Constantinople’s attempts to secure Il-Khanid support against…

Constantinople’s attempts to secure Il-Khanid support against the Ottomans from the east are unsuccessful, and the emperor's use of mercenary troops from western Europe causes more damage to his own territory than to that of the Turks.

The Ottomans lack effective siege equipment, however, and are unable to take the major cities of Bithynia.

Nor can they move against their increasingly powerful Turkmen neighbors Aydin and Karasi, which have taken over imperial territory in southwestern Anatolia.