Great Palace which adjoined Hagia Sophia

Andronicos, on his arrival in the city, went at once to the Great Palace which adjoined Hagia Sophia.

The emperor returns to the 1 ts windows he could see much that passed. His city.

first idea was to attack the populace in and around the Great Church, and his orders were given to this effect, but the imperial troops had no heart for the fight. They could see that all sections of the people were animated with but one object, to replace their old ruler by Isaac. Among their own number there were many who sympathized with the people against the white-bearded monster whose crown was now hanging in the balance.

When the tyrant saw that his orders were not obeyed, he himself took a bow, went up into one of the balconies of the palace, and drew upon those who were below. The people saw him, and cared nothing for his arrows or for anything he could do lie then endeavored to treat. Speaking, probably, still from the balcony overlooking the precincts of the Great Church, where the surging populace which had rallied round Isaac Angelos was closely packed together, he proposed to abdicate in favor of his son Manuel. The proposal was treated with scorn. The mob answered that they would have neither him nor his son.

Every kind of opprobrious epithet was hurled at him. His appearance had only added to the popular fury. The populace, no longer content with declaring for Isaac, determined to revenge itself upon their enemy. An attack was made upon the palace. A small gate called Karea was broken open, and the mob rushed through in pursuit of their victim. Andronicos saw that resistance was useless, and that the only chance of saving his life lay in flight. Hastily throwing aside a cross which he usually wore, and by which he might have been recognized, taking off his purple buskins, and exchanging the imperial hat for a common Russian cap, he reentered the galley which had brought him from his summer palace, and, taking his young wife and a concubine with him, he fled the capital with all speed, in order, if possible, to take refuge among the Russians.