Page:Constantinople by Brodribb.djvu/154

 The new emperor was now old: he was not, however, worthy on that or any other account of respect. He reigned for three years, leaving his generals to put down the rebellions which constantly threatened his throne, and living with his courtiers a life of shameful profligacy. Alexius Comnenus, the first general of the empire, was driven to revolt by discovering a conspiracy to deprive him of his command and to put out his eyes. He was joined by John Ducas, George Palæologus, and others. He found himself at the head of a numerous, if badly disciplined, army. He had the reputation of being the best among the soldiers; he was the nephew of that Isaac Comnenus whose reign was still remembered by the troops. He was proclaimed emperor, and he prepared to besiege the city.

The army of the rebel Alexius consisted of Slavonians, Bulgarians, and Greeks, in the service of the great families of Comnenus, Palæologus, and Ducas. The rebellion was in no sense national. The people, indeed, during this period of anarchy, were passive. The capital was defended by those trusty Varangians, who never failed in their fidelity to the reigning emperor, and by a legion called the Chomatian. On the Asiatic side was another rebel, Melissenos, with an army composed chiefly of Seljouk Turks. Could the old emperor have been persuaded to make terms with him, and nominate him his successor, the story of Alexius would have been as the story of Nicephorus Bryennius, or that of any other of the rebel pretenders. But he procrastinated.

Alexius saw that there was no hope of taking the city