other fundamental Byzantine institutions. He also borrowed from the Latins and the Seljuqsthe military offices of konostaulos (a hellenization of "constable") and tzaousios (from Turkish çavuş), are first documented during his reign. He introduced his own currency, issuing electrum and billon coins, but he did not restore the Byzantine system of gold and copper coins. He levied regular taxes from 1216 at the latest. Following Byzantine patterns, he rewarded the aristocrats with tax-collecting rights. The Latins and the Venetians made treaties with him, thus acknowledging that his realm was destined to lasting existence. The defence of the Orthodox faith was the central ideology of Theodore's realm. Niketas Choniates compiled his Treasury of Orthodoxya treatise against heresyin the Nicaean court. He described the fall of Constantinople as a punishment for the Byzantines' sins and compared their exile into Asia Minor to the Israelites' Babylonian captivity. Theodore realized that he was unable to recapture Constantinople from the Latins, but located near the old Byzantine capital, Nicaea was ideally placed for its future reconquest. Historian Dimiter Angelov emphasizes that Theodore's political success was "due, in no small part, to his sanguine and pragmatic approach". He had an itinerant court, travelling from place to place and discussing political issues with the local noblemen. He was not afraid of commanding his armies in person. He hired Latin mercenaries, offering them salaries higher than the rulers of the Latin Empire. Family Theodore's first wife, Anna Komnene Angelina, was the second daughter of Emperor AlexiosIII. Her first husband, sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos Vatatzes, was a great-grandson of Emperor John II Komnenos. He died childless in 1196. Theodore and Anna had three daughters and two sons. Irene Laskarina was first given in marriage to the general Andronikos Palaiologos, who died without fathering children in 1212. Irene was married off to Constantine Doukas Palaiologos in 1216, but he also died childless. Irene's third husband, John III Doukas Vatatzes, succeeded Theodore on the throne. Maria Laskarina became the wife of King Béla IV of Hungary. Eudokia Laskarina's hand was offered to the Latin Emperor Robert I early in 1221, but the Orthodox patriarch's opposition prevented the marriage. Nicholas was declared his father's co-emperor in 1208, but he was not mentioned after 1210. John also died in childhood before 1213. Empress Anna died before 1213 and Theodore entered into negotiations about a new marriage with a daughter of Leo I, King of