Chronology of the Theological Works of Theodore II Laskaris

Abstract

The article "Chronology of the Theological Works of Theodore II Laskaris" explores the theological writings of Theodore II Laskaris (1222–1258), emperor of Nicaea, and their chronological development within the intellectual and political landscape of 13th-century Byzantium. Emphasizing his major polemical work Eight Orations Against the Latins, this study situates his theological arguments within the broader context of Byzantine-Latin relations, church doctrine, and imperial ideology. By drawing on the works of Dimiter Angelov, Christos Krikonis, and Sophia Georgiopoulou, the article reassesses existing scholarly positions on the dating of Laskaris’ texts and provides a refined timeline based on textual analysis, historical events, and manuscript evidence. The study highlights Theodore II’s theological contributions as a scholar-emperor, reflecting both his personal convictions and the political exigencies of his reign.