Biography.guide
Home › People › John II Doukas of Thessaly
Portrait of John II Doukas of Thessaly

John II Doukas of Thessaly

1250 – 1318

Ruler of Thessaly

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About John II Doukas of Thessaly

Lived 1250 – 1318 (aged 67–68). John II Doukas of Thessaly was a Byzantine.

John II Doukas, also Angelos Doukas (Latinized as Angelus Ducas) , was ruler of Great Vlachia (Thessaly) from 1303 to his death in 1318.

John II Angelos Doukas was the son of Constantine Doukas of Thessaly by his wife Anna Euagionissa. He succeeded to his father's lands as a child in 1303. The Thessalian magnates chose his father's cousin Duke Guy II de la Roche of Athens as regent, and the duke promptly established his protectorate over Thessaly, with Anthony le Flamenc as his deputy (bailli). Guy was the son of Duke William I de la Roche by Helena Angelina Komnene, the daughter of John I Doukas of Thessaly.

The selection of the duke of Athens as regent proved both timely and fortuitous. Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene, the regent of Epirus had invaded Thessaly, but was now forced to retreat by Guy's forces. Guy proved less successful, however, in restraining the Catalan Company, which burst into Thessaly in 1306 and proceeded to ravage the region for some three years. By the time Guy died in 1308 John had just come of age and resented the attempt of the new duke of Athens, Walter of Brienne, to maintain Athenian protectorate over Thessaly. To overcome John's resistance, Walter hired the Catalan Company himself, and charged it with asserting his authority over Thessaly. The Catalans conquered many fortresses, but insisted on garrisoning them by themselves. Frightened by their disobedience, Walter now turned against them, but the Catalans invaded his duchy in 1310. When the two forces clashed, Walter was defeated and killed in the Battle of Halmyros or Kephissos in 1311.

With the Catalans moving into Boeotia, Attica, and the Gulf of Corinth coast, John II was able to exert more control over Thessaly. Here he encountered the opposition of the local magnates, who had probably become accustomed to central authority that had been even more ineffectual than usually. John attempted to strengthen his position by drawing closer to the Byzantine Empire and marrying Irene Palaiologina, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1315. Perhaps at this time John was conferred the title of sebastokratōr. He was already relying on some Byzantine assistance against the Catalans within his domains, but died in 1318 without heirs.

On John II's death in 1318 much of northwestern Thessaly came under the control of the powerful magnate Stephen Gabrielopoulos, but the southernmost areas around Neopatras were seized by the Catalans, who set up their own principality there (the Duchy of Neopatras).

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1250
Birth century
Died
1318
Nationality

Family & relationships

Parent
Constantine Doukas of Thessaly

People in John II Doukas of Thessaly's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John II Doukas of Thessaly's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John II Doukas of Thessaly?

Ruler of Thessaly

When was John II Doukas of Thessaly born?

John II Doukas of Thessaly was born in 1250.

When did John II Doukas of Thessaly die?

John II Doukas of Thessaly died in 1318.

What nationality was John II Doukas of Thessaly?

John II Doukas of Thessaly was Byzantine.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John II Doukas of Thessaly

· Wikidata: Q574704

· DBpedia: John II Doukas of Thessaly

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John II Doukas of Thessaly. https://biography.guide/john-ii-doukas-of-thessaly/

MLA: "John II Doukas of Thessaly." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-ii-doukas-of-thessaly/.

Chicago: "John II Doukas of Thessaly." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-ii-doukas-of-thessaly/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:32 UTC