Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the Western Emperor Petronius Maximus being stoned to death by crowds while fleeing Rome on May 31st in 455 AD:

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

He had it coming. Petronius had been instrumental in the murders of Flavius Aetius (the famous hero general who had stopped Attila the Hun in the battle of the Catalaunian Plains) and the Emperor Valentinian III. Not stopping there, he enraged the Vandals by promising his daughter to their leader Genesric and later cancelling the betrothal.

The Vandals proceeded to march on Rome - and Petronius decided to try to escape and leave the city to it's fate.  Strangely everyone in Rome was unhappy about these antics and took matters (and rocks) into their own hands...

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today is our commemoration of the marriage of the Empress Ariadne to the Emperor Anastasius I on May 20th in 491 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne_(empress)

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

After the death of the Emperor Zeno, Ariadne preferred Anastasius (an officer in the Senate) to Zeno's brother. Even though Ariadne and Anastasius were already in their later years, he proved to be a good and even fairly long reigning Emperor, so she chose wisely. 

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today is our joyous commemoration of the birth of Emperor Constantine VII, on May 17th in 905 AD:

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

He was a good Emperor and was of course the author of "Dii Ceremonis", which is a treasure-trove of Byzantine Imperial ceremony.

There should be cake! :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 Greetings all,

In the news, archaeology in Phillipi, Greece, where a Byzantine era fountain with Classical themes has been found among other discoveries:

https://greekreporter.com/2024/05/16/archaeologist-reveals-amazing-discoveries-greeces-philippi/

It is interesting to see an example of Classical art continuing to be used in later Byzantine eras!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate the passing of the Western Emperor Valentinian II on May 15th in 392 AD: 

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

He was Emperor for 17 years, and during that time his co-rulers (in the East and West, including usurpers) were the Emperors Valens, Gratian, Theodosius, Arcadius, Magnus Maximus, and Victor. That's a lot of politics going on! He had mostly good relations with the Eastern Roman Empire during that time.

Valentinian II had a policy of religious tolerance and tried to discourage religious persecution in Rome.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the Siege of Nicaea which began on May 14th in 1097 AD:

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

The city was under the control of the Seljuk Turks. The siege lasted for 6 days, before the Turks surrendered the city to Byzantine forces to prevent it from being sacked by the Latin Crusaders.

Byzantium for the easy win!   :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the passing of Thomas Palaiologos, the Emperor of the Despotate of Moria on May 12th in 1465 AD:

 

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

 

He became the legitimate heir to the Byzantine throne in 1460, a claim he maintained while in exile. He had hopes of gaining support from the West in regaining the Eastern Empire, but talk of new efforts in the East did not come to any action.

Thomas may not have regained the Empire, but on the bright side he did get a very cool hat...

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate International Byzantine Day, the first Holiday created in Byzantium Novum:

http://byzantiumnovum.org/byzantium-novum-culture/may-11-is-international-byzantine-day/

 

On this day, May 11 in 330 AD, the Emperor Constantine officially consecrated Constantinople as the new Capital city of the Roman Empire. The city was officially blessed by both the Church and the priesthood of the ancient religions, and holy artifacts from both (including the Palladium and artifacts associated with he life of Jesus) were buried at the base of the Column of Constantine to empower Constantinople with sacred energies.

 

This is a wonderful day to remember, celebrate and promote Byzantine Civilization and Culture. It is a day to recognize that if the Roman world could be renewed once, it can be renewed again... and that we ALL can make a fresh start for ourselves if we are willing to.

 

Please take some time today to remember the Eastern Roman Empire, and enjoy its amazing heritage!

Oh, and feel free to have cake.  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

In the News - a nice article on the Byzantine mosaics at Ravenna:

https://www.heraldnet.com/life/with-its-beautiful-byzantine-mosaics-ravenna-only-gets-better-with-age/

As always it's great to see Byzantine topics in the public eye, and the Ravenna Mosaics are hopefully something that will catch people's interest in the Eastern Roman Empire!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

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

https://greekreporter.com/2024/04/28/varangian-guard-vikings-byzantine-empire/

Go Vikings!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the passing of the Emperor Arcadius on May 1st in 408 AD:

 

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

He was the son of Emperor Theodosius I, Arcadius was Emperor of the East and his brother Honorius was Emperor of the West. Arcadius not a strong ruler and was heavily influenced by both his advisors and his consort the Empress Aelia Eudocia for most of his rule. It seems that he focused more on being an example of a pious Christian than being concerned with military or political matters.  He did however begin the Theodosian Walls around Constantinople and as his rule was mostly inoffensive he provided stable legal continuity through a troubled time.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org