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nothing alone. Nothing independently. Isidore had appeared in October with 200 archers and promises of more aid from the West. But the aid came at a price. A price perhaps too high to pay.
    Isidore wanted Constantine to reunite the western and eastern churches. More accurately, he was demanding that the Emperor put into action what had already been agreed.
    The churches had split over several issues of faith in the eleventh century. Since that time many efforts had been made to heal the schism between the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople. The Council of Florence, after many starts and stops, had negotiated a Union of the churches in 1445. The Eastern bishops serving as delegates to this council helped to negotiate the Union. However, the decision was very unpopular in Constantinople and in the Eastern Church. The provisions had never been formally adopted in Constantinople. This awkward situation had created another barrier in negotiating with Rome and in requesting aid.
    Constantine faced an impossible situation. If he enforced the Union, he would invoke unrest or even open revolt in his people. If he ignored the Union, he risked alienating the Pope, whose aid he desperately needed if Constantinople was to survive. He had kept a delicate balance for years, but with the crisis at hand, and with the Pope’s representative directly demanding the Union in exchange for aid, he might be out of time.
    “My Lord,” continued Isidore. “It is time to put in effect what you have already promised and committed to do. You must reunite with the true church. If you do this, the Pope will send aid to your defense, and will summon a new crusade of Latin forces to save the city. It is the only way.”
    “I agree with Isidore,” said Sphrantzes. “Why do we not put in effect what has already been promised?” Constantine was surprised that Sphrantzes would support the Union, and more surprised he would do so openly without consulting Constantine first.
    “The people will never accept it, and they will hate me for it,” answered the Emperor.
    “The people will learn to live with it,” said Sphrantzes. “If they are raped or dead or slaves, they will have less time to worry about the fine points of religious practice.”
    “How do we know if it will even make a difference, Isidore?” asked the Emperor
    “His Holiness has offered ships, gold and troops. He will declare a new crusade. He has promised he will rally the Hungarians to our side. Did he not provide me resources to recruit the archers I brought to the city with me as Papal Legate? He will deliver on his promises I assure you.”
    “I advise against it My Lord,” said Notaras. “You gain nothing by agreeing. What if your people depose you? What if they refuse to cooperate? You can’t sacrifice your people, your soul, for the vague promise of aid.”
    As always Constantine faced only bad decisions. What should he do? He couldn’t defend the city with only his own resources. It was possible his people would kill him, or refuse to defend the city. In the end it didn’t matter. With no help from the west, the city would fall, regardless of the mood of the people. The only hope was aid. He had to do what was necessary. It was a reckless gamble, but he was out of options.
    If only his people would see this. If only they would see that they weren’t sacrificing their afterlife or their faith by agreeing to the union. If only they would see that this was the only way to obtain aid from the west, aid that was critical if the city and his people were to survive. He prayed to God and to the Virgin for wisdom and guidance to do the right thing. He opened his eyes and addressed Cardinal Isidore.
    “I’ve decided I will sign the union of the churches. I will implement those changes immediately. I want word sent by a fast ship to the Pope. We need food, soldiers and money immediately. We need a holy crusade against the infidels. We cannot wait weeks or months. It