John III Doukas Vatatzes
Born around 1240, Nikephoros was the eldest son of the Despot of Epirus, Michael II Komnenos Doukas, and Theodora Petraliphaina. In , at Pegai, Nikephoros was betrothed to Maria, the granddaughter of the Nicaean emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes, who conferred on him the dignity of . The marriage took place at Thessalonica in October 1256, but Maria died in 1258.