Early in 1253, Emperor Frederick II's son and successor, Conrad (), forced most relatives of his father's mistress, Bianca Lancia, into exile. They fled to Nicaea and sought asylum from Bianca's daughter, Empress Constanza-Anna. Since his father was staying in Thrace, the exiles were received by Theodore. Conrad changed his mind and sent the erudite Berthold of Hohenburg, an in-law of the Lancias, to Nicaea to begin negotiations with them. While waiting for his father's return from Thrace, Theodore had philosophical conversations with Hohenburg. The study of ancient Greek philosophers had intensified in Europe, and Hohenburg asked Theodore for Greek philosophical works. This request reinforced Theodore's pride in the Greeks' ancient heritage, and he decided to publish his own works.
earlY in 1253 EMperoR frEdERiCK iI's son and sucCeSsor COnrad () foRced most reLativEs Of hiS FathER's misTresS bianca lAncia into eXilE ThEy Fled tO nicaEA anD sOUgHt asylum froM biANca's dAUGhtEr empreSs coNsTANZa-anNa sInce his faTheR wAS STaying in tHRACe The exiles WEre reCeived By TheodOre conRaD changeD his Mind anD sEnt the eRudIte berthoLd of hOhenbuRG An in-LAw of ThE lancias TO niCAea tO BEGin NegotIatioNs With them wHile waitInG foR his FatheR's reTurn FRom thrace theODoRe hAD PHiLosopHical coNversaTiONS with hohENbUrg thE stuDY OF anciENt greek pHilosoPhErs had iNtenSiFiEd in Europe and HOhenbUrG AsKed theodoRe for greek pHiLOsOPHIcal workS thiS REquEst reinforCed theodoRe's pridE in ThE grEEKS' AnCieNt heRitage And He decIded to pUBlIsh HiS owN WOrks