The Union of Lyons had unleashed bitter division within Byzantium. We follow Michael and his son Andronikos as they try to make peace with the various factions that had opposed them.
Period: 1281-1310
Pic: Andronikos II Palaiologos from the manuscript of George Pachymeres’ ‘Historia‘
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The History of Byzantium 
One can not sacrifice the soul(not just in a religious sense) of a nation to save it. What Michael did would be a kin to an American dictator rising to power to prevent the collapse of the United States. Sacrificing freedom for stability preserves the nation physically but destroys it in the people’s hearts. As would betraying Orthodoxy be for the Byzantines a nation that viewed itself as gods chosen people. If the people do not see their values reflected in their nation then people detach themselves from it.