Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
Moderator: MOD_nyhetsgrupper
-
Kelsey Williams
Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
Hello,
Recently, while reading Ruth Macrides' article "What's in the Name
"Megas Komnenos"?" (_Archeion Pontou_ 35 [1975], 238-245) I noticed an
interesting footnote (p. 244, n. 1) in which she states that Theodoros
Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaia (d. 1222) used the name Komnenos and that
this usage is also common to his brothers Alexios and Konstantinos
(thus indicating that he did not acquire the name through his marriage
with Anna Angelina). Upon looking into the matter I discovered that
Konstantinos also used the name Doukas, as well as Laskaris and
Komnenos (see ES II: 182).
This interests me considerably as Theodoros' ancestry is essentially
unknown (ES names his father as Manuel Laskaris and his mother as
Ioanna Karatzas/Phokaina but I'm unaware of the accuracy or origin of
these names). Based on the usage of the names Doukas & Komnenos I'm
inclined to suspect that Theodoros and his siblings may descend from
one of the first three Komnenos-Doukas marriages:
1) Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium (1048/57-1118) = Eirene
Doukaina
2) Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos (d. 1105) = Zoe Doukaina
3) Ioannes Komnenos, strategos of Dyrrhachion (d. ca. 1106) = Anna
Doukaina
An additional clue concerning his origin could be the name of his
brother, Georgios, which seems to be fairly uncommon compared to other
Byzantine names.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
Recently, while reading Ruth Macrides' article "What's in the Name
"Megas Komnenos"?" (_Archeion Pontou_ 35 [1975], 238-245) I noticed an
interesting footnote (p. 244, n. 1) in which she states that Theodoros
Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaia (d. 1222) used the name Komnenos and that
this usage is also common to his brothers Alexios and Konstantinos
(thus indicating that he did not acquire the name through his marriage
with Anna Angelina). Upon looking into the matter I discovered that
Konstantinos also used the name Doukas, as well as Laskaris and
Komnenos (see ES II: 182).
This interests me considerably as Theodoros' ancestry is essentially
unknown (ES names his father as Manuel Laskaris and his mother as
Ioanna Karatzas/Phokaina but I'm unaware of the accuracy or origin of
these names). Based on the usage of the names Doukas & Komnenos I'm
inclined to suspect that Theodoros and his siblings may descend from
one of the first three Komnenos-Doukas marriages:
1) Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium (1048/57-1118) = Eirene
Doukaina
2) Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos (d. 1105) = Zoe Doukaina
3) Ioannes Komnenos, strategos of Dyrrhachion (d. ca. 1106) = Anna
Doukaina
An additional clue concerning his origin could be the name of his
brother, Georgios, which seems to be fairly uncommon compared to other
Byzantine names.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
-
Peter Stewart
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
"Kelsey Williams" <gkkwilliams@cowboy.net> wrote in message
news:1111798855.388230.90290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
As Ruth Macrides pointed out, a number of prominent famiies were using the
surname Komnenos by the 13th century, "either on the strength of direct
[sic...] descent from, or marriage into" the family. In the case of the
Laskareis, there may perhaps have been a blood connection, but if so it
can't be recovered from the evidence. But I don't think Macrides had taken
the trouble to check every individual who used the surname Komnenos and find
a definite rationale for this in blood or marriage. We can't be sure of the
pretext in every case.
I'm not sure where ES has found Konstantinos using the name Doukas, but this
is not recorded in _The Doukai: A Contribution to Byzantine Prosopography_
by Demetrios Polemis (London, 1968).
Given the propensity of ambitious, or merely pretentious, families to claim
some link to the Komnenoi, there might have been something much looser
behind this particular usage than the kind of relationship you are
suggesting. For instance, Manuel Erotikos, the first known progenitor of the
Komnenoi, had a son named Nikephoros who was governor of Vaspurakhan in the
11th century: an earlier Nikephoros Erotikos had been a teacher of geometry
in the mid-10th century (possibly the same man as the founder of Mount
Tmolos monastery, later an ambassador). The name Laskaris is thought to be
derived from a word meaning teacher in the dialect of Cappadocia, according
to Polemis - in other words, an old common descent with a family that had
risen to greatness, or just the legend of this from a professional link,
could have been all be the excuse needed for taking up the surname Komnenos.
By the way, Emperor Theodoros Laskaris by his first wife had a daughter
Eirene who called herself both Doukaina and Komnene, but she had a proven
hereditary claim to both surnames through her mother.
Peter Stewart
news:1111798855.388230.90290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
Recently, while reading Ruth Macrides' article "What's in the Name
"Megas Komnenos"?" (_Archeion Pontou_ 35 [1975], 238-245) I noticed an
interesting footnote (p. 244, n. 1) in which she states that Theodoros
Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaia (d. 1222) used the name Komnenos and that
this usage is also common to his brothers Alexios and Konstantinos
(thus indicating that he did not acquire the name through his marriage
with Anna Angelina). Upon looking into the matter I discovered that
Konstantinos also used the name Doukas, as well as Laskaris and
Komnenos (see ES II: 182).
As Ruth Macrides pointed out, a number of prominent famiies were using the
surname Komnenos by the 13th century, "either on the strength of direct
[sic...] descent from, or marriage into" the family. In the case of the
Laskareis, there may perhaps have been a blood connection, but if so it
can't be recovered from the evidence. But I don't think Macrides had taken
the trouble to check every individual who used the surname Komnenos and find
a definite rationale for this in blood or marriage. We can't be sure of the
pretext in every case.
I'm not sure where ES has found Konstantinos using the name Doukas, but this
is not recorded in _The Doukai: A Contribution to Byzantine Prosopography_
by Demetrios Polemis (London, 1968).
This interests me considerably as Theodoros' ancestry is essentially
unknown (ES names his father as Manuel Laskaris and his mother as
Ioanna Karatzas/Phokaina but I'm unaware of the accuracy or origin of
these names). Based on the usage of the names Doukas & Komnenos I'm
inclined to suspect that Theodoros and his siblings may descend from
one of the first three Komnenos-Doukas marriages:
1) Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium (1048/57-1118) = Eirene
Doukaina
2) Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos (d. 1105) = Zoe Doukaina
3) Ioannes Komnenos, strategos of Dyrrhachion (d. ca. 1106) = Anna
Doukaina
An additional clue concerning his origin could be the name of his
brother, Georgios, which seems to be fairly uncommon compared to other
Byzantine names.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Given the propensity of ambitious, or merely pretentious, families to claim
some link to the Komnenoi, there might have been something much looser
behind this particular usage than the kind of relationship you are
suggesting. For instance, Manuel Erotikos, the first known progenitor of the
Komnenoi, had a son named Nikephoros who was governor of Vaspurakhan in the
11th century: an earlier Nikephoros Erotikos had been a teacher of geometry
in the mid-10th century (possibly the same man as the founder of Mount
Tmolos monastery, later an ambassador). The name Laskaris is thought to be
derived from a word meaning teacher in the dialect of Cappadocia, according
to Polemis - in other words, an old common descent with a family that had
risen to greatness, or just the legend of this from a professional link,
could have been all be the excuse needed for taking up the surname Komnenos.
By the way, Emperor Theodoros Laskaris by his first wife had a daughter
Eirene who called herself both Doukaina and Komnene, but she had a proven
hereditary claim to both surnames through her mother.
Peter Stewart
-
Gjest
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
I believe Alexius I's daughter Maria married Gregorios Gabras. Week
but gets a Gregorios in the mix.
Doug
but gets a Gregorios in the mix.
Doug
-
Peter Stewart
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
<alden@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1111804126.159117.203030@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
I'm not clear how Gregorios Gabras and Maria Komnene would add to the mix
regarding the origins of Theodoros Laskaris - can you elaborate?
This pair were separated by their families, and it isn't certain that they
had been actually married in the first place or just intending this step.
Peter Stewart
news:1111804126.159117.203030@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
I believe Alexius I's daughter Maria married Gregorios Gabras. Week
but gets a Gregorios in the mix.
I'm not clear how Gregorios Gabras and Maria Komnene would add to the mix
regarding the origins of Theodoros Laskaris - can you elaborate?
This pair were separated by their families, and it isn't certain that they
had been actually married in the first place or just intending this step.
Peter Stewart
-
eachwaynet
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
.The name Laskaris is thought to be derived from a word meaning teacher in
the dialect of Cappadocia, according to Polemis - in other words, an old
common descent with a family that had risen to greatness, or just the
legend of this from a professional link, could have been all be the excuse
needed for taking up the surname Komnenos
To me, this is an allegation without any legs to stand.
"Laskaris" propably translates to "easy going" or "or
quite-confortoble-giving".
Propably a typical Greek-Roman name.
I guess that the Greek word used today "Laskerno" = "giving space". is close
to the Latin one.
The Italian word is "Lasciare".
I would like to see tha Cappadocian word that resembles the word "Laskaris"
The Laskaris are not blood related to any other Emperos.
"Peter Stewart" <p_m_stewart@msn.com> wrote in message
news:mk31e.12122$C7.1242@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
"Kelsey Williams" <gkkwilliams@cowboy.net> wrote in message
news:1111798855.388230.90290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
Recently, while reading Ruth Macrides' article "What's in the Name
"Megas Komnenos"?" (_Archeion Pontou_ 35 [1975], 238-245) I noticed an
interesting footnote (p. 244, n. 1) in which she states that Theodoros
Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaia (d. 1222) used the name Komnenos and that
this usage is also common to his brothers Alexios and Konstantinos
(thus indicating that he did not acquire the name through his marriage
with Anna Angelina). Upon looking into the matter I discovered that
Konstantinos also used the name Doukas, as well as Laskaris and
Komnenos (see ES II: 182).
As Ruth Macrides pointed out, a number of prominent famiies were using the
surname Komnenos by the 13th century, "either on the strength of direct
[sic...] descent from, or marriage into" the family. In the case of the
Laskareis, there may perhaps have been a blood connection, but if so it
can't be recovered from the evidence. But I don't think Macrides had taken
the trouble to check every individual who used the surname Komnenos and
find a definite rationale for this in blood or marriage. We can't be sure
of the pretext in every case.
I'm not sure where ES has found Konstantinos using the name Doukas, but
this is not recorded in _The Doukai: A Contribution to Byzantine
Prosopography_ by Demetrios Polemis (London, 1968).
This interests me considerably as Theodoros' ancestry is essentially
unknown (ES names his father as Manuel Laskaris and his mother as
Ioanna Karatzas/Phokaina but I'm unaware of the accuracy or origin of
these names). Based on the usage of the names Doukas & Komnenos I'm
inclined to suspect that Theodoros and his siblings may descend from
one of the first three Komnenos-Doukas marriages:
1) Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium (1048/57-1118) = Eirene
Doukaina
2) Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos (d. 1105) = Zoe Doukaina
3) Ioannes Komnenos, strategos of Dyrrhachion (d. ca. 1106) = Anna
Doukaina
An additional clue concerning his origin could be the name of his
brother, Georgios, which seems to be fairly uncommon compared to other
Byzantine names.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Given the propensity of ambitious, or merely pretentious, families to
claim some link to the Komnenoi, there might have been something much
looser behind this particular usage than the kind of relationship you are
suggesting. For instance, Manuel Erotikos, the first known progenitor of
the Komnenoi, had a son named Nikephoros who was governor of Vaspurakhan
in the 11th century: an earlier Nikephoros Erotikos had been a teacher of
geometry in the mid-10th century (possibly the same man as the founder of
Mount Tmolos monastery, later an ambassador). The name Laskaris is thought
to be derived from a word meaning teacher in the dialect of Cappadocia,
according to Polemis - in other words, an old common descent with a family
that had risen to greatness, or just the legend of this from a
professional link, could have been all be the excuse needed for taking up
the surname Komnenos.
By the way, Emperor Theodoros Laskaris by his first wife had a daughter
Eirene who called herself both Doukaina and Komnene, but she had a proven
hereditary claim to both surnames through her mother.
Peter Stewart
-
Peter Stewart
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
"eachwaynet" <akrogiali@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:424500f3$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
If you wish to argue against a fairly well-established consensus of
scholars - NB this is not MY idea, I merely mentioned it - you will need to
do some research, beyond just make arbitrary comments.
I already gave one reference where you can find this - it isn't "laskaris"
to start with, so that all the above is quite beside the question.
How can you possibly know this? The problem is that we can't trace the
Laskareis back to find out what other families were related to them. That is
why this thread was started.
Peter Stewart
news:424500f3$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
.The name Laskaris is thought to be derived from a word meaning teacher
in the dialect of Cappadocia, according to Polemis - in other words, an
old common descent with a family that had risen to greatness, or just the
legend of this from a professional link, could have been all be the
excuse needed for taking up the surname Komnenos
To me, this is an allegation without any legs to stand.
If you wish to argue against a fairly well-established consensus of
scholars - NB this is not MY idea, I merely mentioned it - you will need to
do some research, beyond just make arbitrary comments.
"Laskaris" propably translates to "easy going" or "or
quite-confortoble-giving".
Propably a typical Greek-Roman name.
I guess that the Greek word used today "Laskerno" = "giving space". is
close to the Latin one.
The Italian word is "Lasciare".
I would like to see tha Cappadocian word that resembles the word
"Laskaris"
I already gave one reference where you can find this - it isn't "laskaris"
to start with, so that all the above is quite beside the question.
The Laskaris are not blood related to any other Emperos.
How can you possibly know this? The problem is that we can't trace the
Laskareis back to find out what other families were related to them. That is
why this thread was started.
Peter Stewart
-
Kelsey Williams
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
Peter Stewart wrote:
That's true. The connection could easily be either very distant or
simply fictional, especially if, as you observe, the evidence for
Konstantinos bearing the name Doukas is doubtful. I was probably being
rather over-optimistic in my initial post.
Just for the record, the _Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium_ states (II:
1180) that, "the most probable etymology of Laskaris is from a Persian
word meaning "warrior" (F. Justi, _Iranisches Namenbuch_ [Marburg,
1895; rp. Hildesheim, 1963] 183)." Whether Justi's opinion is still
considered to be valid, though, I do not know.
Thanks for your comments!
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
"Kelsey Williams" <gkkwilliams@cowboy.net> wrote in message
news:1111798855.388230.90290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
Recently, while reading Ruth Macrides' article "What's in the Name
"Megas Komnenos"?" (_Archeion Pontou_ 35 [1975], 238-245) I noticed
an
interesting footnote (p. 244, n. 1) in which she states that
Theodoros
Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaia (d. 1222) used the name Komnenos and
that
this usage is also common to his brothers Alexios and Konstantinos
(thus indicating that he did not acquire the name through his
marriage
with Anna Angelina). Upon looking into the matter I discovered
that
Konstantinos also used the name Doukas, as well as Laskaris and
Komnenos (see ES II: 182).
As Ruth Macrides pointed out, a number of prominent famiies were
using the
surname Komnenos by the 13th century, "either on the strength of
direct
[sic...] descent from, or marriage into" the family. In the case of
the
Laskareis, there may perhaps have been a blood connection, but if so
it
can't be recovered from the evidence. But I don't think Macrides had
taken
the trouble to check every individual who used the surname Komnenos
and find
a definite rationale for this in blood or marriage. We can't be sure
of the
pretext in every case.
I'm not sure where ES has found Konstantinos using the name Doukas,
but this
is not recorded in _The Doukai: A Contribution to Byzantine
Prosopography_
by Demetrios Polemis (London, 1968).
This interests me considerably as Theodoros' ancestry is
essentially
unknown (ES names his father as Manuel Laskaris and his mother as
Ioanna Karatzas/Phokaina but I'm unaware of the accuracy or origin
of
these names). Based on the usage of the names Doukas & Komnenos
I'm
inclined to suspect that Theodoros and his siblings may descend
from
one of the first three Komnenos-Doukas marriages:
1) Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium (1048/57-1118) = Eirene
Doukaina
2) Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos (d. 1105) = Zoe Doukaina
3) Ioannes Komnenos, strategos of Dyrrhachion (d. ca. 1106) = Anna
Doukaina
An additional clue concerning his origin could be the name of his
brother, Georgios, which seems to be fairly uncommon compared to
other
Byzantine names.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?
Given the propensity of ambitious, or merely pretentious, families to
claim
some link to the Komnenoi, there might have been something much
looser
behind this particular usage than the kind of relationship you are
suggesting. For instance, Manuel Erotikos, the first known progenitor
of the
Komnenoi, had a son named Nikephoros who was governor of Vaspurakhan
in the
11th century: an earlier Nikephoros Erotikos had been a teacher of
geometry
in the mid-10th century (possibly the same man as the founder of
Mount
Tmolos monastery, later an ambassador). The name Laskaris is thought
to be
derived from a word meaning teacher in the dialect of Cappadocia,
according
to Polemis - in other words, an old common descent with a family that
had
risen to greatness, or just the legend of this from a professional
link,
could have been all be the excuse needed for taking up the surname
Komnenos.
By the way, Emperor Theodoros Laskaris by his first wife had a
daughter
Eirene who called herself both Doukaina and Komnene, but she had a
proven
hereditary claim to both surnames through her mother.
Peter Stewart
That's true. The connection could easily be either very distant or
simply fictional, especially if, as you observe, the evidence for
Konstantinos bearing the name Doukas is doubtful. I was probably being
rather over-optimistic in my initial post.
Just for the record, the _Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium_ states (II:
1180) that, "the most probable etymology of Laskaris is from a Persian
word meaning "warrior" (F. Justi, _Iranisches Namenbuch_ [Marburg,
1895; rp. Hildesheim, 1963] 183)." Whether Justi's opinion is still
considered to be valid, though, I do not know.
Thanks for your comments!
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
-
Gjest
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
In a message dated 26/03/2005 16:08:15 GMT Standard Time,
gkkwilliams@cowboy.net writes:
gkkwilliams@cowboy.net writes:
Laskaris
I wonder if the word 'Lascar' comes from this?
PG
-
Peter Stewart
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
<PDeloriol@aol.com> wrote in message news:1a1.305c1961.2f76fe99@aol.com...
'Lascar' comes (through Portuguese, for a native soldier or especially
sailor in the East Indies) from the Urdu "lashkari", the adjectival form of
the word for a warrior that Kelsey mentioned.
However, there is no other suggestion of a Persian background for the family
of Theodoros Laskaris, and the theory of a Cappadocian dialect word has
tended to supplant this earlier & more exotic idea of his surname's origin.
Peter Stewart
In a message dated 26/03/2005 16:08:15 GMT Standard Time,
gkkwilliams@cowboy.net writes:
Laskaris
I wonder if the word 'Lascar' comes from this?
'Lascar' comes (through Portuguese, for a native soldier or especially
sailor in the East Indies) from the Urdu "lashkari", the adjectival form of
the word for a warrior that Kelsey mentioned.
However, there is no other suggestion of a Persian background for the family
of Theodoros Laskaris, and the theory of a Cappadocian dialect word has
tended to supplant this earlier & more exotic idea of his surname's origin.
Peter Stewart
-
Eachwaynet
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
If you wish to argue against a fairly well-established consensus of
scholars - NB this is not MY idea, I merely mentioned it - you will need
to do some research, beyond just make arbitrary comments.
Fairly well-established consensus means in plain English:
Unsubstantiated allegations. In other words, NOTHING.
The Laskaris are probably (that is not a Fairly well-established consensus)
originate from Peloponesse of the Ionian Island or the east Italian coast.
They were probably the best leaders, much better that the Komninos or
Angellos or Doukas.
They establish Nicea from nothing, and although small, Nicea was surrounded
by numerous enemies.
In the Greek eyes, the Laskaris did not need to call themselves "Komninos"
or "Doukas" because had nothing to gain.
They were at least as good if not better.
"Peter Stewart" <p_m_stewart@msn.com> wrote in message
news:ep71e.12363$C7.2554@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
"eachwaynet" <akrogiali@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:424500f3$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
.The name Laskaris is thought to be derived from a word meaning teacher
in the dialect of Cappadocia, according to Polemis - in other words, an
old common descent with a family that had risen to greatness, or just
the legend of this from a professional link, could have been all be the
excuse needed for taking up the surname Komnenos
To me, this is an allegation without any legs to stand.
"Laskaris" propably translates to "easy going" or "or
quite-confortoble-giving".
Propably a typical Greek-Roman name.
I guess that the Greek word used today "Laskerno" = "giving space". is
close to the Latin one.
The Italian word is "Lasciare".
I would like to see tha Cappadocian word that resembles the word
"Laskaris"
I already gave one reference where you can find this - it isn't "laskaris"
to start with, so that all the above is quite beside the question.
The Laskaris are not blood related to any other Emperos.
How can you possibly know this? The problem is that we can't trace the
Laskareis back to find out what other families were related to them. That
is why this thread was started.
Peter Stewart
-
Peter Stewart
Re: Origins of Theodoros I Laskaris
"Eachwaynet" <eachwaynet@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:4247280d$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
No, it means that scholars who have taken the trouble to look into the
question are generally of a certain opinion that you have rejected without
even bothering to find out its basis.
"Probably", but somehow not enough for this probability to become a
consensus? I think the appropriate word in this case is "possibly".
They? Theodoros I Laskaris lasted less than two decades as emperor. His
successors were his son-in-law Ioannes Doukas Batatzes and the latter's son
Theodoros II, neither of them a Laskaris by birth.
Nicaea was an ancient centre - have you never heard of the Council of
Nicaea? Or the Nicene creed, perhaps? The remnant empire that Theodoros I
built up from Nicaea was a military achievement, giving heart to an idea of
nationhood that might otherwise have taken root elsewhere - his success was
partly won against Greek rivals, and in the long run his career added little
or nothing to the history of Byzantine statecraft.
The point is that in the eyes of Theodoros Laskaris himself there was
something to be gained, as he called himself Komnenos.
The Komnenos dynasty looms much larger in history because it lasted much
longer and achieved a great deal more over time than the Laskareis. It
loomed larger in his own view because it was already part of Greek history
when he borrowed the surname. The fact that Laskaris may better suit modern
sensibilities as a hero of the nation is beside the point in this
discussion.
Peter Stewart
news:4247280d$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
If you wish to argue against a fairly well-established consensus of
scholars - NB this is not MY idea, I merely mentioned it - you will need
to do some research, beyond just make arbitrary comments.
Fairly well-established consensus means in plain English:
Unsubstantiated allegations. In other words, NOTHING.
No, it means that scholars who have taken the trouble to look into the
question are generally of a certain opinion that you have rejected without
even bothering to find out its basis.
The Laskaris are probably (that is not a Fairly well-established
consensus)
originate from Peloponesse of the Ionian Island or the east Italian
coast.
"Probably", but somehow not enough for this probability to become a
consensus? I think the appropriate word in this case is "possibly".
They were probably the best leaders, much better that the Komninos or
Angellos or Doukas.
They? Theodoros I Laskaris lasted less than two decades as emperor. His
successors were his son-in-law Ioannes Doukas Batatzes and the latter's son
Theodoros II, neither of them a Laskaris by birth.
They establish Nicea from nothing, and although small, Nicea was
surrounded by numerous enemies.
Nicaea was an ancient centre - have you never heard of the Council of
Nicaea? Or the Nicene creed, perhaps? The remnant empire that Theodoros I
built up from Nicaea was a military achievement, giving heart to an idea of
nationhood that might otherwise have taken root elsewhere - his success was
partly won against Greek rivals, and in the long run his career added little
or nothing to the history of Byzantine statecraft.
In the Greek eyes, the Laskaris did not need to call themselves "Komninos"
or "Doukas" because had nothing to gain.
They were at least as good if not better.
The point is that in the eyes of Theodoros Laskaris himself there was
something to be gained, as he called himself Komnenos.
The Komnenos dynasty looms much larger in history because it lasted much
longer and achieved a great deal more over time than the Laskareis. It
loomed larger in his own view because it was already part of Greek history
when he borrowed the surname. The fact that Laskaris may better suit modern
sensibilities as a hero of the nation is beside the point in this
discussion.
Peter Stewart