John Doukas (son of Michael II)

John Doukas (Greek: Ἰωάννης Δούκας, Iōannēs Doúkas) was a son of the Despot of Epirus, Michael II Komnenos Doukas, and a general in Byzantine service.

[citation needed] John was the second-born son of the Despot of Epirus, Michael II Komnenos Doukas, and Theodora Petraliphaina.

[1][2] In 1261 his mother brought him as a hostage to the Byzantine court at Constantinople, where he married Tornikina Komnene (of unknown first name), the second-born daughter of the sebastokrator Constantine Tornikios.

[3][4] The couple had at least one daughter, Helena, but the marriage was unhappy, with John apparently despising his wife.

As a result, he was imprisoned and blinded in 1280, and committed suicide shortly after.