In 1199, Alexios III fell gravely ill, leading to a dispute about the succession. The Emperor had only daughters, and although two of them had been wed to Byzantine aristocrats—Andronikos Kontostephanos and Isaac Vatatzes—who were thus heirs-apparent, both of them had died shortly before.
In 1199, Alexios III fell gravely ill, causing a dispute about succession due to the Emperor's daughters being the only heirs. The two daughters who had been married to Byzantine nobles—Andronikos Kontostephanos and Isaac Vatatzes—were potential heirs but died before their time.