win, Henry of Flanders, and John de Brienne had left behind them—how weak was the Latin empire, how unstable were the defences of the city.
Michael (a.d. 1260) marched into Thrace, strengthened the garrisons, and expelled the Latins yet remaining in the country. Had he, the same year, marched upon Constantinople, the city would have been his. But the glory of taking the city was destined for one of his generals.
The Greek emperor, returning to Nicæa, sent Alexis Strategopoulos, his most trusted general, on whom he had conferred the title of Cæsar, to take the command of his armies in Europe. He laid strict orders upon him to enter the Latin territory as soon as the existing truce was concluded; to watch, report, act upon the defensive, if necessary, but nothing more.
Now the lands round Constantinople had been sold by their Latin seigneurs to Greek cultivators, who, to defend their property, formed themselves into an armed militia, called voluntaries. With these voluntaries Alexis opened communications, and was by their aid enabled to get accurate information of all that went on among the Latins. As soon as the truce expired, he marched his troops across the frontier, and approached the city. His force—doubtless the Latins were badly served by their spies—seemed too small to inspire any serious alarm, and the Latins, who had recently received succour from Venice which made them confident, resolved on striking the first blow by an attack on the port of Daphnusia. They accordingly despatched a
