The Serbs occupy parts of northern and eastern Albania toward the end of the twelfth century.

In 1204, after Western crusaders sack Constantinople, Venice wins nominal control over Albania and the Epirus region of northern Greece and takes possession of Durrës.

A prince from the overthrown imperial ruling family, Michael Komnenos, makes alliances with Albanian chiefs and drives the Venetians from lands that now make up southern Albania and northern Greece.

In 1204 he sets up an independent principality, the Despotate of Epirus, with Janina (now Ioannina in northwest Greece) as its capital.

Michael Komnenos Doukas, a prince from the deposed imperial ruling family, makes alliances with Albanian chiefs and drives the Venetians from lands that now make up southern Albania and northern Greece, and in 1205 he sets up an independent principality, the Despotate of Epirus, with Janina (now Ioánnina in northwest Greece) as its capital.

Michael is the illegitimate son of the sebastokrator John Doukas and is thus a first cousin of the emperors Isaac II Angelos and Alexios III Angelos.

Alexios III, following his unsuccessful attempt to recover the imperial throne, has wandered about Greece, eventually surrendering to Boniface of Montferrat, now master of a great part of the Balkan Peninsula, but leaves his protection to seek shelter with Michael of Epirus.