Babban barazana ga Byzantium ba Musulmai ba ne amma takwarorinsu na Kirista a Yamma - Michael VIII ya san cewa Venetian da Franks ba shakka za su kaddamar da wani yunƙuri na kafa mulkin Latin a Konstantinoful.Lamarin ya yi muni sa’ad da Charles I na Anjou ya ci Sicily daga Hohenstaufens a shekara ta 1266. A shekara ta 1267, Paparoma Clement IV ya shirya wata yarjejeniya, ta yadda Charles zai sami fili a Gabas don taimakon wani sabon balaguron soji zuwa Constantinople.Jinkiri a ƙarshen Charles yana nufin cewa an ba Michael VIII isasshen lokaci don tattaunawa game da haɗin kai tsakanin Cocin Roma da na Constantinople a shekara ta 1274, don haka ya kawar da goyon bayan papal don mamaye Constantinople.