Byzantine Emperor John VIII coins

1423-1448 Following in the footsteps of his beloved father Manuel II, John proved to be another chip off the old block. He possessed good diplomatic skill and was able to hold Constantinople together in these hardened times. Like Manuel, he also travelled out west desperately seeking help under any terms. And just as was ultimately the case with Manuel, he came back empty handed. But, again to his credit, he managed to hold off the Turks for another generation that Constantinople may still call itself free and Christian.