Riniasas Castle or Despos Castle #1298

Description

It is also known as the "Castle of Despo," due to a related story associated with the castle.

Strategically, the castle's location was exceptional. It lies on the route connecting the Albanian mountains with southern Greece, controlling the passage from Nikopolis and Preveza to Parga and Thesprotia. It is also near the sea, allowing control over the maritime routes to Italy and the Ionian Islands.

History
The exact dating of the castle is unconfirmed. From the name "Thomokastro," we can assume it was built during the period of Despot Thomas I of Epirus (1296–1318), likely in the early 14th century, when Thomas resisted the expansionist ambitions of Philip of Taranto.

The first mention of Thomokastro appears in the History of Kantakouzenos, related to the 1338 revolt of the Epirotes against Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos.

During the 1338 uprising, the Despot of Epirus, Nikephoros II Orsini, took refuge in the castle. John Kantakouzenos, before becoming emperor, managed to persuade Nikephoros to surrender the castle after having already captured the castles of Arta and Rogoi. Subsequently, Nikephoros married Kantakouzenos’ daughter and moved to Constantinople.