Earwig

See FORFICULIDÆ. the Comnenus dynasty 1057, which continued till 1185, some of its later members being able rulers. In 1204 Constantinople was taken by the Crusaders, and the empire was divided. The first part, including the capital, fell to Baldwin, Count of Flanders; the Venetians had another share; Theodore Lascar is ruled at Nicæa, and Alexius Comnenus at Trebizond. John Vatazes, of Nicæa, 1222-1255, afterward seized a great part of the empire. Michael VIII., with the Genoese, took Constantinople 1261, ending the Latin dynasty and founding that of the Palæologi, during whose reign the Turks gained footing in Europe, till the dominion of Johannes VI. 1444 was confined to Constantinople, which was finally taken by Mohammed II., May 29, 1453, and the Byzantine empire was no more: the long tution of the empire was despotic, and the imperial court was story of crime, di ension and tumult was ended. The const i immediately dependent on the emperor who was superior to characterized by stately ceremonial. All public officials were all laws. The state revenue was identified with the privy purse. The army consisted mainly of mercenaries. horizon, seen in England when easterly winds are approaching Eastern Haze. Peculiar black misty appearance in the over the Channel and North Sea.