Behind this door is uncertainty.

Neighbors reported a break-in, smash glass.

It could be a false alarm.

It could be a burglary. Someone could still be inside. They could be dangerous.

So are you going in?

If you think you could be a regular or volunteer police constable, such Met careers,

change needs courage.

Change needs you. Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantine

episode 309 cautious and weak.

Across the past three episodes we've taken a departure from our usual narrative formula.

In order to understand the significance of Church Union and the fall of Anatolia,

I felt I had to dedicate our attention to those issues alone.

Today, let's try and get back into our usual rhythm.

As I mentioned last time, Andronicus II, Paliologos was born just before Constantinople was retaken. He therefore spent his youth in the capital, the first prince of the new era of the Roman Empire.

He was married to the daughter of the King of Hungary when still a teenager and she bore him two sons.

The eldest was named Michael and when she sadly died in 1281 the five-year-old was proclaimed

Vassilaf's.

As we've discussed in detail, Andronicus had two major crises to deal with during his first decade in office.

One was to reunite the church, the other was to defend Anatolia.

Despite facing a very hostile clergy for several years, I'd say Andronicus handled the church pretty well.

Everyone but the hardcore arsonites were pacified.

And though he faced challenges to his rule from generals in Anatolia, there don't seem to have been any major

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