Alexei V DUCA MURZUFL

Alexei V Duca Murzufl - Byzantine emperor in 1204, Mr.. + 1205 g.
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Alexei Duca before his elevation had the title protovestiariya and was one of the closest people Alexei IV. Emperor, he became anxious and dramatic time: the walls of Constantinople standing army of crusaders, and inside the city raging turmoil. The Byzantines wanted to expel both of their rulers, Isaac and. Alexis erected on the throne with the support of the Crusaders. Alarmed by this Emperor Alexei judged it best to enter the palace, a detachment of knights. In talks with them he sent his protovestiariya. Meanwhile, Alex Duca himself secretly dreamed of power. Seeing that the destiny gives him the opportunity to exercise their long-standing desire, he immediately took advantage of this - the slopes on their side the palace guard, and late at night on January 28 deposed the last angel.. put him in jail, and then ordered to strangle (Choniates: 7, 4).

Proclaimed emperor Duca decided to begin an open war with the Crusaders. He was, according to Choniates, clever man and very self-confident, thinks all the wisdom of the government in secrecy and calculated with it to the general amazement of a sudden be the benefactor of the fatherland. He found the treasury completely empty and therefore overlaid heavy tribute of all the Caesars and sevastokratorov, occupied with the angels, top government posts. Thus procured the money, it is their example inspired the troops. Many times, girded with the sword, he would reflect the enemy's attack, he himself boldly and unexpectedly attacked the Crusaders. That he liked to citizens. Once he spoke out against Baldwin of Flanders, and tied him fight, but the Romans soon dismayed, rushed into the flight, so that, left alone, the Emperor was almost destroyed.

However, all these skirmishes did not bring the capital of Deliverance. April 9, 1204, Mr.. Crusaders for the first time brought its fleet to. walls, but a hail of stones and bullets defenders forced them to retreat. April 12 assault was repeated, and by midday the Crusaders captured the wall. Encountering no resistance after that, the knights were scattered around the city and drew his sword against the people of every age and sex. Full of contempt for the rum, they do not care more about maintaining a military order among themselves, but scattered individual disorderly crowds. At this time, the emperor appeared that here and there on different streets, trying to equip and connect to the slender guard wandering the people there, but no convictions, no reproaches, he could not get anyone to take up arms: Every able to save as. Seeing, . that all efforts are unsuccessful, . and fear of himself to be captured, . Duca rushed to the Grand Palace, . sat with him in the boat daughter of Emperor Alexis III Evdokia, . which had been in love (before he divorced with two legitimate wives), . and left the city (Choniates: 8, 1-3).,

. From the capital, he went in Larissa, where he lived while his father was a beloved
. Alexios III took Dooku with feigned affection, ordered to make for him and his daughter a bath, but at the time when Duca was in the bath, he was seized and blinded (Acropolis: 5). After a little time-Duca caught crusaders, was taken to Constantinople, and they have been there for trial for that deprived the life of his sovereign. The judges sentenced him to death - was erected on the high Taurus column and dropped from there down (Choniates: 9, 9).