Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/65

PROGRESS OF THE SELJUKS. 47 peror himself escaped, covered with wounds. The next day the Turks continued the attack and the Greeks retired. The whole country about the Meander was ravaged, and the em- peror received the most serious check he had yet had from the Turks. Again, however, he rallied, and in 1170 the sul- tan was compelled to cede the city of Iconium to Manuel. The Turks, on their side, were soon able to reopen the war and to recapture several cities. In IISO the Emperor Manuel died, and there commenced a series of dynastic struggles in which pretenders for the throne of Constantinople sought the aid of the Turks. His successor, Alexis, was a boy, who reigned less than three years, and who was bowstrung at the age of fifteen. Ilis murderer became emperor under the title of Andronicos. On his acces- sion to the throne a considerable party refused to recognize his authority, and his enemies declined to surrender Nicaea and Broussa. Both cities, however, were captured under cir- cumstances which I shall have subsequently to narrate. In 1185 Andronicos was deposed. His successor, Isaac Angelos, found himself surrounded with difficulties which were all but insuperable. There were invaders from without ; there were pretenders to the throne within the empire. In the first year of his reign he was compelled to promise an annual tribute to the Sultan of Iconium. Andronicos had made a treat}' with Saladin, the Saracen leader, by which he had promised to aid the latter against the Sicilians and in conquering Palestine, on condition that Saladin should assist him in taking: Iconium, and providing that Palestine should be held as a fief of the empire. This treaty was renewed by Isaac Angelos, notwith- standing his promise to pay tribute to the Sultan of Iconium. Probably no treaty could have better shown to what straits the emperor was reduced. Saladin proceeded at once to the conquest of Palestine, and captured, in 1187, the cities of Acre, Csesarea, Jaffa, Nablous, Ramleh, and a number of others,' finishing his campaign b}^ the capture of Ascalon and Jeru- salem itself. ^Michaud, iv. 201.