The Battle of Demetrias in the 1270s was one of the last great Roman victories at sea, during the resurgent reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos. It’s also an incredible story of redemption for the Despot John Palaiologos who rapidly turned a defeat on land at nearby Neopatras into a victory by saving the day at Demetrias!
The Romans had actually suffered a big defeat at the battle Neopatras against a Roman state in Thessaly, ruled by a certain John Doukas, and his crusader ally the Duchy of Athens. Inspired by such a major success and sensing Roman weakness the Latins then sought total victory against the imperial fleet which was anchored at Demetrias!
Emboldened by their victory at Neopatras the set upon the Roman fleet, which was now stuck in the Gulf Volos. A victory, combined with the battle of Neopatras, wold serve to completely defeat the Romans. The Emperor had sent a large fleet of 73 ships, the largest Roman navy since the days of Manuel Komnenos. But now the Romans had to face fearsome and superior Venetian ships from Crete!
The Romans had more ships, but smaller and lesser ships. The contrast of the Roman & Venetian ships was like David & Goliath: “The assault of the large Latin ships, upon whose prows wooden towers had been erected, was so violent that many Greeks on the more numerous imperial vessels were thrown into the sea or wounded.”
Despite the initial shock of impact and heavy casualties, the Romans did not break despite the Latins initially having the upper-hand. They stood firm and fought just as bravely as the Latins. The battle had devolved into a long and savage fight aboard the ships in the Gulf of Volos. The Romans may have been fighting hard, but the Latins were gradually wearing them down.
Despite being defeated at Neopatras, the Despot John Palaiologos arrived on the scene with what remained of his army. To his great personal credit, despite being defeated, he gathered his men and set out for Demetrias. He raced 40 miles to the scene to help his compatriots in a dire struggle! It sounds like a scene from a movie.
As soon as John arrived he shouted to his fellow Romans “in a loud voice not to surrender. Enheartened, the Greeks began to rally, the more so as the Despot began to replace the tired and wounded with his own men who had found boats on shore.” John was going to redeem himself, he was not gonna go back to the Emperor as a loser.
The Latins, who had defeated John Palaiologos by receiving reinforcements from the Duchy of Athens at Neopatras, now were shocked by his appearance on the battlefield. They fought on but “the conflict raged throughout the day until at last the Latins were utterly defeated.”
It was a total victory. “All but two of their ships were captured; Guglielmo II dalle Carceri, triarch of Negroponte, was killed and many Latin nobles were taken prisoner” including the Venetian “Filippo Sanudo, possibly captain of the entire Latin forces.”
The battle opened up many Aegean islands to liberation by the Romans, most of Euboea would be temporarily retaken. Sadly the dramatic shift in Roman fortunes after the reign of Michael VIII meant this intriguing victory did not have the long term impact it otherwise may have! The military advantes gained here would all be lost.
Nonetheless, it is a fascinating and dramatic tale of battle!
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