Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/354

 336 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. On the 25th of January, 1204, an extraordinary meeting of the inhabitants was held in Hagia Sophia. The senators were there, and the members of the college of pontiffs and other high dignitaries of the Church. The senate was a sur- vival of the early days of the Xew Rome, and had long since ceased to exercise any real authority. In the midst of the anarchy w^hich now prevailed public opinion turned for sup- port to its mere semblance of power, and senators and pontiffs were forced by the threats of the multitude to deliberate on the election of a new emperor. They wished to temporize, but the multitude protested that they could not and would not live under the actual government. The names of the members of the reigning family and of other nobles were gone through, and apparently submitted to the public assem- bly of the citizens. The meeting, however, could not agree upon a choice. Those who were selected refused to act. Some of the magistrates present were themselves asked to be- come emperor. A second and a third day were spent in these meetings. Finally the choice fell upon a young man named Nicolas Kanabos, wdio was, however, chosen against his will. Alexis and Isaac knew what was going on, but were powerless. Isaac was ill. Alexis, alarmed for himself, seeing that whoever the next emperor might be the citizens were at least determined that he should no longer reign, feel- ing that power was rapidly slipping away from him, and that but for the presence of his foreign guards his own life would be in immediate danger, took what under the circumstances ^vas perhaps a natural act, but what was nevertheless justly regarded by the citizens as an act of treason. He sent to the Marquis of Montferrat, and invited him to fill the palace of Blachern with Frenchmen and Italians, in order to defend his life and maintain him on the throne. This treason to the city cost him both his throne and liis life. On hearing of what Alexis had done, Mourtzouphlos de- Aiexisisde- cided that tlic time had comc for him to act. The Kewcmperor minister of finaucc was in his favor, but the im- prociaimed. pgi-jj^] guard of the Wariugs, who knew that their duty was to defend the emperor, constituted a serious obstacle