At the insistance of Alexios I, Anselm, archbishop of Milan, Albert of Biandrate and the other leaders of the Lombard crusade led their unruly band quickly to Constantinople, where they camped on the shore of the Bosporos for two months. They would not move on because they were waiting for French or German contingents, but continued to inflict criminal injuries on the local Byzantine population. Alexios tried to get them across to Civetot or Rouphinanai, but in vain. When he cancelled their food, they attacked the palace (Blachernai?), killing a young imperial kinsman and a pet lion. Anselm, Albert and Hugo of Montbeel intervened in the rioting by the Lombards which had led to the attack on Blachernai, and stopped it, coaxing the people back to their tents; then the leaders visited Alexios himself to calm him. They pleaded eloquently that the leaders were innocent, as the riot had been caused by troublemakers. Alexios stressed that damage had been regular and consistent, but finally was persuaded to forgive them. He bribed the Lombard leaders with gifts to cross the Bosporos, succeeding with Albert, who received 10 horses, but failing with Anselm, who feared that once crossed they would be betrayed to the Turks. Food and peace were restored