In truth, the 'rats are more dangerous. The catastrophe of the Byzantine Empire in 1071 when they lost the battle of Manzikert to the Turks occurred because the other side of Byzantine politics abandoned the emperor on the battlefield.
The Turks won and captured most of the breadbasket of the Empire, plus its main source for soldiers.
McVey
Very interesting. I have just been reading a history of the fall of the Byzantine Empire. Seems they also fell into an 'Oh well, nothing is all that serious' attitude, as many people have about 9/11.