The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 was primarily a struggle for power between two factions supporting John VI Kantakouzenos and John V Palaiologos. John VI, a military general and former chief minister, gained the backing of the nobility and a significant portion of the military, while John V, only a teenager at the time, was supported by the common people and the church. Over the years, the conflict saw shifting alliances, military engagements, and extensive political maneuvering, as both sides vies for control over the declining Byzantine Empire. The civil strife caused significant disruption throughout the empire, weakening its borders and allowing external threats from neighbors, particularly the Ottomans. As both leaders assessed the rising risk of fragmentation and further loss of territory, they recognized the necessity of a diplomatic resolution to their conflict. In August 1347, after extensive negotiations, they finalized a power-sharing agreement that allowed John VI to remain as the emperor while John V was declared co-emperor and heir. This pivotal agreement not only marked an end to the civil war but also aimed to unify the empire under combined leadership, setting the stage for future governance amidst ongoing threats.