Michael VII. (Ducas), minority of, 251; disastrous reign of, 256 Michael VIII. (Paleologus), usurpation of, 303-4; overthrows the Latin Empire, 305; disbands the Asiatic militia, 313; wars of, 304, 314 Michael IX., son and colleague of Andronicus II., defeated by the “Grand Company,” 318 Michael Angelus, despot of Epirus, 300 Moawiah, Caliph, attacks Constantinople, 170; his armies defeated, 171 Moesia, invaded by the Goths, 37; seized by the Bulgarians, 171 Monks, characteristics of the early, 149; favour image worship, 193; persecuted by Constantine Copronymus, 197 Monophysites, 75 Moors, Gelimer flies to the, 85 Montferrat, _see under_ Boniface and Conrad Morals, effect of Christianity on, 145-7; general character of Byzantine, 155-6 Moslemah besieges Constantinople, 185-7 Motassem, the Caliph, sacks Amorium, 210 Murad I., conquers Thrace, 329; suzerain of John V., 330; conquers the Serbs, 332 Murad II., besieges Constantinople, 337; makes peace with Manuel II., 338; wars of, 342 Murtzuphlus, _see_ Alexius V. (Ducas) Myriokephalon, battle of, 272 Naissus, birthplace of Constantine I., 16; taken by the Bulgarians, 277 Naples, taken by Belisarius, 88; interference of the Pope with, 120 Narses, the eunuch, conquers Italy from the Goths, 95 Narses, General, burnt alive by Phocas, 129 Navy, the Byzantine, 219-20 Nicaea, taken by the Crusaders, 264; by the Ottomans, 323 Nicephorus I. dethrones Irene, 199; disastrous wars of, 203 Nicephorus II., Phocas, takes Candia, 228; emperor, 229; wars of, 231; murdered by Zimisces, 232 Nicholas V., pope, sends aid to Constantine XI., 344 Nicomedia, taken by the Ottomans, 323 Nineveh, battle of, 138 Normans, conquer Byzantine Italy, 247; invade the empire, 259; second invasion of repelled, 267; third invasion of, 273 Notaras, John, 342 Nuceria, Goths beaten at, 95 Obeydah, Saracen general, 162 Obsequian theme, the, 168 Odoacer, conquered by Theodoric, 63, 64 Omar, the Caliph, visits Jerusalem, 163 Omeyades, dynasty of the, 170 Orkhan, Emir of the Ottomans, reign and successes of, 323-4; Pretender to the Sultanate, 343 Orosius, history of, 150 Ostrogoths, under Theodoric in Moesia, 62; conquer Italy, 64; weakness of the kingdom of, 82; attacked by Justinian, 88; wars of with Belisarius and Narses, 89-94; crushed, 95 Othman, Emir of the Turks, conquests of, 321-23 Palace, imperial, at Constantinople, 19 Paleologus, house of, _see under_ Michael VI., Andronicus II. and III., John V. and VI., Constantine XI. Palermo, taken by Belisarius, 88 Palestine, conquered by the Persians, 132; overrun by the Arabs, 163; subdued by the Crusaders, 265 Pandects, compiled by Justinian, 112 Patriarchal palace of Constantinople, 21 Patriarchs, _see under_ John, Sergius, &c. Paulicians, sect of the persecuted by Basil I, 214 Paulinus, put to death by Theodosius II., 57