Greetings all,
In the news, a good article about the Byzantine Kingdom of Thessalonica:
Great to see information on one of the lesser-known Byzantine states! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day Byzantium Novum commemorates the start of the siege of Dorostolon, on April 23rd in 971 AD:
Russian forces under Svyatoslav I of Kiev had overrun eastern
Bulgaria and had occupied the city of Dorostolon. The siege was part of a
counteroffensive led by Byzantine forces under Emperor John I
Tzimisces. The Russians were able to hold well until the arrival of
Byzantine ships, which were able to sweep the city ramparts with Greek
Fire. The result was a Byzantine victory.
(The date of the beginning of the Siege is not mentioned in the
Wikipedia article, but is found in the book "Byzantine Military
Organization on the Danube, 10th-12th Centuries" by Alexandru Madgearu,
published in 2013.)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Monday, April 22, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day Byzantium Novum commemorates the crowning of Emperor
Basil II by his father Emperor Romanos II on April 22nd in 960 AD:
He was a 2 year old at the time, but obviously a tough one! Basil II went on to reign as sole emperor for almost 50 years. In
addition to his famous military exploits he was also known as a
competent administrator and it was under his reign the Varangian Guard
was formed.
There should be cake!
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Friday, April 19, 2024
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:
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
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
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
Monday, April 15, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we reflect with sadness on the end of the Siege of Bari on April 15th in 1071 AD:
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
Saturday, April 13, 2024
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:
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
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we celebrate Anastasius I becoming Emperor on April 11th in 491 AD:
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
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we celebrate the birth of the Emperor Theodosius II on April 10th in 401 AD:
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
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
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:
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
Friday, March 29, 2024
Greetings all,
In recent news - some research on why the City of Hadrianopolis was abandoned in the 7th Century AD:
Named
after the Emperor Hadrian, this city had one of the oldest Byzantine
churches in Greece. A new theory believes that earthquake damage may
have been the reason for the city's abandonment.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Greetings all,
It seems that today was the day Constantinople was renamed "Istanbul" on March 28th in 1930:
The Greek Reporter article reminds that both names are Greek words. While that's nice I personally feel it misses the point.
I
personally believe that "Istanbul" is the name of the modern layer that
sits on top of historical Constantinople. The two aren't blended and
changed together, they're forever separated by design, intent and
civilization. Ancient Constantinople can't change Istanbul - and
Istanbul can't reach into the past and somehow change Constantinople,
the city of the Emperor Constantine.
I
myself am not angry about this. MOST of the ancient world has been
forcibly ended and built over, everywhere. I dislike that but it's how
the world works. It is simply an inspiration to build anew rather than a
cause for resentment or anger.
The
Emperor Constantine would be the last person to decry Istanbul, or
dream that it could somehow be removed or go away. Constantine was a
complete pragmatist. I believe he'd say "Well bugger this, I'll go make a
better one!" If Constantine could abandon Rome, he could abandon
Istanbul and make another Constantinople somewhere else. A patch of
ground, no matter how historical, is not the Ideal.
Sure,
ancient history getting covered over is very sad. But that doesn't mean
it's dead - and you don't have to fight over it in order for it to
live again.
That's why Byzantium Novum is here after all... :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Greetings all,
In the news - the discovery of many Byzantine era amphorae off the coast of Greece:
Looks like a good discovery, and it's great to see something happening in Byzantine archaeolory.
Besides, I was *wondering* what happened to the shipment of olive oil I ordered... :P
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Monday, March 25, 2024
Greetings all,
Also on this day we commemorate the birth of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos on March 25th in 1297 AD:
He was a moderately successful ruler
during turbulent times. His administration was effective at home and he
did manage to recover some territory from the Ottomans.
There should be cake! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we commemorate with joy the return of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the Emperor Heraclius on March 21st in 630 AD:,
The Cross had been on display in Constantinople for two years after
it had been retaken from the Persians. Heraclius' victory was a huge
morale boost for the Empire and which inspired it for centuries to come.
Part of the True Cross remains
at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to this day.
There should be cake! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Monday, March 18, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we reflect on the death of the Emperor Valentinian III
who was assinated by two Sythian retainers while practicing with a bow
on the Camput Martius on , March 16th in 455 AD:
As they say - He had it comin'. The
Sythians were followers of the celebrated Roman general Aetius.
Valentinian III had wrongfully executed Aetius after being
politically influenced against him.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Greetings all,
In the News - an article about a newly discovered ancient city in Greece:
Greece
is dotted with a pretty bewildering number of ancient City-States, the
names of many of which are unknown. Good they're looking to identify
this one. What's interesting is this one survived into the Byzantine
period (there are two Christian Churches) so they've got a good chance
here!
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Greetings all,
She was the daughter of Emperor Romanos II and Empress Theophilo.
She was married to Grand Prince Vladimir the Great of Russia, who became
Orthodox Christian in order to marry her. Her influence contributed
greatly to Russia becoming Christian, and she participated actively in
the Christianization of the Kievan Rus'. She founded a few churches and
convents herself and was the religious advisor to Prince Vladimir.
There should be cake! :)
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day we commemorate the ending of the Ostrogothic Siege of Rome on March 12th in 538 AD:
Vitiges, the king of the Ostrogoths retreated to Ravenna, leaving Rome in the hands of the victorious General Belisarius.
There should be cake! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Monday, March 11, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day, we commemorate with sadness the battle of Pegae which
was fought between Byzantine and Bulgarian forces on March 11th in 921
AD:
Pegae meant "the spring" and was named after the nearby Church of St. Mary of the Spring.
The Bulgarian forces held the high ground and charged into the
Byzantine front line with irresistible momentum. This initial attack
collapsed the Byzantine front lines. The Byzantine commanders fled as
they were unable to untangle the lines or regroup their forces and the
battle was a complete rout and Byzantine defeat.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we reflect with sadness on crusader king Baldwin I of
Balogne siezing the Byzantine city of Edessa on March 10th in 1098 AD
and establishing the first Crusader territory in the East:
He had been invited in by Thoros of Edessa (a Byzantine officer) to
fight against the Seljuqs. Taking advantage of a riot against Thoros,
Baldwin took control of the city.
Interestingly, Edessa was the city where the Roman Emperor Valerian
was captured in 260 AD. Edessa fell to the Muslim conquest in 638 AD
and had not been retaken by the Byzantines until 1031 AD.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day we commemorate the crowning of Emperor Zeno on March 9th in 474 AD:
His first reign lasted until January of 475 when he was temporarily deposed by
the revolt of
Basiliscus. Zeno reigned the throne again and reigned from 476 to 491
AD. Zeno's reign saw the end of the Western Roman Empire, following the
deposition of Romulus Augustulus, and the death of Julius Nepos.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
Friday, March 8, 2024
Greetings all,
In the news, an article about the Via Egnatia, the ancient road that connected Rome and Byzantium:
Construction
of it began in 120 BC by the Roman Senator Gnaeus Egatius and remained
in use through most of Byzantine history. Parts of it are still in use
today!
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Greetings all,
On this day we commemorate with joy the Emperor Nikephoros II
Phokas taking the city of Chandax from the Sarasens on March 6th in 961
AD:,
This campaign ended the Emirate of Crete, making the area part of the Byzantine Empire once more.
There should be cake! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day - March 5th in 1417 AD, Emperor Manuel III of Trebizond died:
During his reign the armies of the Central Asian conqueror
Tamerlaine swept through Ottoman territories and defeated them in the
Battle of Ankara. This extended the life and security of Trebizond for
several decades.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Monday, January 29, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day we reflect on young Leo II being appointed as co-Emperor alongside his father Zeno on January 29th in 474 AD:
Leo II was 7 years old at the time, and had already been co-Emperor
with is grandfather Leo I, and had "ruled" as sole Emperor from January
18th 474, a total of 11 days. Sadly he died of illness later in the year.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
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Saturday, January 27, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day we commemorate with sadness the last known vote of the Roman Senate,
held on January 27th in 1204 AD. This vote was taken during the 4th
Crusade attack on Constantinople, just before the capture and sacking of
the city. In this vote, the Senate appointed Nicholas Kanabos as
Emperor:
Of course, in Byzantium Novum the Senate has been revived and conducts Byzantine business each month. :)
www.byzantiumnovum.org
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Greetings all,
On this Day we celebrate the birth of Emperor Leo IV (the Khazar) on January 25th in 750 AD:
There should be cake! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
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