After the sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204, the region came under the control of the Despotate of Epirus, a Greek successor state of the Byzantine Empire. Dryinopolis formed one of the themes of the Despotate. During the late 14th century Dryinopolis was contested between the Despotate of Epirus and the Albanian Zenebishi clan. In 1399 the Greek population of Dryinopolis joined the Despot of Epirus, Esau, in his campaign against various Albanian and Aromanian tribesmen. Prior to the Ottoman conquest of the region in 1418, it was controlled by John Zenebishi (1411-1418).