Andronicus and the People of Constantinople

The Vasileff suspected that if Isaac sailed for Constantinople, he would be welcomed by many as a liberator. But suspecting that Andronicus was not bringing him home for a family cuddle, Isaac set himself up on Cyprus. He forged documents to convince the locals he was their new governor, and then eventually had himself declared emperor. The Emperor felt the need to constantly justify his actions to the people of Constantinople. Although I frequently describe them as the mob, they were not always a disorganized rabble. Our historian, Nikita's Coniartes, repeatedly dismisses the common people as being unworthy of historical attention.