Greetings all,

 

On this day we reflect with sadness on the banishment of the Empress Irena to the Island of Lesbos on October 31st in 802 AD: 

 

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

 

Conspirators placed Nikephoros on the throne in her stead and Irene was reduced to spinning wool to support herself in exile. She was later made a Saint for her efforts in restoring the veneration of Icons, and her feast day is August 7th.

Interestingly it is believed she had thought of marrying Charlemagne and thereby linking the East and West once again, but the plan was frustrated by one of her court favorites. Not only did Irene restore Icons, she might possibly have restored the Roman Empire after a fashion.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, a fascinating article about Greek influence in Asia:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/10/26/ancient-greek-kingdom-china/

While much of the info given is from before the time of Byzantium itself, it is known that silk road trade between Asia and the West continued to the 5th century AD, and was thereafter continued in the 13th and 14th centuries.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the victorious Constantine I entering the City of Rome after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 29 in 312 AD:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventus_(ceremony)

He was acclaimed by cheering crowds in a grand adventus ceremony. Rome was hastily decorated for the occasion, and Constantine was met by a welcoming procession which welcomed him into the city. A panegyric was made in his honor and public games and feasts were held.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this Day we commemorate the anniversary of Constantine's Vision before the battle of the Milvian Bridge:

http://www.classichistory.net/archives/constantine-christianity

There has been much speculation about the details of this vision. It was not Constantine's first (he is known to have had visions of Both Venus and Mercury in previous years.) It is also thought that his vision might have been a celestial phenomenon called a Solar Halo, where the Sun can form a cross and circle image in the sky. It is even possible that originally he wasn't certain whether this was related to Sol Invictus or the Christian Cross... he did mint coins with Sol Invictus with a halo for years after.

Whatever the details, Constantine this symbol as the Labrum banner into all conflicts after, and this vision did change the world.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the Emperor Leo I proclaiming his grandson Leo II as Caesar on October 25 in 473 AD:

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

Leo II was crowned at age 6 but he sadly passed away at age 7. He had been promoted over his father Zeno. It is unknown whether Leo II's passing was from natural causes or he was simply in the way of Zeno himself.

Let this small Emperor be remembered with compassion.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

Greetings all,

Excellent news - the leading Byzantine Studies journal Dumbarton Oaks Papers is now completely online for free:

https://www.medievalists.net/2023/10/leading-byzantine-studies-journal-now-open-access/

Their dopapers.org site now has all editions since they began publishing in 1941. An amazing resource which I hope we all will benefit from!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, an article about the Byzantine army:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/10/14/byzantine-army/

Always good to see information on the troops out there! 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, the site of a 13th century Byzantine church has been found has been found in Thessaloniki:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/10/11/13th-century-church-cemetery-discovered-thessaloniki/

The church seems to have had beautiful frescoes and also a cemetery has been found nearby.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, the discovery of a Byzantine era abbey in Ordu, Turkey which is located on the coast of the Black Sea:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archeologists-discover-byzantine-abbey-in-ordu-186812

There seems to be very little Byzantine information on Ordu, even though it was part of the Empire for centuries. Wikipedia skips over the Byzantine period completely in its historical summary of the town, and I could find little other information elsewhere. Hopefully the discovery of this abbey will bring more attention to this part of the Empire.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on Charlemagne being crowned "King of the Franks" on October 9th in 768 AD:

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

This began the path to the Holy Roman Empire. The Frankish Kingdom had retained much of it's Gallo-Roman heritage, and had preserved the last Western Roman "rump state" in the Kingdom of Soissons. Charlemagne's career would give some shadow of Roman identity back to the West, although he was never recognized by the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople.

Some historians date the resulting Holy Roman Empire from 800 AD. As I type this I realize that the Eastern Roman Empire lived with the Holy Roman Empire longer than it did the Western Roman Empire as a separate entity. Amazing! 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the walls of Constantinople being severely damaged by an earthquake on October 6th in 447 AD:

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

Large parts of the structure including 57 towers were lost. Emperor Theodosius II ordered Constantine, the praetorian prefect of the East to supervise repairs. He employed the city's demoi (circus factions) in the the work and rebuilt the walls with in 60 days.

Go Greens! Go Blues!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate Heraclius the Elder taking power from the Emperor Phocas in the culmination of the Heraclian revolt on October 3rd in 610 AD:

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

Heraclius had been the Exarch of Carthage during the ruinous reign of the Emperor Phocas, and finally rose into rebellion. He cut off the grain supply and with his brother Gregorius sailed to Constantinople. Upon entering the city on this day he was greeted by the people as their deliverer.

His son Heraclius the Younger was crowned Emperor on October 10th.

Heraclius the Elder was named a Hero of Byzantium Novum in 2018.  Heraclius the Younger was named a Hero of Byzantium Novum in 2019. 

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the crowning of the Emperor Theophilos on October 2nd in 829 AD:

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

He was the son of Emperor Michael II and was the last Byzantine Emperor to support Iconoclasm. Although he was a brave man who led his own armies against the Arabs, his overall lack of success seemed to be final proof that iconoclasm was no guarantee of divine military favor. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, an interesting article about the Via Egnatia, the road which connected Rome to the city of Byzantium:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/30/ancient-road-rome-byzantium/

It was a continuation of the Appian Way and the first road the Romans built which led out of Italy.

(Spoiler alert, eventually it ended up leading to Constantinople... )   :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus