Theodore II Laskaris in World Historiography (19th–21st Century)

Abstract

The article examines the literary and philosophical writings of Theodore II Laskaris (1222–1258), emperor of Nicaea, and traces their reception and interpretation in international historiography from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. Through a systematic review of scholarly works pro- duced over the last 170 years, including those of Dimiter Angelov, Christos Krikonis, Sophia Georgiopoulou and others, the study seeks to outline the development of academic perspectives on Laskaris’s intellectual legacy and political image. Special attention is devoted to how different historiograph- ical traditions—Byzantine, Western European, and modern Greek—have evaluated his contribution to the intellectual life of the Empire of Nicaea, his philosophical education, and his role as both ruler and thinker. By contextu- alizing these evolving interpretations, the article highlights the gradual trans- formation of Theodore II Laskaris from a marginal historical figure into a subject of nuanced scholarly appreciation within contemporary Byzantine studies.