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What happened to the Byzantine Empire after the Latin Empire was created in 1204?
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Byzantine Empire
The Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child (centre), Justinian (left) holding a model of the Hagia Sophia, and Constantine (right) holding a model of the city of Constantinople; mosaic from the Hagia Sophia, 9th century.
Following the fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and the subsequent establishment of the Latin Empire, the Byzantine Empire fragmented into several successor states. While the Latin occupiers seized the capital and parts of the European and Asiatic provinces, Byzantine resistance continued from three primary centers:12
- Empire of Nicaea: Founded by Theodore I Lascaris, this state in northwestern Anatolia became the most significant successor, serving as a political and cultural "microcosm" of the empire in exile.13
- Despotate of Epirus: Located in northwestern Greece, this center challenged both the Latin Empire and the Nicaean emperors for dominance.12
- Empire of Trebizond: Established on the Black Sea coast, this state maintained its independence until 1461.12
The Latin Empire struggled with shaky foundations and internal instability. Eventually, the Empire of Nicaea successfully consolidated power, and in 1261, Michael VIII Palaeologus recaptured Constantinople, restoring Byzantine rule. However, the restored empire was significantly weakened, poor, and dilapidated for the remainder of its history.2134