Greetings all,

 

On this day we reflect on the Battle of Tzirallum during the Civil Wars of the Tetarchy and was fought between the forces of Licinius and Maximinus on April 30th in 313 AD:

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

This battle was fought six months after the battle of the Milvian Bridge and was a decisive victory for Licinius, who was allied with Constantine I. This secured Byzantium for them and helped to solidify the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire. 

 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the news, a good article about the Byzantine Kingdom of Thessalonica:

https://greekreporter.com/2024/04/23/forgotten-history-greece-kingdom-thessalonica/

Great to see information on one of the lesser-known Byzantine states!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day Byzantium Novum commemorates the start of the siege of Dorostolon, on April 23rd in 971 AD:

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

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

 

 

 

 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:

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

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:

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

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

 

 

 

 

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 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we reflect with sadness on the 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

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

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:

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we celebrate Anastasius I becoming Emperor on April  11th in 491 AD:

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

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

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we celebrate the birth of the Emperor Theodosius II on April 10th in 401 AD:

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Constantinople_(1204)

 

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