RILOV R. O. Specifics of the Nicaean Empire state development

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        The period of "Byzantium in exile" (1204 – 1261) was not only a dark era for the Greeks. It was during the crisis that the new ruling dynasty, the Lascaris, had a chance to stop the destructive processes that had ruined Romei statehood since the time of the last Komnenos. Historians consider usually the Fourth Crusade (1202 – 1204) like a start of Late Byzantium period. "Byzantium in exile" wasn’t a subject of special research often. For example, P. I. Javoronkov and Michael Angold wrote about this state in Asia Minor. In this article the way in which Empire of Nicaea has changed and adapted in unfavorable foreign policy conditions is analyzed. Causes that led to the crisis and the loss of the capital of Byzantium also have been explored. Many features political, cultural and economic processes that we consider in this article have differences in comparison with the age of Palaiologos.

      In this period we can see strong power of emperor, what wasn’t in late Byzantium. Empire of Nicaea survived and reconquered Constantinople. But attempts to stop the destructive processes that destroyed Byzantium and led to an open rebellion of the ruling elites against Laskaris dynasty. The old aristocracy was afraid of strengthening the power of the emperor, because they were a closed group for a long time. It is the successes of state-building and became a reason for the ending of Laskaris state. Experience of demonstrates how a political and economical crisis, a military threat can make positively affect for the country and create conditions for overcoming the destructive processes of the past centuries.

      So when Basileus try to stop the destructive processes that destroyed Byzantium, this is led to an open rebellion of the ruling elites and the putsch.  The old aristocracy was afraid of strengthening the power of the emperor and for a long time became a closed group, when monarch can`t brought to ruling classes people of low descent without resistance of elite. It was the success of state-building and became a reason for Lescar ending of dynasty. This ruling family repeated the fate of their opponents - the Bulgarian Asen dynasty, they created a new kingdom, but was dumped by the nobles. However, the experience of the Nicaean Empire with a sad ending for its founders demonstrates how a crisis, a military threat and severe state trial can make positively affect for the country and create conditions for overcoming troubles and destructive processes of the past centuries.

    We can state that the period 1204 – 1261 was intermediate period in Byzantium history, what had had a lot of differences with the Palaiologos age.

Keywords: Byzantium, Empire of Nicaea, the Fourth Crusade, state traditions.