Greetings all,

On this Day we reflect on the Roman Emperor Julius Nepos being forced to flee Rome to his capital city of Ravenna after the revolt of the Roman general Orestes on August 28th in 475 AD:

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

Orestes installed his son, Romulus Augustus (Romulus Augustulus) as Emperor. Julius Nepos fled to Dalmatia, and was able to remain in power there until his death in 480. The young Romulus Augustus was never recognized in the Eastern Empire and was quickly deposed by Ordoacer. This in essence was the final end of the Western Roman Empire.

Both Julius Nepos and Romulus Augustulus were tragic figures. Julius was planning to retake the West but didn't make it, and young Romulus never had enough power to begin ruling.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate with sadness the Sack of Rome by the Visigoths on August 24th in 410 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(410)

This was the first time Rome had been taken by a foreign enemy in 800 years. Although Rome was not the political capital at this time, it was still the Eternal City and this event was a huge cultural shock to the entire Classical world.

Rome was gravely injured. Imperial buildings at the city center were structurally damaged, Imperial tombs were looted and the ashes of Emperors scattered. Citizens were taken as slaves (including the Emperor's sister, Gallia Placidia) and many were killed. By 419 AD the population of Rome had fallen from 800,000 to 500,000 citizens.

As with all losses and defeats it is best to commemorate this event with positive spirit rather than despair. Prayers for the City, the people, and all that was lost are appropriate. Yet we must also recall that the Spirit of Roman World is Eternal and continues yet today, and we have great opportunity to build it anew and continue its legacy. 

Marcus Cassius Julianus

Basilius of Byzantium Novum 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this Day we commemorate with sadness the battle of the Gates of Trajan, fought on August 17th in 986 AD between Byzantine forces under Emperor Basil II and Bulgarian forces:

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

It was the largest defeat of the Byzantines under Basil II. The Byzantine army had tried to take the city of Sredetz without success, and were forced to withdraw due to a lack of supplies. Other Bulgarian units had fortified mountain passes and blocked the retreat, which turned into a rout. Basil II barely escaped with his life. This narrow escape may even have contributed to his later harshness in finishing the Bulgarian War.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate the Emperor Maurice officially becoming the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire on August 13th in 582 AD:

 

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

Maurice was a skilled general who was victorious in the Byzantine-Sassanian war which had begun in 572 AD. He expanded Byzantine territory in the South Caucasus, and during his reign the Byzantine Empire no longer paid the Persians thousands of pounds in gold annually for peace.

There should be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news - a nice article on the Walls of Constantinople:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/11/imposing-walls-defended-constantinople-ten-centuries/

Always good to see Byzantine topics being presented to the public!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus