Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/88

 70 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. island of Terebinth, now called Anderovitlios, about ten miles from Constantinople. This design was checked by Maria, who had now returned to the palace, and although for a short time the patriarch was sent to the monastery of Pantepoptis, by her influence also he was soon restored to power. His return was a scene of triumph for him and of humiliation for Alexis. He was accompanied by an enormous crowd, which included all that were most honorable among the priests and magistrates. Indian woods were burned to give incense as he passed, perfumes were- sprinkled along his path, and every mark of respect was shown to him. The crowd was so dense that all the day was spent in making the journey from the monastery, in the west of the city, to the Great Church, which is in the east. Meantime the people were looking to Andronicos Comnenos People look as their deliverer. His claims to the throne were by J^/;;;'J™^'r^"'^« no means slight. The Emperor Manuel himself had ^"^®- not succeeded by hereditary right. He was the youngest of the four sons of John Comnenos ; two of these had died in their father's lifetime. A few days before the death of John that emperor had called a council of his family and of the nobles who were near him, and had pointed out that in the troubled condition of the empire it was expedient to place the ablest man upon the tlirone, without regard to priority of birth. Of his two sons, Isaac and Manuel, the former had not shown the qualities which recommended him as a strong ruler, and John urged that the council should recognize as his successor Manuel, who in various expeditions had already given evi- dence of the ability which subsequently characterized his reign. Isaac, the eldest surviving brotlier of Manuel, was absent when this council was held, but the members present admitted the wisdom of John's choice. Manuel was accepted by tliem as heir- to the throne, was solemnly crowned, was clothed in the imperial purple, and on the deatli of his father, a few days afterwards, was everywhere hailed as his succes- sor. Isaac, the elder brother, was for a time imprisoned, and Manuel reigned with the free consent of the people of the empire.