Their Empress had learned to get her way in her former job as a politically were influential whore, and the Emperor was known for his ability always to get the job done, no matter how many people he would have to bump off and no matter how much wasteland he left in his trail.
Therefore all the imperial officers knew, that they had to act against the byzantine population as a team, in unity and with obvious disdain.
As you can see on the painting above.
Just like many national authorities act today, using the global economy as a pretext for their sick behaviour.
