Greetings all,

Today  we celebrate General Belisarius' victory over the Vandals  in the Battle of Tricamarum on December 15th in 533 AD:

The battle was fought in Northern Africa and effectively ended the power of the Vandals. North Africa and shortly after all other Vandal territory soon came under Roman rule.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, a fresco portrait of the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, has been found during excavations in the of Aigeialiaery of the Archangels  of Aigeialia in Greece:

https://greekreporter.com/2024/12/12/sole-surviving-portrait-last-byzantine-emperor-greece

This portrait was made while the Emperor was still alive, so is likely to be accurate. An amazing find!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 Greetings all,

 

Today, December 6th is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas of Myra:

 

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

Saint Nicholas remains one of the best remembered and most venerated of Saints due to his amazing life and legacy. I hope all are able to reflect on his wonderful life and continuing legacy today!

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 
Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the first "foundation ceremonies" (Consecratia Deo) for the City of Constantinople, in which Constantine I affirmed it as the new capital of the Empire on November 26th in 328 AD:,

https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/constantine-i-great-roman-emperor

Constantine allowed Imperial astronomers to cast horoscopes for the city, and allowed Classical priests to perform their rites. This was apparently a precursor to the official "dedication" of Constantinople which happened on May 11th in 330 AD.

There should be cake!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Tomorrow, November 24th is the festival of Brumalia:

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

Originally an ancient Roman holiday it continued to be officially celebrated in the Eastern Roman Empire until at least 1204 AD.

In the Imperial Court, the Brumalia was celebrated with feasting, candle light, dancing and singing -  all the themes of an indoor Winter holiday celebrating plenty after the harvests. Well wishes were given to the Emperor, and the Emperor distributed gifts of gold and fine cloth to Imperial officers and ministers according to a system of rank. On the morning after the Brumalia the Emperor would hold an "intimate" meal (for only 30 people or so!) where the celebrations were concluded.

I hope all can enjoy this ancient harvest/Winter celebration! Please do something special for yourself and your family!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

Mezazon of Byzantium Novum 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today, we commemorate Libius Severus, who became Emperor of the West on November 19th in 461 AD:

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

He was elected to the position by the Roman Senate in Ravenna, but his rule was dominated by Count Ricimer. Severus was not recognized by Leo I, Emperor of the East, but there was still some collaboration between the two courts in various affairs and the choosing of Consuls. Surprisingly for a Western Emperor during this period Libius Severus seems to have died a natural death.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the life of Emperor Leo I (the Thracian) who passed on November 18th in 473 AD:

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

He had a mostly successful reign in which he made serious efforts to aid the Western Empire. He was also canonized as a Saint, and his feast day is January 20th. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the life of the Western Emperor Valentinian I who passed on  November 17th in 375 AD:

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

He was the brother of the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens. During his reign Valentinian successfully fought the Alamanni, Quadi and Sarmatians. His victory at the Battle of Solicinium and his success in defeating revolts in Africa and Gaul, as well as his building of fortifications and fortresses left him the legacy of being considered the "last great Western Emperor."

-Marcus Cassius Julianus 

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the life of Emperor Justinian I (the Great) who passed on November 14 in 527 AD:

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

His legacy was truly amazing, ranging from retaking parts of the Western Roman Empire to the building of the Hagia Sophia. He was canonized as a Saint and his feast day is today.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, hidden tunnels and secret rooms have been discovered under the 1,500-year-old Church of St. Polyeuctus in Constantinople:

https://knewz.com/world/hidden-tunnel-and-secret-rooms-discovered-under-1-500-year-old-church-in-istanbul-stuns-archaeologists/

Mosaics, Roman artifacts, and even a statue of the god Pan have been found. An interesting discovery!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we celebrate Zoe taking the throne as the Empress Consort of Romanos III Argyros on November 12th in 1028 AD:

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

Zoe was a strong and popular Empress who was known for her beauty. She even had a cosmetics laboratory her her palace rooms, and was said to be youthful looking into her 60's.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we remember the Byzantine general Petronas on the anniversary of his passing on November 11th in 865 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_(general)

He was the brother in law of the Emperor Theophilos, and won a crushing victory in the Battle of Lalakaon which marked a resurgence in Byzantine power in the East.

After the battle of Lalakaon Petronas was granted a Triumph and made commander in chief of the army.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the life of young Emperor Leo II who passed on November 10th in 474 AD:

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

He was all of 7 years old at the time and had been Emperor for a little over a full year. It is not known if his death was of natural causes, and one can't help feeling sorry for him.

A moment of remembrance for this young Emperor and/or prayers on his behalf are appropriate.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the life of Emperor Constantine VII who passed on this day - November 9th in 959 AD:

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

He was one of the most learned Emperors, and the author of four books: De Administrando Imperio, De Ceremoniis, and De Thematibus . His De Ceremoniis gives us nearly all of what we know about the Royal Court of Constantinople and its ceremonies.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the Battle of Andrassos, fought between Byzantine and Arab forces on November 8th in 960 AD:

 

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

 

It was a resounding victory for Byzantine forces led by Phocas the younger. This battle broke the Hamdanid emirate, eventually resulting in the recapture of Antioch, and the vassalization of Aleppo. After the battle a triumph was held in the Hippodrome in Constantinople.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the birth of Emperor Constans II on November 7th in 630 AD:

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

Constans II was the last Emperor to serve in the office of Consul, although the office continued to exist on record until 886 AD. In 663 he  visited Rome for 12 days and was the first Eastern Emperor to have visited there since 476 AD.

The first Byzantine Themes were created during the rule of Constans II. 

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, an interesting article on the Suda, the Byzantine era encyclopedia from 1100AD:

https://greekreporter.com/2024/11/05/suda-byzantine-encyclopedia-written-1100

This work is a record of historical figures and ancient literature and has been a valuable source for historians for centuries.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the life of Emperor Constantius II who passed on November 3rd in 361 AD:

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

His reign was marked by continued border warfare with Persia and by civil wars and usurpations.

He passed away from a fever in the city of Mopsuestia in Cicilia (Anatolia, Turkey). He was leading his legions to join battle with the forces of his young cousin Julian who he had named as Caesar of the West, after the Western legions had proclaimed Julian the Western Emperor.  On his deathbed Constantius II was baptized, and declared Julian to be his rightful successor. This left Julian II as Emperor of both the Eastern and Western empires.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, a 4th century Byzantine church has been unearthed in the city of Bursas in Turkey, (the former province of Bithynia):

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/church-prusias-ad-hypium-72929/

Excavations seem to be ongoing - it is good to see some archaeology being done!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on Michael VII Doukas becoming sole Emperor on October 24 in 1071 AD:

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

He should have become Emperor in 1067 AD at age 17 when his father Constantine X died, but he seemed to have little desire to rule and a regency was appointed. Michael's instincts proved correct... he was a very poor Emperor and after a series of misfortunes for the Empire Michael VII retired in 1078. One interesting thing he did do was send an embassy to Song Dynasty China bearing gifts, one of the few official contacts to the Far East.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect with sadness on the Vandals, led by King Genseric, taking the city of Carthage in North Africa on October 19th in 439 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Carthage_(439)

This was a serious blow to the Eastern Roman Empire as this portion of Africa had been a major source of wheat to the Roman world for centuries. The Empire did manage to retake Carthage in 534 AD.  

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we reflect with sadness on the Vandal and Alans tribes crossing the Pyrenees mountains to the Roman province of Hispania, which they wrested from Roman control on October 13th in 409 AD:

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

 

In 551 AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, part of Hispania would later be briefly re-taken from the Visigoths by an army under the command of Petrus Marcellinus Felix Liberius.This reconquest recovered an area along the Mediterranean coast roughly corresponding to the ancient province of Baetica, known as Spania.

 

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

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the Empress Aelia Eudoxia who passed on October 6th in 404 AD:

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

She was the wife of the Emperor Arcadius and the mother of future Emperor Theodosius II. As Empress Aelia Eudoxia was active and influential in court and in the church. She was depicted on coinage, a statue of her was erected on a column of Imperial Porphyry, and Arcadius renamed the town of Selymbria to Eudoxiopolis in her honor.  She was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in a porphyry sarcophagus.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we celebrate Heraclius the Younger being crowned as Emperor on October 5th in 610 AD: 

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

He and his father had been in revolt against the Emperor Phocas. Heraclius was crowned Emperor as he approached Constantinople, and after entering the city the Excutibors (Imperial Guard) deserted Phocas and joined him.

There should be cake!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus 

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, a nice article about the Varangian Guard:

https://greekreporter.com/2024/09/26/varangian-guard-vikings-byzantine-empire/

Always good to see information out there!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, a Byzantine Church has been discovered in Israel:

https://www.sci.news/archaeology/byzantine-church-khirbet-tinshemet-israel-13278.html

Interestingly, this church seems to be one of the sites depicted in the Madaba Map mosaic from the 6th century AD, which depicted the Jerusalem area.

The church itself featured a lovely circular mosaic, and interestingly a medallion of the Greek Goddess Tyche. Coins discovered at the church site date

from the 6th to the 8th centuries.

Rather fascinating that archaeology is still going on such a tense part of the world!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the life of  the Emperor John VII Palaiologos who passed on September 22nd in 1408 AD:

 

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

He was supposed to become the Eastern Roman Emperor but was deposed by his uncle Manuel II. John VII never gave up claim to the throne and the two had a difficult relationship. 

However, John VII successfully defended Constantinople for over three years against a long Ottoman siege while Manuel II went to Europe for military aid. After the siege ended John VII was given rule over Thessalonica as "Emperor of all the Thessaly" and there John VII proved to be an able and well liked ruler.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans (the sons of the Emperor Constantine) becoming co-Emperors on September 9th in 337AD:

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

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

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

The Empire was divided between the three Augustii. Because... what could *possibly* go wrong?  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate with sadness the removal of Romulus Augustus as the final Emperor of the Western Emperor on September 4th in 476 AD:

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

Popularly known as "Romulus Augustulus" because of his young age, his life was actually spared by the barbarian general Ordoacer. Romulus was granted a stipend equal to the annual income of a wealthy Senator, and he retired to the Villa of Lucullus in Naples. Little is known of his life after that. It is commonly thought he may have eventually become a monk, and he may well have lived to see the return of Roman rule to Italy when the Byzantines returned in the time of Justinian the Great.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the Byzantine victory at the Battle of Lalakon, fought between Byzantine and Arab forces on September 3rd in 863 AD: 

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

Abbasid Caliphate forces had invaded northern Turkey, and reached the Black Sea. The Byzantines marshaled their forces and encircled the Arab army near the river Lalakon. The Byzantine forces were victorious and the Arab emir was killed. The Byzantines were thereafter able to mount a counteroffensive across the border. The Byzantine victories were decisive and paved the way for the Empire's ascendancy in the East, and the generals that won the victory were granted a triumphal entrance into Constantinople.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

Mezazon

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we celebrate Nikephoros II Phokas being crowned as Emperor on August 16th in 963 AD:, Nikephoros II Phokas was crowned as Emperor. He was very successful in military campaigns which led to a Byzantine resurgence in the 10th century:

 

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

 

Nikephoros was a popular army commander. He was very successful in military campaigns which led to a Byzantine resurgence in the 10th century.

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the Byzantine victory in ending the siege by Avars and Bulgars on August 7th in 626 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Constantinople_(626)

In the waters of the Golden Horn a Persian fleet was destroyed while ferrying reinforcements. The Avars, who had suffered great losses in trying to besiege the city, and running short of food and supplies, burned their siege engines. They abandoned the siege and retreated to the Balkan peninsula. The Byzantines then had a decisive victory at Blachernae, under the protection of the nearby Church of the Virgin Mary.

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus