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- BIOGRAPHY
Michael was born about 1205, an illegitimate son of Michael I Komnenos Doukas, sebastos, dux of Mylasa. He went into exile after his father's murder at Berat in 1215. After the defeat and capture of his uncle Theodore Komnenos Doukas by Iwan Asen II, tsar of Bulgaria, at the Battle of Klokotnitsa, he returned to Epirus and became the ruler of the region. It is not entirely clear whether he recognised the supreme authority of his uncle Manuel Komnenos Doukas of Thessalonica or of Iwan Asen II of Bulgaria. Michael secured the support of the local notables by marrying Theodora Doukaina Petraliphaina. He also established a close relationship with the empire of Nicaea. In 1241 Michael succeeded his uncle Manuel as ruler of Thessaly. In 1238 Michael was visited by the Nicaean Patriarch Germanus II and in 1249 he received the court dignity of Despotes from Ioannes III Doukas, emperor in Nicaea.
Michael II's relations with Nicaea ensured his neutrality during the conflict in which Ioannes III Doukas conquered Thessalonica and penetrated into northern Greece in 1244. However, when he was forced to surrender Dyrrhachium and Servia to the Nicaeans in 1256, Michael determined to expand his state at Nicaea's expense. While he was advancing towards Thessalonica, Manfredo, king of Sicily, seized Dyrrhachium and its environs. Resolved to take Thessalonica, Michael came to terms with Manfredo and sent him his daughter Elena Doukaina Angelina as wife, ceding the lost towns and the island of Corfu as dowry. He also concluded an alliance with Guillaume II de Villehardouin, prince of Achaja and Morea.
The troops of the three allies overran the Nicaean possessions in Macedonia and in 1259 prepared to fight the Nicaean army led by Ioannes Komnenos Palaiologos, a brother of Michael VIII Palaiologos, emperor of Nicaea and Byzantium, on the plain of Pelagonia. Nevertheless, the allied operation was compromised by mutual suspicion, and Michael's illegitimate son Ioannes I Doukas deserted to the enemy while Michael himself abandoned his allies. The Nicaeans inflicted a crushing defeat on Guillaume II de Villehardouin, prince of Achaja and Morea, who was captured in the battle. While Michael fled to the Ionian Islands, the Nicaeans occupied Epirus, but they were faced with so much resistance that they were forced to withdraw. Michael recovered his domains with further help from Manfredo. After further warfare another Byzantine victory in 1264 forced him to accept the nominal suzerainty of Michael VIII Palaiologos and to strengthen the bond by dynastic marriages.
By his marriage to Theodora Petraliphaina (Saint Theodora of Arta), daughter of Ioannes Petraliphas and his wife Helene, Michael had six children of whom four would have progeny: Demetrios (Michael) Doukas Komnenos Kuthules, Anna Angela Komnena Doukaina, Nikephorus I Doukas Komnenos Angelos, and Elena Doukaina Angelina.
By his mistress Gaggrini, Michael had at least two other sons, Ioannes I Doukas, who succeeded as ruler of Thessaly, and Theodore Doukas. When Michael died in September 1266, his domains were split between his sons Nikephoros I Doukas Komnenos Angelos of Epirus and Ioannes I Doukas of Thessaly.
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