Epiros

   A mountainous region in what is now southern Albania and northwestern Greece (qq.v.), separated from the rest of Greece by the Pindos (q.v.) mountain range. In the fourth century its administration was divided into the province of Old Epiros, with its capital at Nikopolis (q.v.), and New Epiros, farther north, with its capital at Dyrrachion (q.v.). The cities, the most important of which are located on coastal plains, like the port-city of Avlon, were affected by the raids of Vandals (q.v.). Nikopolis was briefly captured by the Vandals in 474. The region was also affected by barbarian raids in 517 and in 539-540, prompting Justinian I (q.v.) to build and refurbish fortifications in the region. These seem to have withstood an invasion of Ostrogoths (q.v.) in 551, but not the invasions of Avars and Slavs (qq.v.) in the 580s. By about 615 the cities were overrun and the region depopulated. Byzantine hegemony was reestablished slowly, beginning in the ninth century with the creation of the themes (q.v.) of Dyrrachion and Nikopolis. The region fell under the domination of the despotate of Epiros (q.v.) in 1204, and then (after 1264) by independent Greek despots (q.v.) until 1318. Thereafter, successive rulers included Italians (the Orsini and Tocco families), Albanians, and Serbs (qq.v.). For example, the Serb Thomas Preljubovic ruled over Ioannina (q.v.) from 1366-1384, defending it from Albanian attacks. The Ottomans (q.v.) conquered the region in the 15th century. Intermittent invasions and migrations of peoples created a diverse society that included not only Greeks but also Slavs, Vlachs, Albanians, Jews, Turks, and even Armenians (qq.v.).