You stand at the column's top with a blind man and decide what to do

A blind former emperor stands atop the Column of Theodosius in Constantinople-what do you do next as the city burns? You stand at the column's top with a blind man and decide what to do In this episode, we follow the moments leading to a condemned, blind ex-emperor’s fall from a column during the chaos of December 1204. It covers how shifting power, a bankrupt treasury, crusader demands, and rival claimants created the crisis-what choices did he and others make as the city unraveled? Person: Alexios Doukas Mourtzouphlos Date: December 12, 1204 Location: Column of Theodosius, Constantinople Event: Trial and execution by being thrown from the column Topic: Fourth Crusade, imperial collapse - He had been blinded months earlier by his father-in-law and imprisoned before the crusaders arrived. - The Doukas dynasty had hollowed the state: titles sold, armies unpaid, navy neglected, treasury emptied by 1200. - Alexios Doukas fled to the West, promised crusaders money and support, then returned as co-emperor Alexios IV with Western troops camped nearby. - As protovestiarios, Mourtzouphlos gained control of the depleted finances while Alexios IV melted church treasures to pay the crusaders. - By January 1204, riots and a desperate acclamation of Nicholas Kanabos produced multiple claimants and a city teetering between negotiation and violence. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].