The Achaeans against Byzantium

With the Byzantine Empire re-established at Constantinople Michael rebuilt the army and navy. The Latin Principality of Achaea broke the treaty and defeated Michael's brother Constantine at Prinitza 1262 and Makry Plagi 1263 securing the Latin state for a generation. A more serious threat came from the Angevin, Charles of Anjou who after securing Sicily sought to expand in the Balkans. He inherited Achea in 1278 and Prince Nicephorus of Epirus declared himself a vassal the following year. With this base Charles poured troops into Albania and besieged Berat. The relieving army fortunately captured the Angevin commander panicking the rest of the army which was destroyed in the retreat. The war of the Sicilian Vespers ended the Angevin threat to Byzantium.