Michaelsoughteverymethodofexpiatinghisguilt。Whilehegroanedandprayedinsackclothandashes，hisbrother，theeunuchJohn，smiledathisremorse，andenjoyedtheharvestofacrimeofwhichhimselfwasthesecretandmostguiltyauthor。Hisadministrationwasonlytheartofsatiatinghisavarice，andZoebecameacaptiveinthepalaceofherfathers，andinthehandsofherslaves。Whenheperceivedtheirretrievabledeclineofhisbrother\'shealth，heintroducedhisnephew，anotherMichael，whoderivedhissurnameofCalaphatesfromhisfather\'soccupationinthecareeningofvessels:atthecommandoftheeunuch，Zoeadoptedforhersonthesonofamechanic；andthisfictitiousheirwasinvestedwiththetitleandpurpleoftheCaesars，inthepresenceofthesenateandclergy。SofeeblewasthecharacterofZoe，thatshewasoppressedbythelibertyandpowerwhichsherecoveredbythedeathofthePaphlagonian；andattheendoffourdays，sheplacedthecrownontheheadofMichaeltheFifth，whohadprotested，withtearsandoaths，thatheshouldeverreignthefirstandmostobedientofhersubjects。
Theonlyactofhisshortreignwashisbaseingratitudetohisbenefactors，theeunuchandtheempress。Thedisgraceoftheformerwaspleasingtothepublic:butthemurmurs，andatlengththeclamors，ofConstantinopledeploredtheexileofZoe，thedaughterofsomanyemperors；herviceswereforgotten，andMichaelwastaught，thatthereisaperiodinwhichthepatienceofthetamestslavesrisesintofuryandrevenge。Thecitizensofeverydegreeassembledinaformidabletumultwhichlastedthreedays；theybesiegedthepalace，forcedthegates，recalledtheirmothers，Zoefromherprison，Theodorafromhermonastery，andcondemnedthesonofCalaphatestothelossofhiseyesorofhislife。ForthefirsttimetheGreeksbeheldwithsurprisethetworoyalsistersseatedonthesamethrone，presidinginthesenate，andgivingaudiencetotheambassadorsofthenations。
Butthesingularunionsubsistednomorethantwomonths；thetwosovereigns，theirtempers，interests，andadherents，weresecretlyhostiletoeachother；andasTheodorawasstillaversetomarriage，theindefatigableZoe，attheageofsixty，consented，forthepublicgood，tosustaintheembracesofathirdhusband，andthecensuresoftheGreekchurch。HisnameandnumberwereConstantinetheTenth，andtheepithetofMonomachus，thesinglecombatant，musthavebeenexpressiveofhisvalorandvictoryinsomepublicorprivatequarrel。Buthishealthwasbrokenbythetorturesofthegout，andhisdissolutereignwasspentinthealternativeofsicknessandpleasure。A
fairandnoblewidowhadaccompaniedConstantineinhisexiletotheIsleofLesbos，andSclerenagloriedintheappellationofhismistress。Afterhismarriageandelevation，shewasinvestedwiththetitleandpompofAugusta，andoccupiedacontiguousapartmentinthepalace。ThelawfulconsortsuchwasthedelicacyorcorruptionofZoeconsentedtothisstrangeandscandalouspartition；andtheemperorappearedinpublicbetweenhiswifeandhisconcubine。Hesurvivedthemboth；butthelastmeasuresofConstantinetochangetheorderofsuccessionwerepreventedbythemorevigilantfriendsofTheodora；andafterhisdecease，sheresumed，withthegeneralconsent，thepossessionofherinheritance。Inhername，andbytheinfluenceoffoureunuchs，theEasternworldwaspeaceablygovernedaboutnineteenmonths；andastheywishedtoprolongtheirdominion，theypersuadedtheagedprincesstonominateforhersuccessorMichaeltheSixth。ThesurnameofStratioticusdeclareshismilitaryprofession；butthecrazyanddecrepitveterancouldonlyseewiththeeyes，andexecutewiththehands，ofhisministers。
Whilstheascendedthethrone，Theodorasunkintothegrave；thelastoftheMacedonianorBasiliandynasty。Ihavehastilyreviewed，andgladlydismiss，thisshamefulanddestructiveperiodoftwenty—eightyears，inwhichtheGreeks，degradedbelowthecommonlevelofservitude，weretransferredlikeaherdofcattlebythechoiceorcapriceoftwoimpotentfemales。
Fromthisnightofslavery，arayoffreedom，oratleastofspirit，beginstoemerge:theGreekseitherpreservedorrevivedtheuseofsurnames，whichperpetuatethefameofhereditaryvirtue:andwenowdiscerntherise，succession，andalliancesofthelastdynastiesofConstantinopleandTrebizond。TheComneni，whoupheldforawhilethefateofthesinkingempire，assumedthehonorofaRomanorigin:butthefamilyhadbeenlongsincetransportedfromItalytoAsia。TheirpatrimonialestatewassituateinthedistrictofCastamona，intheneighborhoodoftheEuxine；andoneoftheirchiefs，whohadalreadyenteredthepathsofambition，revisitedwithaffection，perhapswithregret，themodestthoughhonorabledwellingofhisfathers。ThefirstoftheirlinewastheillustriousManuel，whointhereignofthesecondBasil，contributedbywarandtreatytoappeasethetroublesoftheEast:heleft，inatenderage，twosons，IsaacandJohn，whom，withtheconsciousnessofdesert，hebequeathedtothegratitudeandfavorofhissovereign。Thenobleyouthswerecarefullytrainedinthelearningofthemonastery，theartsofthepalace，andtheexercisesofthecamp:andfromthedomesticserviceoftheguards，theywererapidlypromotedtothecommandofprovincesandarmies。TheirfraternaluniondoubledtheforceandreputationoftheComneni，andtheirancientnobilitywasillustratedbythemarriageofthetwobrothers，withacaptiveprincessofBulgaria，andthedaughterofapatrician，whohadobtainedthenameofCharonfromthenumberofenemieswhomhehadsenttotheinfernalshades。Thesoldiershadservedwithreluctantloyaltyaseriesofeffeminatemasters；theelevationofMichaeltheSixthwasapersonalinsulttothemoredeservinggenerals；andtheirdiscontentwasinflamedbytheparsimonyoftheemperorandtheinsolenceoftheeunuchs。TheysecretlyassembledinthesanctuaryofSt。Sophia，andthevotesofthemilitarysynodwouldhavebeenunanimousinfavoroftheoldandvaliantCatacalon，ifthepatriotismormodestyoftheveteranhadnotsuggestedtheimportanceofbirthaswellasmeritinthechoiceofasovereign。IsaacComnenuswasapprovedbygeneralconsent，andtheassociatesseparatedwithoutdelaytomeetintheplainsofPhrygiaattheheadoftheirrespectivesquadronsanddetachments。ThecauseofMichaelwasdefendedinasinglebattlebythemercenariesoftheImperialguard，whowerealienstothepublicinterest，andanimatedonlybyaprincipleofhonorandgratitude。Aftertheirdefeat，thefearsoftheemperorsolicitedatreaty，whichwasalmostacceptedbythemoderationoftheComnenian。Buttheformerwasbetrayedbyhisambassadors，andthelatterwaspreventedbyhisfriends。
ThesolitaryMichaelsubmittedtothevoiceofthepeople；thepatriarchannulledtheiroathofallegiance；andasheshavedtheheadoftheroyalmonk，congratulatedhisbeneficialexchangeoftemporalroyaltyforthekingdomofheaven；anexchange，however，whichthepriest，onhisownaccount，wouldprobablyhavedeclined。Bythehandsofthesamepatriarch，IsaacComnenuswassolemnlycrowned；theswordwhichheinscribedonhiscoinsmightbeanoffensivesymbol，ifitimpliedhistitlebyconquest；butthisswordwouldhavebeendrawnagainsttheforeignanddomesticenemiesofthestate。Thedeclineofhishealthandvigorsuspendedtheoperationofactivevirtue；andtheprospectofapproachingdeathdeterminedhimtointerposesomemomentsbetweenlifeandeternity。Butinsteadofleavingtheempireasthemarriageportionofhisdaughter，hisreasonandinclinationconcurredinthepreferenceofhisbrotherJohn，asoldier，apatriot，andthefatheroffivesons，thefuturepillarsofanhereditarysuccession。Hisfirstmodestreluctancemightbethenaturaldictatesofdiscretionandtenderness，buthisobstinateandsuccessfulperseverance，howeveritmaydazzlewiththeshowofvirtue，mustbecensuredasacriminaldesertionofhisduty，andarareoffenceagainsthisfamilyandcountry。ThepurplewhichhehadrefusedwasacceptedbyConstantineDucas，afriendoftheComnenianhouse，andwhosenoblebirthwasadornedwiththeexperienceandreputationofcivilpolicy。Inthemonastichabit，Isaacrecoveredhishealth，andsurvivedtwoyearshisvoluntaryabdication。Atthecommandofhisabbot，heobservedtheruleofSt。Basil，andexecutedthemostservileofficesoftheconvent:buthislatentvanitywasgratifiedbythefrequentandrespectfulvisitsofthereigningmonarch，whoreveredinhispersonthecharacterofabenefactorandasaint。
IfConstantinetheEleventhwereindeedthesubjectmostworthyofempire，wemustpitythedebasementoftheageandnationinwhichhewaschosen。Inthelaborofpueriledeclamationshesought，withoutobtaining，thecrownofeloquence，moreprecious，inhisopinion，thanthatofRome；andinthesubordinatefunctionsofajudge，heforgotthedutiesofasovereignandawarrior。Farfromimitatingthepatrioticindifferenceoftheauthorsofhisgreatness，Ducaswasanxiousonlytosecure，attheexpenseoftherepublic，thepowerandprosperityofhischildren。Histhreesons，MichaeltheSeventh，AndronicustheFirst，andConstantinetheTwelfth，wereinvested，inatenderage，withtheequaltitleofAugustus；andthesuccessionwasspeedilyopenedbytheirfather\'sdeath。Hiswidow，Eudocia，wasintrustedwiththeadministration；butexperiencehadtaughtthejealousyofthedyingmonarchtoprotecthissonsfromthedangerofhersecondnuptials；andhersolemnengagement，attestedbytheprincipalsenators，wasdepositedinthehandsofthepatriarch。Beforetheendofsevenmonths，thewantsofEudocia，orthoseofthestate，calledaloudforthemalevirtuesofasoldier；andherhearthadalreadychosenRomanusDiogenes，whomsheraisedfromthescaffoldtothethrone。Thediscoveryofatreasonableattempthadexposedhimtotheseverityofthelaws:hisbeautyandvalorabsolvedhimintheeyesoftheempress；andRomanus，fromamildexile，wasrecalledontheseconddaytothecommandoftheOrientalarmies。
Herroyalchoicewasyetunknowntothepublic；andthepromisewhichwouldhavebetrayedherfalsehoodandlevity，wasstolenbyadexterousemissaryfromtheambitionofthepatriarch。Xiphilinatfirstallegedthesanctityofoaths，andthesacrednatureofatrust；butawhisper，thathisbrotherwasthefutureemperor，relaxedhisscruples，andforcedhimtoconfessthatthepublicsafetywasthesupremelaw。Heresignedtheimportantpaper；andwhenhishopeswereconfoundedbythenominationofRomanus，hecouldnolongerregainhissecurity，retracthisdeclarations，noropposethesecondnuptialsoftheempress。Yetamurmurwasheardinthepalace；andtheBarbarianguardshadraisedtheirbattle—axesinthecauseofthehouseofLucas，tilltheyoungprincesweresoothedbythetearsoftheirmotherandthesolemnassurancesofthefidelityoftheirguardian，whofilledtheImperialstationwithdignityandhonor。HereafterIshallrelatehisvaliant，butunsuccessful，effortstoresisttheprogressoftheTurks。HisdefeatandcaptivityinflictedadeadlywoundontheByzantinemonarchyoftheEast；andafterhewasreleasedfromthechainsofthesultan，hevainlysoughthiswifeandhissubjects。Hiswifehadbeenthrustintoamonastery，andthesubjectsofRomanushadembracedtherigidmaximofthecivillaw，thataprisonerinthehandsoftheenemyisdeprived，asbythestrokeofdeath，ofallthepublicandprivaterightsofacitizen。Inthegeneralconsternation，theCaesarJohnassertedtheindefeasiblerightofhisthreenephews:
Constantinoplelistenedtohisvoice:andtheTurkishcaptivewasproclaimedinthecapital，andreceivedonthefrontier，asanenemyoftherepublic。Romanuswasnotmorefortunateindomesticthaninforeignwar:thelossoftwobattlescompelledhimtoyield，ontheassuranceoffairandhonorabletreatment；
buthisenemiesweredevoidoffaithorhumanity；and，afterthecruelextinctionofhissight，hiswoundswerelefttobleedandcorrupt，tillinafewdayshewasrelievedfromastateofmisery。UnderthetriplereignofthehouseofDucas，thetwoyoungerbrotherswerereducedtothevainhonorsofthepurple；
buttheeldest，thepusillanimousMichael，wasincapableofsustainingtheRomansceptre；andhissurnameofParapinacesdenotesthereproachwhichhesharedwithanavariciousfavorite，whoenhancedtheprice，anddiminishedthemeasure，ofwheat。IntheschoolofPsellus，andaftertheexampleofhismother，thesonofEudociamadesomeproficiencyinphilosophyandrhetoric；
buthischaracterwasdegraded，ratherthanennobled，bythevirtuesofamonkandthelearningofasophist。Stronginthecontemptoftheirsovereignandtheirownesteem，twogenerals，attheheadoftheEuropeanandAsiaticlegions，assumedthepurpleatAdrianopleandNice。Theirrevoltwasinthesamemonths；theyborethesamenameofNicephorus；butthetwocandidatesweredistinguishedbythesurnamesofBryenniusandBotaniates；theformerinthematurityofwisdomandcourage，thelatterconspicuousonlybythememoryofhispastexploits。WhileBotaniatesadvancedwithcautiousanddilatorysteps，hisactivecompetitorstoodinarmsbeforethegatesofConstantinople。ThenameofBryenniuswasillustrious；hiscausewaspopular；buthislicentioustroopscouldnotberestrainedfromburningandpillagingasuburb；andthepeople，whowouldhavehailedtherebel，rejectedandrepulsedtheincendiaryofhiscountry。ThischangeofthepublicopinionwasfavorabletoBotaniates，whoatlength，withanarmyofTurks，approachedtheshoresofChalcedon。Aformalinvitation，inthenameofthepatriarch，thesynod，andthesenate，wascirculatedthroughthestreetsofConstantinople；andthegeneralassembly，inthedomeofSt。
Sophia，debated，withorderandcalmness，onthechoiceoftheirsovereign。TheguardsofMichaelwouldhavedispersedthisunarmedmultitude；butthefeebleemperor，applaudinghisownmoderationandclemency，resignedtheensignsofroyalty，andwasrewardedwiththemonastichabit，andthetitleofArchbishopofEphesus。Heleftason，aConstantine，bornandeducatedinthepurple；andadaughterofthehouseofDucasillustratedtheblood，andconfirmedthesuccession，oftheComneniandynasty。
JohnComnenus，thebrotheroftheemperorIsaac，survivedinpeaceanddignityhisgenerousrefusalofthesceptre。ByhiswifeAnne，awomanofmasculinespiritandapolicy，helefteightchildren:thethreedaughtersmultipliedtheComnenianalliancewiththenoblestoftheGreeks:ofthefivesons，Manuelwasstoppedbyaprematuredeath；IsaacandAlexiusrestoredtheImperialgreatnessoftheirhouse，whichwasenjoyedwithouttoilordangerbythetwoyoungerbrethren，AdrianandNicephorus。
Alexius，thethirdandmostillustriousofthebrotherswasendowedbynaturewiththechoicestgiftsbothofmindandbody:
theywerecultivatedbyaliberaleducation，andexercisedintheschoolofobedienceandadversity。TheyouthwasdismissedfromtheperilsoftheTurkishwar，bythepaternalcareoftheemperorRomanus:butthemotheroftheComneni，withheraspiringface，wasaccusedoftreason，andbanished，bythesonsofDucas，toanislandinthePropontis。Thetwobrotherssoonemergedintofavorandaction，foughtbyeachother\'ssideagainsttherebelsandBarbarians，andadheredtotheemperorMichael，tillhewasdesertedbytheworldandbyhimself。InhisfirstinterviewwithBotaniates，\"Prince，\"saidAlexiuswithanoblefrankness，\"mydutyrenderedmeyourenemy；thedecreesofGodandofthepeoplehavemademeyoursubject。Judgeofmyfutureloyaltybymypastopposition。\"ThesuccessorofMichaelentertainedhimwithesteemandconfidence:hisvalorwasemployedagainstthreerebels，whodisturbedthepeaceoftheempire，oratleastoftheemperors。Ursel，Bryennius，andBasilacius，wereformidablebytheirnumerousforcesandmilitaryfame:theyweresuccessivelyvanquishedinthefield，andledinchainstothefootofthethrone；andwhatevertreatmenttheymightreceivefromatimidandcruelcourt，theyapplaudedtheclemency，aswellasthecourage，oftheirconqueror。ButtheloyaltyoftheComneniwassoontaintedbyfearandsuspicion；
norisiteasytosettlebetweenasubjectandadespot，thedebtofgratitude，whichtheformeristemptedtoclaimbyarevolt，andthelattertodischargebyanexecutioner。TherefusalofAlexiustomarchagainstafourthrebel，thehusbandofhissister，destroyedthemeritormemoryofhispastservices:thefavoritesofBotaniatesprovokedtheambitionwhichtheyapprehendedandaccused；andtheretreatofthetwobrothersmightbejustifiedbythedefenceoftheirlifeandliberty。Thewomenofthefamilyweredepositedinasanctuary，respectedbytyrants:themen，mountedonhorseback，salliedfromthecity，anderectedthestandardofcivilwar。Thesoldierswhohadbeengraduallyassembledinthecapitalandtheneighborhood，weredevotedtothecauseofavictoriousandinjuredleader:thetiesofcommoninterestanddomesticalliancesecuredtheattachmentofthehouseofDucas；andthegenerousdisputeoftheComneniwasterminatedbythedecisiveresolutionofIsaac，whowasthefirsttoinvesthisyoungerbrotherwiththenameandensignsofroyalty。TheyreturnedtoConstantinople，tothreatenratherthanbesiegethatimpregnablefortress；butthefidelityoftheguardswascorrupted；agatewassurprised，andthefleetwasoccupiedbytheactivecourageofGeorgePalaeologus，whofoughtagainsthisfather，withoutforeseeingthathelaboredforhisposterity。Alexiusascendedthethrone；andhisagedcompetitordisappearedinamonastery。Anarmyofvariousnationswasgratifiedwiththepillageofthecity；butthepublicdisorderswereexpiatedbythetearsandfastsoftheComneni，whosubmittedtoeverypenancecompatiblewiththepossessionoftheempire。
ThelifeoftheemperorAlexiushasbeendelineatedbyafavoritedaughter，whowasinspiredbyatenderregardforhispersonandalaudablezealtoperpetuatehisvirtues。Consciousofthejustsuspicionsofherreaders，theprincessAnnaComnenarepeatedlyprotests，that，besidesherpersonalknowledge，shehadsearchedthediscoursesandwritingsofthemostrespectableveterans:andafteranintervalofthirtyyears，forgottenby，andforgetfulof，theworld，hermournfulsolitudewasinaccessibletohopeandfear；andthattruth，thenakedperfecttruth，wasmoredearandsacredthanthememoryofherparent。
Yet，insteadofthesimplicityofstyleandnarrativewhichwinsourbelief，anelaborateaffectationofrhetoricandsciencebetraysineverypagethevanityofafemaleauthor。ThegenuinecharacterofAlexiusislostinavagueconstellationofvirtues；
andtheperpetualstrainofpanegyricandapologyawakensourjealousy，toquestiontheveracityofthehistorianandthemeritofthehero。Wecannot，however，refuseherjudiciousandimportantremark，thatthedisordersofthetimeswerethemisfortuneandthegloryofAlexius；andthateverycalamitywhichcanafflictadecliningempirewasaccumulatedonhisreignbythejusticeofHeavenandthevicesofhispredecessors。IntheEast，thevictoriousTurkshadspread，fromPersiatotheHellespont，thereignoftheKoranandtheCrescent:theWestwasinvadedbytheadventurousvaloroftheNormans；and，inthemomentsofpeace，theDanubepouredforthnewswarms，whohadgained，inthescienceofwar，whattheyhadlostintheferociousnessofmanners。Theseawasnotlesshostilethantheland；andwhilethefrontierswereassaultedbyanopenenemy，thepalacewasdistractedwithsecrettreasonandconspiracy。Onasudden，thebanneroftheCrosswasdisplayedbytheLatins；
EuropewasprecipitatedonAsia；andConstantinoplehadalmostbeensweptawaybythisimpetuousdeluge。Inthetempest，AlexiussteeredtheImperialvesselwithdexterityandcourage。
Attheheadofhisarmies，hewasboldinaction，skilfulinstratagem，patientoffatigue，readytoimprovehisadvantages，andrisingfromhisdefeatswithinexhaustiblevigor。Thedisciplineofthecampwasrevived，andanewgenerationofmenandsoldierswascreatedbytheexampleandpreceptsoftheirleader。InhisintercoursewiththeLatins，Alexiuswaspatientandartful:hisdiscerningeyepervadedthenewsystemofanunknownworldandIshallhereafterdescribethesuperiorpolicywithwhichhebalancedtheinterestsandpassionsofthechampionsofthefirstcrusade。Inalongreignofthirty—sevenyears，hesubduedandpardonedtheenvyofhisequals:thelawsofpublicandprivateorderwererestored:theartsofwealthandsciencewerecultivated:thelimitsoftheempirewereenlargedinEuropeandAsia；andtheComneniansceptrewastransmittedtohischildrenofthethirdandfourthgeneration。Yetthedifficultiesofthetimesbetrayedsomedefectsinhischaracter；
andhaveexposedhismemorytosomejustorungenerousreproach。
Thereadermaypossiblysmileatthelavishpraisewhichhisdaughtersooftenbestowsonaflyinghero:theweaknessorprudenceofhissituationmightbemistakenforawantofpersonalcourage；andhispoliticalartsarebrandedbytheLatinswiththenamesofdeceitanddissimulation。Theincreaseofthemaleandfemalebranchesofhisfamilyadornedthethrone，andsecuredthesuccession；buttheirprincelyluxuryandprideoffendedthepatricians，exhaustedtherevenue，andinsultedthemiseryofthepeople。Annaisafaithfulwitnessthathishappinesswasdestroyed，andhishealthwasbroken，bythecaresofapubliclife；thepatienceofConstantinoplewasfatiguedbythelengthandseverityofhisreign；andbeforeAlexiusexpired，hehadlosttheloveandreverenceofhissubjects。Theclergycouldnotforgivehisapplicationofthesacredrichestothedefenceofthestate；buttheyapplaudedhistheologicallearningandardentzealfortheorthodoxfaith，whichhedefendedwithhistongue，hispen，andhissword。HischaracterwasdegradedbythesuperstitionoftheGreeks；andthesameinconsistentprincipleofhumannatureenjoinedtheemperortofoundahospitalforthepoorandinfirm，andtodirecttheexecutionofaheretic，whowasburnedaliveinthesquareofSt。Sophia。