Latin soldiers, more humane than the Greeks, drove their swords into his heart, and ended the long life of a man who was the most remarkable outcome of the time; such a man as is only produced when the greatest courage and the finest physique belong to one who has ambition, want of principle, and strength of will, and when that man is born, like Andronicus, in a time of universal and profound corruption.
The downward course of the empire was not likely to be arrested by the accession of such a man as Isaac Angelus. Amid the anarchy, the confusion, the bribery, the impotent rage of the people, which lasted during the ten years of his feeble rule, the Vallachians established themselves on an independent footing in Thessaly. The general sent to defeat them was driven back, and in despair of conquering the barbarians, himself assumed the title of emperor and laid siege to the capital. Isaac and the city were saved by the accidental presence of Conrad of Montferrat. He told the emperor that priests and processions were very well in proper time and place, but that the present emergency demanded men; and putting himself at the head of two hundred and fifty valiant knights, with five hundred veterans, and such other forces as could be raised, he took the field and defeated the rebels. The victory brought very little benefit to the people of Constantinople, because the troops took advantage of the general rejoicing to pillage the town. Isaac was deposed, and his eyes put out by his elder brother Alexius. His son, afterwards Alexius IV., escaped.
