The Paleoleg Dynasty (1261-1453) was the last dynasty bet365 voucher Byzantine Empire，It is also the weakest dynasty。However，It was the longest reigning dynasty in Byzantine history。In the past, historians often looked at this dynasty from the perspective of decline，But not much attention is paid to why it can survive for a long time。During the reign of this dynasty，There are powerful enemies outside the Byzantine Empire，Already embarrassed inside，Gradually becoming a “second-class small country” in the Mediterranean world。Due to inability to carry out effective military resistance，The Paleoleg Dynasty often used diplomatic means to check and balance foreign enemies，Staying close to others is still the way to survive。

First，In the early days bet365 voucher dynasty, the wind was used to consolidate the power。1261 years，The Byzantine-Nicene exile regime successfully recaptured Constantinople, which had been occupied by Latin forces for 57 years，Started the rule bet365 voucher Paleoleg Dynasty centered on this city。In the early dynasty (1261-1282)，Especially during the reign bet365 voucher founding monarch Mikhail VIII，There are many political bodies in the Mediterranean world that aim to subvert Byzantium or extract benefits from Byzantium。In view bet365 voucher unstable foundation and limited national power at the beginning bet365 voucher dynasty，Mikhail VIII mainly used diplomatic mediation to deal with external threats。

After escaping from Constantinople，Baldwin II, Emperor bet365 voucher Latin Empire, actively sought support from Western forces for restoration，And eventually led to the anti-Baptist alliance with the Sicilian King Charles of Anjou as the core，Byzantium’s old enemies, Serbia and Bulgaria, are also involved。This is directly related to the safety and survival bet365 voucher Paleoleg Dynasty。At first，Michael VIII set his sights on seeking help from the Pope and Charles's brother, King Saint Louis of France，To restrain Charlie。For example，To gain the support bet365 voucher Pope，Michael VIII sent representatives to recognize the papal supremacy at the Council of Lyons in 1274，And accepted other conditions proposed by the latter regarding church merger。So，With the intervention bet365 voucher King of France and the Pope，Charles of Anjou temporarily postponed the anti-Baby alliance’s military plans。But when the King of France died and the pro-Charles Pope Martin IV came to power，Charlie launched a full-scale anti-worship military operation。To completely destroy the anti-Bay alliance，In 1282, Michael VIII provided substantial funding to King Peter III of Aragon，Support its move into Sicily through the Vespers incident。This finally broke down Charles of Anjou's rule in the region，Making it unable to send troops to Byzantium。

At the same time，Mikhail VIII also formed marriage alliances with the Golden Horde and Hungary respectively，Thus effectively containing Bulgaria and Serbia，Reduced their threat to Byzantium。He also skillfully maneuvered between Venice and Genoa，Let them restrict each other，So that no party can monopolize Byzantine commercial trade。In the multipolar political landscape bet365 voucher Mediterranean world，Mikhail VIII relies on superb diplomacy，Successfully resolved the crisis of subversion bet365 voucher new regime，Laid the foundation for the subsequent development bet365 voucher dynasty。

Secondly，In the middle period bet365 voucher dynasty, defeat the enemy to survive the regime。During the reigns of Michael VIII’s successors Andronicus II to John VI (1282-1354)，The Turkic forces in Serbia and Asia Minor are becoming increasingly powerful，Gradually becoming an important force in determining the world political pattern bet365 voucher Eastern Mediterranean。During this period，Fighting for imperial power，The "War bet365 voucher Two Andronicus" broke out between Andronicus II and his grandson Andronicus III，The "War bet365 voucher Two Johns" broke out between John V and his father-in-law John VI。These two civil wars greatly affected the diplomatic strategies bet365 voucher emperors bet365 voucher Palaeoleg Dynasty。Especially during the latter civil war，Both hostile parties actively seek support from Serbian and Turkic forces。

To win over the increasingly powerful Serbs in the Balkans，Andronicus II married his daughter to King Milutin of Serbia，And use the large land occupied by the latter as dowry。To the end of Milutin's rule，The two sides have always maintained relatively friendly relations。But after Stephen Duchamp ascended the throne，Serbia has fully launched a large-scale expansion。Because he was afraid that John VI might consolidate his power in Thessaly，Stephen Duchamp gives up his alliance，Switched to support John V。To the end bet365 voucher first phase bet365 voucher civil war，Serbia has conquered all of Macedonia except Thessaloniki，Become the overlord bet365 voucher Balkans，The troops are directed towards Constantinople。

At the same time，Many Turkic regimes that emerged in the homeland bet365 voucher Roma Sultanate are accelerating their conquest of Asia Minor。In response to the crisis in Asia Minor，Andronicus II hired a highly effective Catalan mercenary group。But this not only failed to solve Byzantium’s difficulties in the end，On the contrary, he was harmed by mercenaries。Afterwards，The Turks gradually became the new masters of Byzantine territory in Asia Minor，Broussa of Byzantium、Important cities such as Nicaea and Nicomedia have successively become its possessions。After，In Civil War，John VI once relied on Edin Emir Umur to fight against John V and his supporters, the Serbian forces。After Umur found it difficult to continue to provide support，He actively sought an alliance with the Ottoman Turks。After marrying his daughter to the Ottoman Sultan Orhan and giving him a generous dowry，John VI won its support。Afterwards，Ottoman Turks began to enter and exit Thrace freely，Becoming an important factor affecting the situation in the region。

This period，The diplomatic strategy bet365 voucher Paleoleg Dynasty is tantamount to opening the door to welcome thieves，For Serbian and Turkic forces to control Byzantine internal affairs、Encroaching on Byzantine territory provides an opportunity。However，Although at this time the Ottoman Turks had shown their ambition to seize Byzantine European territories，But because Serbia is still strong，They are not yet able to completely dominate the situation in the Balkans。Therefore, while greatly compressing the living space of Byzantium, these two forces，Because of mutual restraint，No party can subvert Byzantium。This provides the possibility for the Paleoleg dynasty to survive。

Finally，At the end bet365 voucher dynasty, many sources of help were sought to delay the demise。During the period from John V to the reign of Constantine XI (1354-1453)，As Serbia fell into civil strife after the death of Stephen Dushan，The political landscape bet365 voucher Balkans has changed accordingly。While the Ottoman Turks were gradually annexing other emirate states in Asia Minor，Still expanding in the Balkans。The emperors bet365 voucher Paleoleg Dynasty used seeking support from other Christian forces as the main way to defend themselves against enemies，They also had contact with Timur, the overlord of Central Asia，To meet urgent needs。

In the process of entering Europe，The Ottoman Turks not only actively promoted the conquest of Byzantine Balkan territories，Also occupied Bulgaria、Defeat Serbia，The siege of Constantinople gradually formed。After the Byzantine Emperor sought aid from other Christian regimes but received little，I hope to use the power bet365 voucher Pope to launch a new crusade。To achieve this purpose，John V even converted to Catholicism personally，But this did not bring Byzantium the expected crusade。After，To preserve political power，He was forced to recognize the suzerainty bet365 voucher Ottoman Sultan。However，Although most other Christian regimes did not help，But the Byzantine emperor’s appeal and the Ottoman Turks’ momentum to dominate the Balkans，Aroused their vigilance。1396，Under the leadership of King Sigismund of Hungary，A Crusade with the participation of many Western forces went to fight the enemy。Although it was defeated at Nicopolis，But it effectively contained the Ottoman Türkiye，It temporarily relaxed the blockade of Constantinople。After，The Ottoman Turks began a comprehensive siege bet365 voucher city，The Byzantine Emperor Manuel II had no other choice but to gain more substantial support，Personally visited Italy、France and the United Kingdom。

Before heading to the West，Manuel II may have contacted Timur。When he is not in Constantinople，John VII, who was in charge bet365 voucher government, directly sent envoys to negotiate with Timur，If Timur can defeat the Ottoman Turks，The tribute presented to the Ottoman Sultan will be transferred to him。These diplomatic measures may also be an important factor in prompting Timur to march into Anatolia。At the critical moment when Byzantium was isolated and helpless，In 1402, Timur led an army to defeat the Ottoman Turks in Ankara，And captured its Sultan Bayezid I。Byzantium, whose mission hangs on a thread, survives a desperate situation，Gained a breather。With the succession of Sultans Muhammad I and Murad II，The Ottoman Turks gradually recovered and restarted their strategic offensive plan，The Byzantine Emperor John VIII, who was helpless against this, did not hesitate to go to the West in person to achieve the merger bet365 voucher churches。Finally at the initiative bet365 voucher Pope，Poland in 1443、Hungary and Serbia formed the Crusade，Crunt against the Ottoman Turks。Although the Crusaders were defeated in Varna the following year，But it diverted Sultan Murad II’s attention to a great extent。After the war，He became busy punishing the supporters bet365 voucher crusade or those who took advantage bet365 voucher opportunity。This gave the Byzantine Paleoleg Dynasty a chance to survive。

However，After the Ottoman Turks defeated the Hungarian army in Kosovo in 1448，No force or alliance of forces can compete with it，The Paleoleg dynasty has no walls to lean on。1453 years，The Ottoman Turkish army captures Constantinople，The final demise bet365 voucher Byzantine Empire。

Overall，In the fragmented political landscape bet365 voucher Mediterranean world，The declining Paleoleg dynasty relied on diplomacy to resolve crises。This is to a certain extent the survival bet365 voucher regime、Provides the possibility to continue Guozuo。However，While the dynasty used diplomatic channels to resolve its difficulties，Also paid a heavy price，Often ceded territory、Compensation、Surrender、Pay tribute as a bargaining chip。This greatly weakened the possibility bet365 voucher Byzantine Empire to achieve salvation from within，The trend of its demise is ultimately irreversible。

　　(Author’s unit: School of bet365 voucher and Culture, Shandong University)