ABSTRACT
The Mongol deus ex machina eliminated the threat posed by Bayezid, and the Constantinopolitans enjoyed a measure of stability, while the defeated emir's successors were too weak to create problems. During the "Times of Trouble" contenders for the Ottoman throne eagerly courted Manuel's support and had to rely on the emperor's good will. Manuel then made a decision to fortify the Morea. The emperor probably envisioned the Morea as a solid base from which a joint Greco-Latin offensive could be mounted against the Ottomans in the Balkans. That may have been one of the goals of Manuel's grand strategy, but reality was to dictate different terms and the Palaeologan family was eventually forced to reject all notions of cooperation with the Latins of the Morea. The death of the despot of the Morea and the death of the troublesome John VII in Thessalonica enabled Manuel to realize his objectives.
