him as a cruel and capricious tyrant. Thomas seized various properties of the Church of Ioannina and awarded them to his Serbian retainers. In 1382 a new appointee to the local archbishopric, Matthew, was sent out from Constantinople
, and invested Thomas with the title of despotes
on behalf of the Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos
. Nevertheless, later Thomas quarreled with the archbishop and exiled him from Ioannina.
Thomas is also accused of persecuting the local nobility and thus inspired a series of revolts against his rule. In addition to seizing ecclesiastical and private property, Thomas established new taxes and monopolies on various commodities, including fish and fruit. In addition to relying on his military forces to enforce these imposts, Thomas waged continuous war against the Albanian clans and the rulers of Arta and Angelokastron.
Soon after taking possession of Ioannina, Thomas was unsuccessfully besieged by Albanian Peter Losha
of Arta; this conflict ended with the marriage of Thomas' daughter Irene to Peter's son John. When the Ljoshas lost Arta to Gjin Bua Shpata
of Angelokastron, the warfare commenced anew, and was ended with a projected marriage between Gjin and Thomas' half-sister Helena. This arrangement also did not last, and in 1377 Thomas defeated an Albanian attack on Ioannina. Another attack, which came close to taking the city, was repelled in 1379. Continuously harried, Thomas turned for help to his Frankish and then his Ottoman
neighbors. The latter responded promptly and dispatched an auxiliary force in 1381. Thomas put this force to good use and conquered many fortresses from his enemies in 1381–1384. His ruthless successes won him the epithet "Albanian-Slayer" (Αλβανοκτόνος, Albanoktonos).
However, Thomas had come to be on bad terms with his wife Maria, who participated in the subsequent conspiracy against her husband. On December 23, 1384, Thomas was murdered by his guards and the happy population of Ioannina swore allegiance to Maria and invited her brother John Uroš
Doukas Palaiologos to come and advise her in the government.
By his wife Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina Thomas II possibly had a son:
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
from 1366 to his death on December 23, 1384. He also held the title of Albanian-slayer (Ἀλβανιτόκτονος).
Family
Thomas was the son of caesar Gregorios Preljub , the SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n governor of Thessaly, who died in late 1355 or early 1356. According to "The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest" (1994) by J. V. A. Fine, his mother Irene was a daughter of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia
Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia
Stephen Uroš IV Dušan the Mighty , was the King of Serbia and Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks until his death on 20 December 1355. Dušan managed to conquer a large part of Southeast Europe, becoming one of the most powerful monarchs in his time...
and Helena of Bulgaria
Helena of Bulgaria
Jelena or Helena of Bulgaria was the daughter of Sratsimir of Kran and Keratsa Petritsa and the sister of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria....
.
Life
After the violent death of his father, Thomas' claim to Thessaly was asserted by his mother Irene, but they were forced to flee to SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
by the advance of Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini - Doukas , was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.-Life:...
in 1356. Here Irene married Radoslav Hlapen, the ruler of Vodena
Edessa, Greece
Edessa , is a city in northern Greece and the capital of the Pella regional unit, in the Central Macedonia region of Greece. It was also the capital of the defunct province of the same name.-Name:...
, who took Thomas under his wing.
During the absence of Thessaly's new ruler Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš Nemanjić, nicknamed Siniša , also known in Greek as Symeōn Ouresēs Palaiologos , was the Despot of Epirus from 1359 to 1366, and of Thessaly from 1359 until his death in 1370. He governed Epirus and Acarnania under his half-brother Emperor Dušan the Mighty Simeon Uroš Nemanjić,...
Palaiologos in Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
in 1359–1360, Hlapen invaded Thessaly, attempting to win it for his stepson. Although Simeon Uroš managed to contain the invasion, he was forced to cede Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
to Thomas and to marry him to his daughter Maria
Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina
Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina was ruler of Epirus from 1385 to 1386. She took the title of Basilissa of Epirus or Empress/Queen of Epirus....
. Over the next several years, Simeon Uroš recognized that he could not assert effective authority over most of Epirus and delegated power in Arta
Arta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
and Angelokastron to local Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n chieftains. In 1366 the citizens of Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, the last major fortress to remain under Simeon Uroš's control, sent him a petition to appoint a governor who could protect them from the raids of Albanian clansmen.
Simeon Uroš responded by designating Thomas as his governor and forwarding the Ioanninan and Vagenetian (Thesprotian) embassy to him. Thomas entered Ioannina sometime in 1366 or 1367. Thomas' reign in Epirus is reflected in most detail in the so-called Chronicle of Ioannina, which represents him as a cruel and capricious tyrant. Thomas seized various properties of the Church of Ioannina and awarded them to his Serbian retainers. In 1382 a new appointee to the local archbishopric, Matthew, was sent out from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and invested Thomas with the title of despotes
Despotes
Despot , was a senior Byzantine court title that was bestowed on the sons or sons-in-law of reigning emperors, and initially denoted the heir-apparent...
on behalf of the Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
. Nevertheless, later Thomas quarreled with the archbishop and exiled him from Ioannina.
Thomas is also accused of persecuting the local nobility and thus inspired a series of revolts against his rule. In addition to seizing ecclesiastical and private property, Thomas established new taxes and monopolies on various commodities, including fish and fruit. In addition to relying on his military forces to enforce these imposts, Thomas waged continuous war against the Albanian clans and the rulers of Arta and Angelokastron.
Soon after taking possession of Ioannina, Thomas was unsuccessfully besieged by Albanian Peter Losha
Peter Losha
Peter Losha was a 14th-century Albanian despot of Despotate of Arta from 1359 to his death in 1374 under Simeon Uroš.In 1346-1348 Epirus became a part of the Serbian Empire and Albanian tribes were defeated by Stefan Dushan....
of Arta; this conflict ended with the marriage of Thomas' daughter Irene to Peter's son John. When the Ljoshas lost Arta to Gjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata
Gjin Bua Shpata , also known as John Bua Spata, was an Albanian ruler of the Despotate of Arta. He was part of the noble Shpata family...
of Angelokastron, the warfare commenced anew, and was ended with a projected marriage between Gjin and Thomas' half-sister Helena. This arrangement also did not last, and in 1377 Thomas defeated an Albanian attack on Ioannina. Another attack, which came close to taking the city, was repelled in 1379. Continuously harried, Thomas turned for help to his Frankish and then his Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
neighbors. The latter responded promptly and dispatched an auxiliary force in 1381. Thomas put this force to good use and conquered many fortresses from his enemies in 1381–1384. His ruthless successes won him the epithet "Albanian-Slayer" (Αλβανοκτόνος, Albanoktonos).
However, Thomas had come to be on bad terms with his wife Maria, who participated in the subsequent conspiracy against her husband. On December 23, 1384, Thomas was murdered by his guards and the happy population of Ioannina swore allegiance to Maria and invited her brother John Uroš
John Uroš
Jovan Uroš or John Ouresis Doukas Palaiologos was the ruler of Thessaly from c. 1370 to c. 1373, died 1422/3.John Uroš was the son of Emperor Simeon Uroš Palaiologos by Thomais Orsini. His maternal grandparents were John II Orsini and Anna Palaiologina Angelina.Between 1369 and 1372 he succeeded...
Doukas Palaiologos to come and advise her in the government.
Family
By an unnamed mistress, Thomas II Preljubović had at least one daughter:- Irene, who married John Ljosha of Arta, and died in 1374/5.
By his wife Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina Thomas II possibly had a son:
- Preljub (Prealoupes), who must have died young.