On March 4th, 1446 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac arrived at the port of Patras, carrying the spoils and captured ships from the naval battle.
When the Latin merchants in the city saw such a massive fleet, they initially thought it was an Ottoman landing force and reacted with panic. Upon discovering it was the Byzantine fleet, they quickly changed their tone and began flattering Isaac, praising the strength of his army.
"I heard you also made some contributions to resisting the Ottomans?" Isaac asked casually.
"Of course! We specifically donated money and supplies to form a 300-man city guard, sworn to fight the Ottomans to the end…"
Isaac sneered inwardly. If the Ottomans had really come, 300 men would've been just enough to serve as an honor guard for the surrender ceremony.
"Now that the immediate Ottoman threat has been dealt with, this city guard can come with me to help defend the Corinthian Wall."
"Your Highness, that…" the merchants' representative said hesitantly.
"Sir Conti, I've heard there are still Ottoman spies in the city. You have full authority to act at your discretion."
Isaac turned and gave the order.
"Yes, Your Highness." Conti placed his hand on his sword, a grin creeping across his face.
"Your Highness! Please, we can find the spies ourselves! No need to trouble you!"
The merchants were instantly alarmed. If the army were allowed to search the city, their assets—legal or not—would likely be in jeopardy.
"Well then…"
"It is entirely up to Your Highness," they said bitterly.
"I heard the Ottomans also have a granary here?"
One merchant tried to object, but another smacked him and cut him off.
"Yes! We've already seized it and will send the grain directly to your army!"
"Very good."
Isaac waved his hand, and the merchants withdrew, visibly relieved.
After a brief rest, Isaac received the first officer of a surrendered Ottoman warship.
This burly man, named Demir, had been the first mate of the Ottoman galley Icel. When he saw the situation was hopeless, and with the support of the crew, he killed the unwilling Ottoman captain and raised the white flag to surrender to Isaac.
"Why surrender instead of dying for the Sultan?" Isaac asked.
"Your Highness, we are not Ottomans. The Icel originally belonged to Karaman and was handed over to the Ottomans in a treaty. The Sultan kept us on and assigned an Ottoman bey as captain to oversee us."
Isaac nodded in understanding.
"Since you defected honorably, I won't pursue your past. Here—100 ducats. Distribute this to your crew as my gift."
He tossed Demir a bag of coins.
"From now on, you are the captain of the Icel. I will arrange for a priest to baptize you. Any crew unwilling to convert will be sold into slavery. I will fill the vacancies."
"Yes, Your Highness." Demir was slightly regretful—after converting to Orthodoxy, returning to the Islamic world would no longer be easy.
Still, this prince didn't seem stingy. He might as well follow him.
Isaac wasn't concerned with Demir's inner thoughts. He summoned Captains Fidel and Henry.
"Fidel, Henry, this is Captain Demir. He'll command the Icel galley under your supervision."
The three exchanged greetings.
"Fidel, what's the condition of the two captured galleys?"
Fidel produced an inspection report from the Patras shipwrights.
"The Ottoman flagship Bayezid is a three-deck galley, similar to the old St. Nicholas, with 12 cannons—quite capable. As for the Bursa, it's a much older model—a simple galley with one ballista and two side guns. Its only advantage is a spacious hold, good for rowing slaves and speed."
"Neither suffered major damage. They can join the fleet after restaffing."
Isaac nodded. His fleet was growing rapidly, but he lacked a base for repairs, construction, and R&D. If Venice or Genoa cut him off from their shipyards or refused docking rights, he'd be stuck.
Constantinople had the infrastructure, but was under constant Ottoman and Latin surveillance. Any leak could lead to disaster.
And on the Peloponnese, all major ports were Latin colonies—no secrecy at all.
He needed a long-term military port and supply base for his fleet—urgently.
"Fidel, select officers for the Bayezid and Bursa. Prioritize those with merit and knowledge of Greek. That boatswain Owen who was first to board the Ottoman flagship—make him captain of the Bursa. Captain Kerman, for escorting Ibrahim's troops, will command the Bayezid. Handle the rest as you see fit."
The three saluted and left.
With the navy sorted, Isaac summoned the army.
"Your Highness," said Knight Conti and Commander Maruna, bowing.
"What do you plan to do with the surrendered Ottoman soldiers and the 300-man city guard from Patras?"
They exchanged glances. Conti spoke first.
"The city guard is in decent shape. Good physiques, some basic training—just green and unrefined. I can take them."
"Your Highness," said Maruna, "the Ottoman irregulars are mediocre. We can convert them and add them to the mercenary corps. As for the Janissaries… that's your call."
Isaac was dissatisfied.
"Very well. Rest up tonight. At dawn, we sail to the western Corinthian Wall and join Ibrahim and Mihail's troops. Then we'll decide."
After they left, Isaac rubbed his temples.
His army was too fractured—too many origins, too many command structures. This wasn't a problem in defense, but in the field, it would be a disaster.
Most rulers faced the same issue, and many even encouraged factionalism in the army to maintain their grip on power.
The benefit: the ruler remains indispensable, mediating among factions.
The cost: inefficiency, waste, and eventual implosion.
Isaac's inner circle was already showing signs of factionalism—not necessarily bad, but it must be contained.
The military must be firmly under his control.
This upcoming reorganization was crucial to that aim.
The next day, under escort from the transport fleet, Isaac's army landed at the western Corinthian Wall.
Ibrahim and Mihail's troops were already waiting.
With the Ottomans short on supplies, their assaults had stalled, and both sides faced off across the wall.
Veterans of Mihail's guard, seeing their prince for the first time in over a year, beat their spears on the ground in joy.
Others looked on blankly. Many didn't even know who they were fighting for. Some saw their liege for the first time—and were indifferent.
But when Isaac had bags of gold carried off the ships and handed out as rewards, the mood changed.
That night, as he made his inspection rounds, the soldiers were far more enthusiastic.
Gathered around campfires, Isaac sat with them, eating and chatting.
He focused on Mihail's troops—originally his old guard, expanded into a full regiment of Orthodox Greeks. Their loyalty was high.
He checked rations, asked questions, investigated abuse.
Despite Mihail's discipline, Isaac still uncovered several corrupt cooks and a junior officer guilty of "drinking soldiers' blood" (extorting from subordinates).
The cooks were enslaved. The officer was publicly executed before the entire unit.
His bloodied head mounted on a pike sent a clear message: their usually warm prince could also be ruthlessly strict.
With Ibrahim's unit, Isaac was more restrained—he needed their trust first.
Then came the mass baptism of former Muslims.
Isaac personally requested a respected priest from Constantinople to conduct the rite.
The converts were mostly Ottoman prisoners and troops under Ibrahim.
Isaac offered them a choice: convert or be sold into slavery.
Most chose baptism. Eight devout Muslims refused—and were sold.
For the next week, Isaac, with his four commanders, drafted a full military reform plan.
The Royal Guard and Patras City Watch merged into the 1st Guard Legion, directly commanded by Isaac. Mihail became its general. Authorized strength: 1,000. Current: 800. This would be the regular army of Orthodox Greeks.
Ottoman converts became the Purple Guard, under Ibrahim and his deputy Mehmet. Strength: 1,000. Current: 850. All future converted Ottomans would go here.
Conti's Southern French cavalry and infantry became the Oc Legion, strength 1,000, current 500. Future recruits would be strong, landless Frenchmen—after conversion.
Maruna's mercenaries became the Black Legion, contracted long-term. Strength: 1,000, current: 500. Religious affiliation unrestricted—this was the cannon fodder.
Total strength: 2,650.
The captured Janissaries would be used elsewhere.
Originally, Isaac wanted to mix units, but linguistic barriers made this impossible. Mixed squads couldn't understand orders. Even Austria-Hungary in later centuries suffered for this.
War was imminent, and politics had to wait.
Isaac also laid out a three-point future plan:
Recruit Orthodox Greeks into a new 2nd Guard Legion.
Raid Ottoman coasts—convert captives into Purple Guards.
Recruit French refugees and landless knights.
France, after all, had the largest population in Europe—and strong men made strong soldiers.
The reform was well received—no one's benefits were cut.
Everyone had their desires. Fulfill those, and loyalty followed.
Mihail was a loyalist—he wanted his student to succeed.
Ibrahim wanted freedom for his family—Isaac gave it.
Maruna valued money—Isaac gave him a contract.
Conti dreamed of leading troops—Isaac gave him command.
In the following days, the Ottomans stayed in stalemate. Occasionally, small patrols approached the wall, only to retreat after seeing Isaac's disciplined forces.
Taking advantage of the lull, Isaac commissioned uniforms and armor for each legion.
Uniforms were expensive, but boosted morale, identity, and recruitment.
Even the Janissaries were beloved for their uniformed grandeur.
Designers and tailors were summoned:
Guards wore grey. The 1st Legion's emblem to be chosen by the men.
Purple Guard wore bluish-purple. Emblem: the Palaiologos family crest.
Oc Legion wore dark blue. Emblem: the Constantine Cross.
Black Legion had no uniform requirements—just wear black.
Main fabric: linen, with wool added for winter.
After the war, re-equipment would begin. Estimated cost: 2,000 ducats.
On March 24th, 1446, the Ottomans, having stockpiled enough supplies, launched a full-scale assault on the Corinthian Wall.
Their main attack was not on the flat east or west, but on the rugged central section.
The center was in crisis!