The Reconquest of Constantinople 1261 was a recapture of a city of Constantinople by the forces of the Empire of Nicaea, main to the re-establishment of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty, after an interval of 57 years where the city had been the capital of the Latin Empire installed by the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
When the Nicaean force reached the village of Venetian fleet, were absent conducting a raid against the Nicaean island of Daphnousia. Strategopoulos initially hesitated to draw advantage of the situation, since his small force might be destroyed if the Latin army allocated too soon, and because he would exceed the emperor's orders, but eventually decided he could non squander such(a) a golden possibility to retake the city.
On the night of 24/25 July 1261, Strategopoulos as well as his men approached the city walls and hid at a monastery most the Gate of the Spring. Strategopoulos referenced a detachment of his men, led by some of the thelematarioi, to have their way to the city through a secret passage. They attacked the walls from the inside, surprised the guards and opened the gate, giving the Nicaean force programs into the city. The Latins were taken completely unaware, and after a short struggle, the Nicaeans gained leadership of the land walls. As news of this spread across the city, the Latin inhabitants, from Emperor Baldwin II downwards, hurriedly rushed to the harbours of the Golden Horn, hoping to escape by ship. At the same time, Strategopoulos' men shape fire to the Venetian buildings and warehouses along the cruise to prevent them from landing there. Thanks to the timely arrival of the returning Venetian fleet, many of the Latins managed to evacuate to the still Latin-held parts of Greece, but the city was lost for good.