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 88 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. high time to act, for the populace was furious. There was scarcely a man who had not some friend or acquaintance who had fallen a victim to the tyrant's cruelty, and by this time all the halo of his youth and early reputation had been dis- pelled. The mob broke open the prisons. All who had arms brought them out. Isaac was proclaimed emperor. One of the guardians of Hagia Sophia, which continued to be the centre of the agitation, reached down the famous crown of Constantino, which usually hung over the high-altar, and endeavored to place it on his head. Isaac at first refused. John Ducas, an old man, one of his sureties and uncle of Isaac, offered to accept. The people, however, cried out that they would have no other old emperor with white hair and forked beard.* They had had enough of such men with An- dronicos, and clamored for Isaac. The patriarch was pressed into service by the crowd, and in this way Isaac Angelos was proclaimed emperor and compelled to receive the crown. Andronicos, on his arrival in the city^ went at once to the _ Great Palace which adioined Hao:ia Sophia. From The emperor. . "^ ^ ^ ttt. returns to the its wiudows he could SCO 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 lieart 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. AVlien 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. He then en- deavored 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
 * The coins of Audrouicos represent him with a forked beard.