Michael VIII Palaiologos

Timeline

1. 1223–1258Empire of Nicaea · Empire of NicaeaFrom a Palaiologos noble family, he rose to prominence in the army of the Empire of Nicaea, campaigning against Latin forces and Turkic tribes, gradually accumulating military merit and political capital.
2. 1258–1259Nicaea · Empire of NicaeaAfter Theodore II died in 1258 he served as regent for the young emperor John IV Laskaris, and the following year seized the throne by coup, becoming sole emperor of the Empire of Nicaea.
3. 1260–1261Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireAfter a failed personal campaign against Constantinople in 1260, he instead sent Alexios Strategopoulos with elite troops in a surprise attack; on July 25, 1261, insiders inside the garrison opened the gates and Byzantine forces recovered the capital, while Latin emperor Baldwin II fled.
4. 1261–1270Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireAfter moving the capital to Constantinople he deposed the young emperor John IV and re-established Palaiologos rule; he reorganized finances and the army (including Aragonese mercenaries) and began preparing union negotiations with the Roman papacy.
5. 1270–1282Thrace · Byzantine EmpireHe attended the Council of Lyons in 1274 to promote union between Eastern Orthodoxy and the Roman papacy; in his later years he faced pressure from Charles I, Serbia, and Turkic tribes, dying of illness in a Thracian army camp on December 11, 1282.