Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/73

 RECONSTRUCTING THE EMPIRE 39 appeared to be far the most serious which had been con- templated since the city's recapture, that the emperor invited a certain Eoger de Flor and his band of Spanish mercenaries, who came to be known as the Catalan Grand Company, to come to his aid. Within the city itself great efforts were made, in presence of the common danger, to unite the theological factions. The patriarch, who had pronounced an anathema against the emperor, consented to withdraw it. The truce, how- ever, between the ecclesiastics was unfortunately of short duration. As time passed, and the much- vaunted expedition did not present itself, the old rancours again showed them- selves. Indeed, the expedition to place Charles of Valois on the imperial throne made slow progress. In 1305 his brother, the king of France, gave it his support. Once more the pontiff invited the Venetians to follow the example of Dandolo and aid in the conquest of the city. It was not, however, till the end of 1306 that a treaty of alliance was made between them and Charles. The result which might have been anticipated followed when the news was received in the capital. The Latin monks, who up to this time had been tolerated within the city, were expelled, and the party in favour of Union almost entirely disappeared. Meantime the preparations for the expedition continued. In 1308 its titular head, Charles of Yalois, allied himself with the Servians. Charles himself was ready, but ap- parently not eager, for the enterprise. The Venetians desired speedy action ; but the Western nobles only feebly responded to the pope's demand, although it was supported by the king of France. Charles of Anjou was not ready. In the course of the next year Catherine of Courtenay died, and partly on account of her death, and probably also because he despaired of leading a successful enterprise, Charles of Valois abandoned the design of capturing Con- stantinople. He, however, transferred what he considered his rights to the throne to his son-in-law, Philip of Tarentum. The Venetians resigned themselves to a position which