Greetings all, 

On this Day - June 3rd in 350 AD, in one of the most bizarre episodes of Roman history, the Usurper Nepotianus took over the city of Rome...

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

He did it with a troop of gladiators, no less!  At this time Rome was still the capital of the Western Empire - and still a major world city. This was a bit like taking over the modern city of Paris with the equivalent of a couple of Rugby teams... 

 
Nepotanius was the son of Constantine's half-sister, Eutropia. As a minor member of the Constantinian Dynasty had at least as much right to the throne as Magentius, the usurper who held Rome at the time. He even managed to hold the city for nearly a month before troops loyal to Magentius returned to the city to deal with him.

Nepotianus may not have been the smartest would-be Emperor in the pool, but he was nothing if not brave. He even stayed to fight it out at the end. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Some good news today - it seems that the lost Byzantine city of  Tharais  has been rediscovered in the Jordinian desert: 

https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/

This city was listed on ancient maps but the exact location was lost. This is good news, we're putting the Empire back on the map!  :)

Yes, there should be cake. Welcome back to the world, Tharais!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today May 22nd in 337 AD, the Emperor Constantine died:

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

He had been ill for some time and had prepared his resting place in the Church of the Holy Apostles. 

 

Constantine passed in Nicomedia, and was baptized shortly before his passing. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Honorius (brother of the Eastern Emperor Arcadius) signing an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces on May 8th in 413 AD:

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

Rome itself had been sacked in 410 AD, and Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria had also all been plundered by the Visigoths. 

This tax relief was an effort to help the provinces rebuild. Both Honorius and Arcadius have poor historical legacies for not being strong emperors, but they did provide some competent administration in some ways at least!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the passing of the Emperor Arcadius on May 1st in 408 AD:

 

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

 

He was the son of Emperor Theodosius I, Arcadius was Emperor of the East and his brother Honorius was Emperor of the West.

Arcadius not a strong ruler and was heavily influenced by both his advisors and his consort the Empress Aelia Eudocia for most of his rule. It seems that as a person he focused more on being an example of a pious Christian than being concerned with military or political matters.  He did however begin the Theodosian Walls around Constantinople and as his rule was mostly inoffensive he provided stable legal continuity through a troubled time.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantius II entering Rome in Triumph on April 28th in 357 AD:

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

This was in celebration of his victory over Magentius in the battle of Mons Seleucus after three years of civil war. It was the first time Constantius II had visited Rome, and this celebration was an attempt to again solidify and unify the Roman Empire after civil war.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on the Byzantine defeat at 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