Thrace and Macedonia are practically lost, and the Byzantine Empire has become merely the city state of Constantinople.
1374—As the result of a rebellion undertaken by Andronicus together with the son of Murad against the two fathers, John V consents to deprive his son Andronicus of his sight, and shuts him up in the Tower of Anemas.
1375-89—Civil war between John and Manuel and Andronicus, in which Venice, Genoa, and Osmanlis play a decisive part. John and Manuel purchase Ottoman aid at the price of giving up Philadelphia, the last Byzantine possession in Asia Minor.
1391—Manuel, serving as vassal in Ottoman army, is threatened with loss of eyes, if Emperor John does not demolish the towers on the walls of Constantinople, which he has rebuilt. He obeys and dies soon after. Manuel escapes from Brusa upon learning of his father’s death. His flight is followed by the first Ottoman siege of Constantinople.
1396—Bayezid contemplates taking Constantinople by assault, but is deterred by arrival of crusaders in Hungary.
1397—Siege of Constantinople is renewed, after Nicopolis.
1399—Crusade of Boucicaut helps Byzantines temporarily.
1400-2—Manuel, having made peace with his nephew John, sails for Italy and spends two years in fruitless endeavour to get aid from western princes.
1401—John makes treaty to give up Constantinople, if Bayezid should win from Timur.
1402—After Bayezid’s defeat at Angora, Manuel returns to Constantinople.