Michael II Komnenos Doukas, ruler of the Despotate of Epirus, was visiting Servion, a city in Macedonia, when he fell in love with Theodora, a beautiful young girl from a local noble family. She was still very much a child, but Michael was smitten with her and married her. The marriage run into trouble almost from the get-go, for Theodora was not too keen on luxury and social position, opting for a quiet life dedicated to God and the pursuit of virtue. Her husband was rather indifferent towards these noble endeavours. He was soon overcome with lustful passion for Gangrene, a noblewoman from Arta, and took her as his consort.