“243

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

ther the ties of blood, nor the oaths which theyrepeatedly pledged in the communion and be-fore the altar, nor the stronger pressure of ne-cessity, could reconcile or suspend their domes-tic quarrels. They ravaged each other’s patri-mony with fire and sword: the aims and suc-cours of the West were consumed in civil hosti-lity; and their power was only exerted in savageand arbitrary executions. The distress and re-venge of the weaker rival invoked their supremelord; and, in the season of maturity and revenge,Mahomet declared himself the friend of Deme-trius, and marched into the Morea with an irre-sistible force. When he had taken possession, ofSparta, “ You are too weak,” said the sultan,“ to control this turbulent province: I will take“ your daughter to my bed; and you shall pass“ the remainder of your life in security and ho-“ nour.” Demetrius sighed and obeyed; sur-rendered his daughter and his castles; followedto Adrianople his sovereign and son; and re-ceived for his own maintenance, and that of hisfollowers, a city in Thrace , and the adjacentisles of Imbros, Lemnos, and Samothrace . Hewas joined the next year by a companion of mis-fortune, the last of the Comnenian race, who,after the taking of Constantinople by the La-tins, had founded a new empire on the coast ofthe Black sea . 1 In the progress of his Anato-liau conquests, Mahomet invested with a fleetand army the capital of David, who presumed

5 Sec the loss or conquest of Trebizond in C-halcocondyles (1. ix,p. 263-266), Ducas (c. 45), Pliranza (1. iii, c. 27), and Cautemir(p. 107).

CHAPLX VIII.

Loss of theMorea.

A. D. 1460.