Theodore turned his attention to the Waring guard, but before any attempt at reorganization could be made the enemy was in sight, and Theodore himself had to fly. The Crusaders had expected, according to the marshal, another day's fighting, and knew nothing of the flight of Mourtzouphlos. To their surprise they encountered no resistance. The day was occupied in taking possession of their conquest. The Byzantine troops, including also the Warings, laid down their arms on receiving assurances of personal safety. The Italians who had been expelled took advantage of the entry of their friends, and appear to have retaliated upon the population for their expulsion. Two thousand of the inhabitants, says Gunther, were killed, and mostly by these returned Italians.

As the victorious Crusaders passed through the streets, women, old men, and children, who had been unable to flee, met them, and, placing one finger over another so as to make the sign of the Cross, hailed the Marquis of Montferrat as hailed as king, while a hastily gathered procession, with the Cross and the sacred emblems of Christ, greeted him in triumph. The people had known him as the guardian of Alexis. Besides those who yet believed that all the change which would be made would be that of the sovereign, there were some among the number who had been the partisans of young Alexis, and who believed that they were therefore entitled to share in the favor, or, at least, in the clemency, of Boniface. It was, therefore, natural that he should be hailed as king.

Palace of Bucoleon

The marquis had led his division along the shore of the Horn round to the palace of Bucoleon. The occupants surrendered it. The ladies of the court, including one who had been the sister of the King of France, and another the sister of the King of Hungary, had fled to the fortress of this palace on the capture of the city. While Boniface took possession of the Bucoleon, Henry, brother of Baldwin, occupied the Blachern.

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