Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/421

 EMPIRE UrrEHLY DISORGANIZED. 493 stables, and the like. The Crusaders knew their own fanciful law of honor, but despised the ordinary law by which mortals are governed. The assize of Jerusalem became law for the empire, though an attempt was made to preserve a portion at least of the old Roman administration, including the applica- tion of the Ivoman law of Justinian as preserved in his capital. There was, however, little chance that the new Western system of organization could work harmoniously with the ancient Roman administration which had lasted in Romania. Such chance as there might otherwise have been was destroyed by forces outside the empire. The same causes which had weak- ened the dominion of the Byzantine rulers began to operate against the Crusaders, and rendered them so feeble that in- stead of being able, as they had fondly believed, to use the strength of Romania against the Saracens, they had to implore aid from the West to enable them to hold what they had con- quered. The deposed emperor, Alexis the Third, and Alexis the Fifth, or Mourtzouphlos, were, at the time of the occupation, still at large. The latter was captured by the Latins at Mosynopolis, was brought to Constantinople, and was thrown from the column of Theodosios. Alexis the Third was cap- tured and sent to Boniface, who held him as a prisoner, and gave to Philip the satisfaction of stating how he should be disposed of. The Moslems were at first greatly alarmed at the capture of the city which to them was still the world's capital, was still Rome. In their first alarm even Malek A del hastened to con- clude a truce of six years with Cardinals Peter Capuane and Soffred ; but he and his so-called religionists soon recovered from the shock of the conquest. Constantinople had drawn away Crusaders from Palestine instead of adding to their number. The Western soldiers, including even many of the Templars, took the opportunity of leaving Syria in order to share in the wealth which was offered them in Constantinople. The natural result followed. The truce was broken, and Is- lamism soon came into possession of territory which had been held for many years by the Christians. Though Innocent pro-