Despotate of Epirus: Map & History
The Despotate of Epirus was one of the Greek rump states of the Byzantine Empire established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 by a branch of the Angelos dynasty, the Komnenodoukas dynasty.
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The Despotate of Epirus was one of the Greek rump states of the Byzantine Empire established in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 by a branch of the Angelos dynasty, the Komnenodoukas dynasty. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire during the subsequent struggle for Constantinople, along with the Empire of Nicaea and the Empire of Trebizond; its rulers briefly proclaiming themselves as Emperors in 1227–1242, during which it is most often called the Empire of Thessalonica.
Modern Countries Once Part of Despotate of Epirus
At its mapped extent, Despotate of Epirus covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Albania1206–1278 CE · most
- Greece1206–1430 CE · a large part
- North Macedonia1220–1235 CE · a large part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Despotate of Epirus's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Despotate of Epirus: Key Facts
| Capital | Arta |
|---|---|
| Form of government | feudal monarchy |
| Founded | 1205 |
| Dissolved | 1479 |
Succeeded by
- Ioannina sanjak
- Duchy of Leucas
Facts from Wikidata Q187684 (CC0).
Despotate of Epirus Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Despotate of Epirus appears, with the other states of the time.
Despotate of Epirus Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 108,525 km² in 1231 CE.
Despotate of Epirus: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Despotate of Epirus exist?
Despotate of Epirus is dated to 1206 CE – 1481 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Despotate of Epirus?
The capital of Despotate of Epirus was Arta (1205–1337/40, 1430–49), Thessalonica (1227–1230), Ioannina (1356–1430), Angelokastron (1449–60), Vonitsa (1460–1479).
How large was Despotate of Epirus at its peak?
At its peak in 1231 AD Despotate of Epirus covered about 108,525 km².
How did the map of Despotate of Epirus change over time?
Despotate of Epirus appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1300 CE to 1400 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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