 Taking advantage of John III Vatatzes ' invasion of Rhodes , John launched a military expedition across the <unk> against the Empire of Nicaea in 1233 . His three @-@ to @-@ four @-@ month campaign " achieved little , or nothing " ; the <unk> only seized <unk> , now <unk> in Turkey . With John 's approval , two Franciscan and two Dominican <unk> wanted to mediate a truce between the Latin Empire and Nicaea in 1234 but it was never signed . In a letter describing their negotiations , the <unk> described John as a " <unk> " abandoned by his mercenaries . 
