Greetings all,

Today we reflect on Emperor Michael of Trebizond being deposed on this Day - December 13th in 1349 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_of_Trebizond

His rule had been unsuccessful and he was in ill health. He was forced to abdicate in favor of John VI Kantakouzenos, the son of Emperor of Trebizond Basil Megas Komnenos, who arrived from Constantinople and was crowned on December 22 as Emperor Alexios III.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 Today we commemorate the Emperor Julian entering Constantinople as sole Emperor on December 11th in 361 AD:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)

As Caesar of the West he had been victorious against Alemanni invasions in Gaul and had been proclaimed Augustus by his troops. His uncle the Emperor Constantius II considered this rebellion and was en-route from the East with his armies, but fell ill and proclaimed Julian sole Emperor before he passed. Religious controversies aside, Julian was a competent administrator and reformed many court excesses which had existed under the previous Emperor. 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate with joy the anniversary of General Belisarius entering the city of Rome during the Gothic War on December 9th in 536 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_War_(535-554)

He entered the city unopposed. The Gothic garrison of Rome had fled fled the city, putting up no resistance to Belisarius and his troops when they entered the Porta Asinaria gate in the Aurelian Walls. This marked the first time Rome was controlled by the Empire in 60 years.

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all, 

In the news, an article about the Byzantine fortress of Monemvasia, which dates from the 4th Century and still has people still living at the site: 

https://www.journee-mondiale.com/en/this-byzantine-fortress-rises-from-aegean-waters-where-30-residents-live-inside-medieval-walls/

If I get one or two billion dollars I'm buying this thing and sticking the Byzantium Novum flag on it. It's literally the *perfect* site for a Byzantine micronation - looks like there's a church already extant, living space, pretty much everything needed. It could be a functioning site for restoring  Byzantine culture and civilization... and promoted properly it'd bring in great tourist revenue for the actual legally owning macronation of Greece as well.  Talk about love at first sight!  :)

Um, if you're reading this and you're secretly fabulously wealthy, come talk to me, haha!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate Tiberius II being raised as Caesar on December 7th in 574 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_II_Constantine

He was appointed by Emperor Justin II who was having seizures of mental illness. Interestingly there was a plague in Constantinople at the time, and it abated the day after Tiberius II was raised to be Caesar. That had to have been seen as a good omen which proved to be true enough; Tiberius was a popular ruler, being tall, handsome and having a reputation for kindness and generosity.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the life of the Emperor Diocletian on the anniversary of his passing on December 3rd in 311 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian

Diocletian established the tetrarchy and divided the Roman Empire into the Eastern and Western Empires, along with his appointed co-Emperor Maximian. This division would remain for the rest of Roman history and some scholars regard his actions as the start of the Byzantine Empire. Diocletian ruled for 21 years and retired peacefully, which in itself was a major achievement after the crisis of the 3rd Century.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

 

Today we celebrate with joy the birthday of Anna Komnene, on , December 1 in 1083 AD:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Komnene

 

Anna was the daughter of Emperor Alexios I. She was a Byzantine princess, scholar, physician and teacher of medicine, hospital administrator, and historian. She authored the book "The Alexiad" which has remained an important historical source throughout the centuries.

 

Happy birthday to Anna... there should be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus