Byzantine Period-Despotate of Epirus
In 1082,Ioannina is conquered by Bohemond, son of Robert Guiscard.The
destruction of the city by the Norman infantry under the orders
of William II, king of Sicily, is dated to 1185.
In 1204, Ioannina falls under the rule of Michael Angel Comnenus,
who established the dynasty of the Despots of Epirus, with
Arta as his capital.
Ever since then, Ioannina will follow the historical fate
of the Despotate of Epirus which, encompassing an area going
from Durrks to Lepanto (Nafpaktos in Greek) will be the outpost
of Byzantine feudalism against the various raids of Franks,Venetians,
Albanians and Serbs.
Ioannina grows and prospers under the rule of Michael A' Angel.
Accordingto historical data, this period saw the establishment
of official and scholars from Constantinople, after Frankish
conquest of the city.Furthermore, around 1206, the walls of
the fortress are repaired, the Scholi Philanthropinon is founded
at the Spanou Monastery and the very old Monastery of Agios
Nikolaos Stratigopoulou hosts the newly founded homonymous
school.
The two monasteries will eventually become the center of the
great art development the took place on the island later,
especially during the 16th century.
In 1265, Ioannina is ceded by Nicephorus I Angel Comnenus
to the Emperor if Nicaea, Michael Paleologus. After the
latter' s death in 1282, Ioannina is once again part of
the Despotate of Epirus, under Nicephorus the first Angel
Comnenus. During this period, the seat of the religious
head priest of the Despotate is transferred to Ioannina,
the bishopric of witch becomes a metropolis, to counterbalance
the establishment of the Catholic archbishopric at Nafpacto,
when the city was ceded to Filippo Tarantino.
In 1296, with the death of Nicephorus the first Angel Comnenus,
his widow Anna takes over the rule of Ioannina and Epirus,
as guardian of her son Thomas I. During this regency, the
Despotate gains Byzantine support against the pressures
of the Andegaves. Thus, the imperial army is sent to Ioannina,
under the leadership of John Lascaris, who subsequently
holds it in tutelage, according to the will of Emperor Andronicus
I.
In 1318, with the assassination of Thomas I, the last of
the dynasty of the Despots of Epirus, Ioannina is contended
by the Byzantine, the Andegaves and the Serbs. Finally it
is sudjected to Byzantine rule, after the intervention of
Ioannis Syrgiannis from Veratio, who convinced the population
to submit to Andronicus II, so as to gain his favor. This
capitulation is the cause of the two Chrysobulls (1319 and
1321) of Andronicus II, which are very revealing on the
shistory of Ioannina and the evolution of feudal relations.
During the period of Byzantine rule, the power in Ioannina
is held by Nicola Orsini, called John II Comnenus Angelodukas,
his wife Anna Paleologue as guardian of her son Nicephorus
II himself and finally Michael Angel. In 1399, the Byzantine
rule of Ioannina is interrupted by the Serbs. Ioannina in
1367 acknowledges Thomas Prelubovich as its ruler. His rule
is to be extremely tyrannical as he persecutes and taxed
the popularion, exiles the metropolitan and confiscates
church property, which, he allegedly distributes among his
Serb followers. Against his dismal regime, it would seem
that the Albanians of Ioannina ask fot the protection of
the Albanian chieftains with strongholds in Epirus. This
starts the Albanian raids against Ioannina which lead the
Despot Thomas to repair and renovate the fortness of Ioannina
in 1375. In 1384, the tyranny of Thomas Prebulovich comes
to an end. The rule of the city is taken over by his widow,
Maria Angela Paleologue. In 1386, against the threat of
Albanian tribal chiefs, Buondelmonti is proclaimed despot
of the city, bringing back the metropolis to its seat and
implementing a wise administration of the population. However,
Buondelmonti, under the pressure of continued Albanian raids
and besieged by Spata, is obliged to ask for the protection
of Sultan Murad 1st, which brings the first presence of
Turkish armies in Ioannina. After the death of Buondelmonti
in 1408-9, the power is taken over by Carlo I Tocco, duke
of Cephalonia, who after losing the city to Bua Spata, re-conquers
it in 1417/8 and maintains it until his death in 1429. Carlo
I Tocco develops economically and intellectually the city
and strengthens the Despotate. Carlo I Tocco is succeeded
by Carlo II Tocco
