[Antoninus]

And they got paid back by the crusade that sacked Constantinople at the urging of the Venetians. This probably took 100 years off the life of the Eastern Empire.

Indeed. Actually, it probably is what sealed the fate of Byzantium. Had they been able to hold out another 100 years, the Turks might never have defeated them.

[nuke rocketeer]

"Indeed. Actually, it probably is what sealed the fate of Byzantium. Had they been able to hold out another 100 years, the Turks might never have defeated them."

Might have been tough seeing how the Turks were already using cannon when they took Contantinople in 1453 (and I have never seen any info showing that the Byzantines used them too). But it might have bought time to prevent them from penetrating even further into Europe. A VERY interesting "what-if" for some good hsitorical writer to explore.