A servant had managed to call for the guards while the Emperor was being attacked , but when they arrived he was dead .
This was made clear in 969 when the guards failed to avenge the death by assassination of Emperor Nikephoros II .
A servant had managed to call for the guards while the Emperor was being attacked , but when guards arrived he was dead .
This was made clear in 969 when the guards failed to avenge the death by assassination of Emperor Nikephoros II .