In October, Count Theophylaktos recieved this message from Petros:
Theophylaktos, I accept your offer. But I do not want to put this sin upon anyone's head but my own. You and the other nobles are hereby commanded to do nothing. Sit and wait for me to finish this wicked deed.
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It was a cold day in January of 1169. Isaias was shivering. What made it worse what that he was part of the Coast Guard, and had to patrol along the coastlines. The winter winds blew off the Mediterranean and froze him to the bone.
He looked to his companions, Romanos and Sergeant Lysandros. Neither one showed any sign of the cold, but the fact that all their hairs stood on end was enough indication to Isaias that they were every bit as frozen as he was.
He groaned. What was the point of the Coast Guard in peace time? It wasn't as if there were any enemies about to invade. Why couldn't they go back to Korinthos? While he could not see the city, the castle which protected the city was just on the horizon. What he wouldn't give to be back in the castle, by a warm fire.
Suddenly, Romanos shouted, "What's that?"
Isaias and Lysandros turned to look where Romanos had pointed. A sail! No... many sails! Heading straight for the land! An invasion? But who?
As the ships neared, they could see the banner of Prince Petros, Master of the Aegean. His war standard was raised. This could mean only one thing.
Lysandros turned to Isaias, "Isaias, you're the fastest, run back to the castle, inform Captain-General Gregorios! Tell him to get the King and the Supreme Commander! Prince Petros is invading!"
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Captain-General Gregorios slammed his fist into the wall and shouted, "DAMNATION!"
The enemy had moved faster than anticipated. Korinthos Castle was besieged. No word had yet been sent to the city for reinforcements. There had not been time. The only defenders of the castle were 142 members of the Knight-Guard. Outside, the Master of the Aegean had nearly 3,000 men at his command. Things did not look good.
Suddenly, one of his men entered, and said, "Sire, we have recieved a messenger from Prince Petros."
"What does he want?"
"The Master of the Aegean says that if we surrender he will spare our lives. It is only the King he wants."
"I will not surrender my King."
The man gulped, "But sir, there are 3,000 men out there! We cannot hope to hold them off! Many of the men are considering surrendering with or without your consent!"
"WHAT!?"
The man began to stammer, he didn't know what to say.
"Summon them all here."
"But sir, if we take them from the walls, there will be no one to stop Prince Petros from attacking!"
"He has sent us an offer of surrender. He will wait for a reply. I have enough time to give them a speech before we make our decision. He won't attack just yet."
And so they were summoned.
"Men," the Captain-General began, "We stand here against impossible odds. Logic would dictate our surrender."
The 142 men mumbled agreement. Smiles began to appear on their faces, they were going to live afterall!
Gregorios continued, "But honour... honour demands we fight to the death for our King!"
One of the men spoke up, "But he is a man without honour, indeed without sanity! He is not worth our lives!"
"Do I need to tell you of the Blessed Alexios?"
The man shook his head, everyone knew the story of Blessed Alexios Dekanos by heart.
Gregorios then said, "We are the heirs to the Blessed Alexios. In his day, the Supreme Commander was also the Captain-General of the Knight-Guard. Now the positions are held by different men, but nonetheless, I am his successor, and you are successors to his men. Blessed Alexios risked his life many times for Athanasios the Cruel and for Georgios the Great! While Georgios may have been worthy of such devotion, Athanasios most certainly was not. So why then, did Alexios fight so hard for him? It was his duty as head of the King's bodyguard. It is our sworn duty to die before letting harm come to the King. Now I will not order any of you to stand with me, but I for one will die before I fail my duty. And to any of you who choose to surrender, never again lift your heads high. You must always hang them in shame, for you have chosen your life over your King's."
There was silence for a moment. Some of the men hung their heads, already ashamed. At last, one spoke up, "I will not shame myself and abandon my duty! I stand with the Captain-General." And he moved over to Gregorios' side. One by one, the others did, too, until all 142 men were with Gregorios.
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When Petros was told that the Knight-Guard would not surrender, he ordered an immediate attack.
The 142 guards had all stayed within the keep, so there was nothing to stop Petros' men from entering the castle.
The Knight-Guard fought valiantly to defend their King, and by the time they had been slaughtered to the last man, they had taken some 500 of Petros' men with them.
Once the Knight-Guard had all been slain, Petros burst into the King's chambers. There he saw Konstantinos and Cheilous in one last embrace.
When the King saw Petros, he gently pushed his cousin aside, and said, "Stay back, dear Cheilous."
Petros drew his sword, "You know what I must do."
Konstantinos shook his head, "You don't want to do this."
Petros sighed, "You're right, I don't. But nevertheless, I must, for the good of the Kingdom. Goodbye my nephew."
Cheilous shouted and began to run back to Konstantinos, desperate to save him.
"RESTRAIN HER!" Petros shouted, and two of his men grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. She grunted in pain.
"DON'T HURT HER!" Konstantinos cried.
Petros nodded to his men, and they relaxed their grip just enough to end the pain, but they still kept a frim hold on her.
"Now, to business," the Master of the Aegean said.
Konstantinos looked to his left, there stood Bartholomaios. "Bart!" the King cried, "Help me!"
Bartholomaios shook his head.
"You have betrayed me too?"
Petros looked and saw no one. The King really was insane.
Konstantinos then said one last thing to his imaginary friend, "So be it, Bartholomaios. May you burn in hell with the rest of them! I hate you! I HATE YOU ALL!" With that he lunged at Petros with all his fury.
The King had never been a great swordsman, and his rage only further unbalanced him. His swing missed Petros, and he suddenly found his uncle's blade sticking into his gut, ironically, in the same place where he had stabbed Count Sergio.
He dropped his sword, and with pain and sorrow in his eyes, looked at his uncle. Petros bowed his head, "I'm sorry, Konstantinos." As the Master of the Aegean pulled his sword from his nephew, the King sank to the ground, lifeless.
"TINOS!" shouted Cheilous in pain.
Petros looked to his men, "Release her." As soon as they let go, she ran to her cousin's dead body and wept.
"Give her one hour to mourn," Petros said, "Then return her to her cell, for her own safety."
He then called his third son, Niketas, to him and said, "Niketas, go to the city, and tell the Knight-Guard there that I offer them two choices: retire from duty and swear faith to me, or die."
Niketas left to do his task. Petros then summoned his second son, Philippos, and said, "Fetch Patriarch Pantoleon. I am to be crowned today."
"Today!? But father, we can't get to Nafplion in one day! How can you be crowned at St. Sophia's?"
"I will be crowned in the Church of Blessed Alexios."
"But that will destroy tradition!"
"You have your orders, Philippos! CARRY THEM OUT!"
And so all was done as Petros commanded.
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The Italian Chronicler, Adone Tittoni, had this to say of the events of January 7th, 1169:
I am horribly shocked at the turn of events within the Morea. Only three years ago we saw the end of the Achaians and the rise of the Korinthian Palaeologi. Now, in a sad twist of treachery, Petros, Master of the Aegean, has murdered his nephew and made himself King. I had high hopes for the Korinthians, but they could not even last three years! God's judgement will surely rest with these Palaeologi from Euboia. Cursed are the Euboians, now and forever more!