Michael Palaiologos
Strategopoulos was probably released from prison immediately after the death of Theodore II Laskaris in August 1258. Along with the other heads of the aristocratic families, he was a prominent supporter of Michael Palaiologos' successful coup against George Mouzalon on 25 August, resulting in Palaiologos' assumption of the regency for Theodore II's under-age son, John IV Laskaris. In the same year he accompanied the army that was sent, under Michael's brother, the "megas domestikos" John Palaiologos, to confront the Epirote designs on Macedonia. When Michael Palaiologos was proclaimed emperor in early 1259, John Palaiologos was promoted to "sebastokrator", and Strategopoulos succeeded him as "megas domestikos". In 1259 he participated in the campaign that led to the decisive victory over an Epirote–Sicilian–Achaean alliance at the Battle of Pelagonia, where, along with Nikephoros Rimpsas, he took captive the 400-strong detachment of German knights sent by King Manfred of Sicily to aid the Epirotes.