Escape from the Tower of Anemas

Bajazet’s Advice

After Emperor John V Palaiologos and his sons were imprisoned in the Tower of Anemas by Andronicus, the rebel prince faced a difficult choice. His ally, Sultan Bajazet, advised him to secure his power by executing the captives. Such an act, Bajazet argued, would remove any chance of their return and prevent a threat to Andronicus’s claim to the throne.

However, Andronicus refused. Cruelty of that level was a step too far, even for a rebellious son. He chose instead to keep them alive in the tower, though still as prisoners. For two years the situation remained unchanged, with the emperor and his sons locked away, waiting for an opportunity.

Different Stories of the Escape

Eventually, the captives managed to escape, but how they did so remains a mystery. Historians of the time give several conflicting accounts.

Phrantzes, a Byzantine chronicler, claimed that the prisoners tricked their Bulgarian guards and walked free through deception.

Ducas, another historian, attributed the escape to the cunning of a man named Angelus, nicknamed Diabolus or Diabol-angelus. Ducas admitted, however, that he could not decide whether their release came from angelic power or satanic trickery Rose Festival Tour.

Chalcocondylas offered yet another explanation: the captives broke through the dungeon walls with an iron tool secretly provided by the servant who delivered their food.

Each version highlights the desperation and determination of the prisoners, though the exact truth remains uncertain.

Venetian Attempts at Rescue

Meanwhile, the Venetians were also involved in efforts to free the emperor. According to Venetian sources, Carlo Zen, a commander, tried twice to rescue John V. These rescue missions were tied to political bargaining: Venice demanded control of the island of Tenedos in return for their help, which would cancel the earlier concession of the island to the Genoese.

Both attempts failed. The first was unsuccessful because the emperor reportedly refused to leave the tower without his sons. The second failed when the plot was discovered before it could be carried out.

Return to Power

Despite these failures, the prisoners eventually escaped. Once free, John V Palaiologos and his son Manuel went straight to the court of Sultan Bajazet. They convinced him to support their cause against Andronicus. With the Sultan’s backing, Andronicus was forced to give up the throne he had seized.

The Tower as a Symbol of Decline

The story of this episode shows how the Tower of Anemas was not merely a prison of stone, but a symbol of the empire’s weakness. Civil wars, betrayals within the royal family, religious disputes, and dependence on foreign powers all reveal the slow decline of the Byzantine Empire.

The tower witnessed not only human suffering but also the empire’s inability to stand united. It became a stage where the tragedy of Byzantium played out, until the empire itself was finally overtaken by its enemies.