his uncle, Theodore, who remained safely ensconced in his stronghold of Vodena. With his sons out of the picture, Theodore turned to the sole surviving member of his family who could claim Thessalonica and thwart Nicaea's plans, especially as Vatatzes, with no threats on his other borders, was mobilizing to capture Constantinople. Together, Michael and his uncle planned and launched a sudden attack on Thessalonica in spring 1251. The city resisted successfully, and in spring of the next year Vatatzes once more crossed into Europe. Michael and Theodore had turned to the north, capturing Prilep and Veles, and when they received news of Vatatzes' arrival, they withdrew to Epirus via Kastoria. Vatatzes besieged and captured Vodena and took Kastoria and Deabolis in winter 1252/53, but soon became bogged down in skirmishing in the area of Kastoria. The stalemate was broken when two Epirote generals, John Glabas and Michael's brother-in-law Theodore Petraliphas, defected to the Nicaeans, followed shortly after by the ruler of Kruja, Golem. This forced Michael to come to terms with Vatatzes, sending the Metropolitan of Naupaktos John Xeros, his brother-in-law Constantine Maliasenos, and a certain Lambetes. The treaty, concluded at Larissa, stipulated that Michael would cede not only the fortresses he had recently captured but all his remaining holdings in Macedonia, while Kruja would come under Vatatzes' suzerainty. Michael received the title of Despot anew from Vatatzes and the marriage alliance was reconfirmed, but Nikephoros was taken to Nicaea as a hostage for his father's behaviour. Furthermore, Vatatzes explicitly demanded the handing over of Theodore. While the Nikephoros received the title of Despot and soon allowed to return to Epirus, Theodore was moved as a prisoner to Asia Minor where he died shortly after, in ca. 1253. When he was forced to surrender Dyrrhachium and Servia to the Nicaeans in 1256, Michael determined again to expand his state at Nicaea's expense. However, while he was advancing towards Thessalonica, King Manfred of Sicily seized Dyrrhachium and its environs. Resolved to take Thessalonica, Michael came to terms with Manfred and sent him his daughter as wife, ceding the lost towns and the island of Corfu as dowry. He also concluded an alliance with Prince William II Villehardouin of Achaea. The troops of the three allies overran the Nicaean possessions in Macedonia and in 1259 prepared to fight the Nicaean army led by John Palaiologos, a brother of Emperor Michael VIII