46 DESTRUCTION OF THE GEEEK EMPIRE the popular belief, states that his real object was to learn the number of men in the Greek army and what were his chances in an attack upon it. Michael received him in a friendly manner, but the Alans in his service had not for- gotten the vengeance they had vowed against him for having at Cyzicus killed the son of George their leader, and as Koger was entering the audience chamber he was stabbed by George Assassina- himself. Upon news of the assassination, the Catalans fled Eogerde to Gallipoli, putting men, women, and children to the sword during their flight. Michael followed them and laid siege to the city, but Berenger persuaded the Emperor Andronicus to grant the besieged time and so arranged matters that the Spaniards were able to take ship and escape. They made their way once more across the Marmora to Cyzicus, but the inhabitants stoutly resisted, and the besiegers left for Pe- rinthos, where they killed every man they could lay hands on. "When the news reached the capital the inhabitants demanded vengeance on those of the Catalans who had remained there and, taking the law into their own hands, burned their houses. The patriarch, who had in vain attempted to check their fury, with difficulty saved his own life. Outrages The Spaniards were now at open war with the Greeks, Gr«ml and even Andronicus would have been glad to get rid of Company. ^em. They attacked the seafaring population at Khegium, now called Buyuk Chekmeji, burnt several men, impaled their children, and massacred those whom they had employed to carry off their booty. Their progress was checked for a while by the arrival of sixteen Genoese ships. As the Genoese had had trouble with the emperor, the Spaniards were in hopes of their aid, but the former sent secretly into the city from their fleet to learn the truth about the situation, heard the Greek version of the differences, and then declared for the emperor. The Genoese and imperial fleets attacked the Spaniards, who were led by Berenger, defeated them, captured their leader, and subsequently sent him prisoner to Italy. Gallipoli was, however, still in the hands of the Catalans
