DYNASTIC TROUBLES. 107
thus gave peace to the empire for upwards of a yc^ar. But
until the fall of Constantinople there was no rest to the em-
pire either on the north or in Asia Minor. In 1198 another
Wallach leader, who had been always opposed to Peter and
Asan, took possession of Strumnitza, and made incursions
into Thrace, principally for pillage. He held his own against
the feeble attacks of the emperor, who was harassed not only
by the Turks but by dynastic conspiracies in the capital.
Alexis made terms, ceded Strumnitza and other places, and
promised the rebel a member of the imperial family in marriage.
Two years later, in 1200, the Patchinaks made an incursion
from the ^^^^ Maccdouia, while about the same time Ivan,
Patchiuaks; ^^,|j^ |j,^^ taken the name of Alexis when he had
married the niece of the emperor, and who had been appointed
to command the troops stationed at Philippopolis to check
the Wallachs and Bulgarians, headed a revolt. The two sons-
in-law of the emperor were sent against the rebel, but he suc-
ceeded in capturing one of them, and in defeating the imperial
army. The emperor now took the field himself against the
rebels, but his troops were so demoralized that he found it
necessary to treat with Ivan. The latter refused to listen to
any proposals, except upon the basis of his retaining posses-
sion of the places he already held. These terms were ac-
cepted. A treaty was signed, and then the emperor, having
lured Ivan to the capital by the most solemn assurances of
safety, imprisoned him, attacked the towns which he had taken,
and recaptured them without difficulty.
A year afterwards, in 1201, the Comans followed the ex-
from the Co- ample of the Patchinaks, and made an irruption into
maus; Thrace, whence, after having plundered it, they re-
turned unmolested. They would probably have marclied to
Constantinople if the Russians, ^'a most Christian people," had
not opposed their progress, and had not come to the defence of
the Romans, partly from their own good-will, partly on the
prayers of their bishop, who could not see without indigna-
tion that every year a number of Christians were taken into
captivity by these infidels.' Romanes, the Russian leader,
J Nicetas, p. 691.
