Fearful lest contact with the outer world might weaken his tenacious grip upon his subjects, whom he terrorized into obedience, he barred approach to the country and suffered no one to leave it.

He organized and drilled an army obedient to his will..

When he went forth by day, attended by an escort of cavalry, the doors and windows of houses had to be kept closed and no one was allowed on the streets.

Night he spent till a late hour in reading and study, changing his bedroom frequently to avoid assassination.

Religious functions that might disturb the public peace he forbade.