DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0049
24 I. THE LYCOS VALLEY.
either by Acropolita p. 19, or by Gregoras I p. 21. Their silence
suggests that the terms were not very honourable to the Byzantine
emperor] ; and it is clear from subsequent history that Laodiceia
was now abandoned to the Turks, and Tripolis became the frontier
city, with the Maeander dividing the Turkish from the Byzantine
territory. It is noteworthy that Theodore advanced, not by Phila-
delpheia and Tripolis, but across the Caystros2, which suggests that
the former route was unsafe and exposed to the Turks.
§ 11. The Turkish Conquest, 1210-1306. In 1243 John Vatatzes
had a conference at Tripolis with the sultan Az-ed-din; and a peace
and alliance was arranged. The Turks made a temporary bridge of
wood across the Maeander to facilitate the conference. Gregoras I
p. 41 says that this peace was of great advantage to the Christians,
giving them rest from the constant wars that had been going on'". It
was probably at this time that Vatatzes fortified Tripolis so strongly
that it held out against the Turks for more than fifty years longer4.
In 1258 the sultan Gaiath-ed-din, being hard pressed by the
Tartars, sought help from Theodore II, and restored Laodiceia to him.
It was occupied by Byzantine troops, but was too distant to be main-
tained, and soon passed back into the hands of the Turks. Tripolis
however continued a Roman city, though hard pressed by the Turks,
who evidently held all the territory around 5 with the pass leading to
Philadelpheia. Tripolis was the outpost of the empire, and lightened
the task of defending Philadelpheia. But, being entirely isolated, its
inhabitants found great difficulty in keeping it provisioned, and at
1 Gregoras only says that the Turkish probably settled by the peace of 1210,
ambassadors did not get all they de- and confirmed in 1243, and again when
sired; the terms are made clear by the Theodore II succeeded Vatatzes in 1255
sequel of events. (Acrop. p. 112).
2 This implies probably that he went 4 Neither Gregoras nor Acropolita
by Ephesos ; but it is also possible that mentions the fortification of Tripolis ;
he took the unusual and difficult road but Pachymcres II 433, when describ-
by Sardis and Hypaipa, crossing both ing its capture shortly before 1306,
Tmolos and Messogis. mentions that the emperor Ducas, i.e.
3 The meeting was evidently fixed at John Ducas Vatatzes, had fortified it.
Tripolis as being the frontier city of the ° Therefore it is clear that Bulladan
Byzantine empire ; and the Maeander was the Turkish town; its inhabitants
therefore was the limit between Turkish had submitted peaceably, while Tripolis,
and Christian territory. Acropolita when captured, was either destroyed or
p. 112 says that Philadelpheia was near allowed to pass into decay. It has long
the frontier (eulogizing the warlike been quite deserted, its population
character of its people); but this state- having moved to New-Village (Yeni-
ment is quite consistent with a frontier Keui) a mile or two distant.
on the Maeander. The frontier was
either by Acropolita p. 19, or by Gregoras I p. 21. Their silence
suggests that the terms were not very honourable to the Byzantine
emperor] ; and it is clear from subsequent history that Laodiceia
was now abandoned to the Turks, and Tripolis became the frontier
city, with the Maeander dividing the Turkish from the Byzantine
territory. It is noteworthy that Theodore advanced, not by Phila-
delpheia and Tripolis, but across the Caystros2, which suggests that
the former route was unsafe and exposed to the Turks.
§ 11. The Turkish Conquest, 1210-1306. In 1243 John Vatatzes
had a conference at Tripolis with the sultan Az-ed-din; and a peace
and alliance was arranged. The Turks made a temporary bridge of
wood across the Maeander to facilitate the conference. Gregoras I
p. 41 says that this peace was of great advantage to the Christians,
giving them rest from the constant wars that had been going on'". It
was probably at this time that Vatatzes fortified Tripolis so strongly
that it held out against the Turks for more than fifty years longer4.
In 1258 the sultan Gaiath-ed-din, being hard pressed by the
Tartars, sought help from Theodore II, and restored Laodiceia to him.
It was occupied by Byzantine troops, but was too distant to be main-
tained, and soon passed back into the hands of the Turks. Tripolis
however continued a Roman city, though hard pressed by the Turks,
who evidently held all the territory around 5 with the pass leading to
Philadelpheia. Tripolis was the outpost of the empire, and lightened
the task of defending Philadelpheia. But, being entirely isolated, its
inhabitants found great difficulty in keeping it provisioned, and at
1 Gregoras only says that the Turkish probably settled by the peace of 1210,
ambassadors did not get all they de- and confirmed in 1243, and again when
sired; the terms are made clear by the Theodore II succeeded Vatatzes in 1255
sequel of events. (Acrop. p. 112).
2 This implies probably that he went 4 Neither Gregoras nor Acropolita
by Ephesos ; but it is also possible that mentions the fortification of Tripolis ;
he took the unusual and difficult road but Pachymcres II 433, when describ-
by Sardis and Hypaipa, crossing both ing its capture shortly before 1306,
Tmolos and Messogis. mentions that the emperor Ducas, i.e.
3 The meeting was evidently fixed at John Ducas Vatatzes, had fortified it.
Tripolis as being the frontier city of the ° Therefore it is clear that Bulladan
Byzantine empire ; and the Maeander was the Turkish town; its inhabitants
therefore was the limit between Turkish had submitted peaceably, while Tripolis,
and Christian territory. Acropolita when captured, was either destroyed or
p. 112 says that Philadelpheia was near allowed to pass into decay. It has long
the frontier (eulogizing the warlike been quite deserted, its population
character of its people); but this state- having moved to New-Village (Yeni-
ment is quite consistent with a frontier Keui) a mile or two distant.
on the Maeander. The frontier was