1352 Peace with Genoa after three years’ war. Cantacuzenus hires Turkish mercenaries to fight Bulgarians and Servians.
1353 Cantacuzenus proclaims his son Matthæus emperor, and a deadly strife between him and the Palæologus family ensues.
1354 Cantacuzenus dethroned. Joannes V sole emperor. Matthæus Cantacuzenus continues civil war.
1357 Matthæus Cantacuzenus delivered to Joannes by his captors the Servians and made to renounce all rights to the throne.
1361 The Ottoman Turks under Murad I take Hadrianopolis. This seals the fate of the Greek Empire.
1363 The Ottomans take Philippopolis and Serres. Defeat of Louis of Hungary.
1369-1370 Joannes visits Rome to obtain help for his falling empire, but is unsuccessful. On way home is arrested for debt in Venice and released with money raised by his son, Manuel.
1375 Andronicus, Joannes’ eldest son, conspires against him while the emperor is absent on a visit to Murad. He is aided by Saugdi, eldest son of Murad. Murad hastens to Europe and quells rebellion. Both Andronicus and Saugdi have their eyes put out.
1377 Andronicus escapes from prison, imprisons his father, and confers title on his own son.
1381 Joannes rescued by Venetians under Carlo Zeno. Concludes treaty with Andronicus, recognising his and his son’s rights to the title. Treaty with Murad in which Joannes acknowledges himself the vassal of the Ottoman Empire.