Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the Battle of Callinisum which was fought between Byzantine forces led by General Belisarius, and the Sassanid Persians on April 19th in 531 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Callinicum

Although the Persians technically won a pyrric victory, Belisarius was able to foil their overall plans for invading Roman Syria. Both sides had heavy losses. The Byzantines were unable to fight again for some months, and the Sassanids no longer had enough troops to invade Roman territory.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, studies show that much of Medieval silver coinage was made from earlier Byzantine Empire coins which were melted and reused:

https://www.archaeology.org/news/12271-240410-coins-byzantine-silver

Likely there were some coins first minted in Rome, then reused in Byzantium, and *then* reused in Medieval Europe.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we reflect with sadness on the end of the Siege of Bari on April 15th in 1071 AD:

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

The city of Bari in Apulia was the last Byzantine possession in Italy. The siege by the Normans had begun on August 5th in 1068, and on this day the city was surrendered to Robert Guiscard. This ended the 536 year long Byzantine presence in Italy. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we reflect with sadness on the Latin crusaders taking the last parts of Constantinople on April 13th in 1204 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Crusade

They had breached the seaward walls at the Golden Horn the day before. Once they were inside the walls it was impossible to hold them from capturing the remainder of the city. This temporarily ended Byzantine rule in the city for the next half century.

In the wake of this event the Byzantines established the Despotate of Epirus, the Empire of Nicea, and the Empire of Trebizond which lasted until 1479, 1264, and 1461 respectively.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we celebrate Anastasius I becoming Emperor on April  11th in 491 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasius_I_Dicorus

Even though he was in his 60's when he assumed the throne he reigned long and well with many impressive achievements. Anastasius reformed Byzantine coinage which greatly improved the economy and Byzantine treasury.  He also built the Chalke Gate in Constantinople, built the amazing Anastasian wall across all of Thrace, and dredged a harbor which was a project first suggested by Pliny the Elder centuries earlier. 

One of my favorite Emperors - I'll be celebrating this one!    :)   

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we celebrate the birth of the Emperor Theodosius II on April 10th in 401 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_II

 

He was the son of the Emperor Arcadius and Empress Aelia Eudoxia. Thodosius II is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian Law Code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls in Constantinople.

Yes, you guessed it... there should be cake! :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day, we commemorate the Crusader and Venetian attack on fortifications at the Golden Horn during the Latin siege of Constantinople on April 9th in 1204 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Constantinople_(1204)

 

In heavy fighting the Crusader assault forces were driven back and troops that landed came under heavy archery fire between the shore and the city walls.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org