Roman Chronicle

After several rounds of wrangling and bargaining, the Genoese of Galata saw that Lothar would not yield and submitted.

Rome's incorporation of Galata did not provoke much resistance among the Genoese. He had already proven who was truly capable of protecting them when foreign enemies invaded.

Though far smaller than Constantinople in both population and area, this city had monopolized the Empire's customs privileges. At its height, its revenues had been enough to surpass Constantinople's tenfold.

Of course, though that figure sounded terrifying, in truth, after this Empress of the Cities lost her commercial interests and the sustenance of her body, she could not collect much tax revenue to begin with. The contrast between decline and rise was what produced such a shocking ratio.

Ottoman envoys soon arrived at the court as well. Not one faction, but three arrived in succession, all seeking the Emperor's investiture and support.

Though the Emperor could not do much to help them, he could certainly ruin their plans.

Just as Constantine XI had sought Mahmud II's recognition when he ascended the throne, Mahmud II might not have been able to make someone securely sit upon the Roman Emperor's throne, but if he did not approve, that person would never sit securely upon it.

This, too, was a chain of mutual suspicion.

Even those unwilling to bow and scrape before a heathen emperor would fear that their other rivals might proactively seek the Emperor's aid. After all, this was the Emperor who possessed a Dragon Knight capable of killing Mahmud II.

The Roman Emperor, once weak and living from one day to the next, had now become a lofty arbiter, a Sword of Damocles hanging over everyone's head.

Unfortunately, none of the three factions received the Roman Emperor's recognition.

That night, at Hagia Sophia, Lothar