In George Akropolites’ The History, the Epirotes are clearly distinguished from the Romans (Byzantines). Akropolites refers to them as “the western race” or “the inhabitants of the western parts” (§80), thereby establishing that they do not belong to the Roman (Greek Byzantine) ethnos. All authors without exception identify the Albanians as the direct descendants of those ancient Epirotes. Therefore, the population of the region and the core element of the so-called Despotate of Epiros were Albanians.
This ethnic separation is reinforced by his description of the Epirote rulers, who repeatedly break oaths (§25, §38, §49), usurp imperial power (§21, §26, §40), and demonstrate ignorance of proper Roman customs and traditions (§21). These traits portray the Epirotes as culturally alien to Byzantine Roman norms.
Akropolites also notes the unclear origins of the state commonly (though erroneously and conveniently) called the “Despotate of Epiros.” The absence of any claim linking its population or rulers to ancient Greek or Roman lineage is telling. Had the Epirotes been of Greek origin in the eyes of a contemporary Byzantine historian, an explicit genealogical connection to classical Hellenic stock would be expected. The vagueness instead points to a distinct ethnic foundation.
These passages collectively demonstrate that the medieval Epirotes were neither ethnically nor culturally Romans (Greeks). They belonged to the “western race,” whose ancient forebears were the Epirotes of classical antiquity. All authors without exception identify the Albanians as the direct descendants of those ancient Epirotes. Therefore, the population of the region and the core element of the so-called Despotate of Epiros were Albanians.
This reading underscores a fundamental divide between the Byzantine Roman identity cultivated in Nicaea and the separate western/Epirote (Albanian) identity recorded by Akropolites. The Epirotes, as Albanians, represented a non-Roman people whose state emerged in the western parts, distinct in origin, customs, and political behavior from the Byzantine Greeks.
