After the violent death of his father, Thomas' claim to Thessaly was asserted by his mother Irene, but they were forced to flee to Serbia by the advance of Nikephoros II Orsini in 1356.
Despois da violenta morte do seu pai, a pretensión de Tomé por Tesalia foi impugnada pola súa nai Irene, pero víronse obrigados a fuxir a Serbia polo avance de Nicéforo II Orsini en 1356.