Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium, episode 324. Just another Balak.

Last time, we brought to an end the cycle of civil wars, which began with Andronicus

the third's death in 1341.

Andronicus had been an active and optimistic emperor.

He had shown that a vigorous leader could still achieve things with a fair wind behind him.

Just 13 years after his death, the Roman Empire

no longer really deserves that title. Constantinople couldn't defend its provinces anymore.

The government were just clinging on to what they had. In fact, by the end of this episode,

it might be reasonable to say that the Romans have left

the imperial era for good. They are no longer even one Christian kingdom amongst others.

Instead, they have moved into a Turkish world and are just trying to maintain their

independence within it.

In order to reach this perspective-shattering summit, we need to follow two different paths. One is the personal story of the Emperor John Paliologos. The other will take us

through events on the ground in Europe.

Let's begin with John's story.

Palaolocos was born in 1332, making him just nine years old when his father died.

He spent his teenage years at the capital with the Civil War raging around him.

His mother was a great influence on him, and she was not a Roman. She was Anna of Savoy, a county on the borders of modern France, Italy and Switzerland. John was

20 when he was given his first command, and he showed some initiative in outmaneuvering Matthew

Cantacuzinos and then twice escaping his captivity

on the island of Tenedos. Ultimately, though, he owed his position on the throne to the sheer

unpopularity of John Cantacusinos. Repeatedly, people across the empire had preferred a boy they didn't

...